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Exclusive Releases!

Here are 16mm films produced especially for you by Filmclassic!  The only place these titles are available is right here  -  You just won't find them anywhere else! As new releases become available, they'll be listed here, so check back often!

Due to recent lab closures in New York City and the ever increasing cost of raw film stock it has become necessary to implement the following price increases to the Filmclassic Exclusives line.

A JITNEY ELOPEMENT (1915)

Essanay. starring and directed by Charlie Chaplin with Edna Purviance, Leo White, Lloyd Bacon and Bud Jamison. Charlie poses as a competing Count (against Leo White) for the hand of the lovely vivacious and wealthy Edna (whose heart he has already won) against the wishes of her father. The first reel takes place in the mansion of Edna and her father. The second reel takes place in a wooded park where cops show up, followed by a frenetic slapstick chase in cars (jitneys) showcasing great location work including a large working windmill. Superb razor sharp 35mm-like quality on this early Chaplin comedy - you can almost reach out and feel the textures of Charlie's clothes! (color tinted / silent / two-reels/ $219.00)

The Buccaneers (1924)                                                                                                                                                                                                 Starring Our Gang -A charming early entry in the series, The Buccaneers finds the Gang playing pirates on the waterfront.  Featuring Joe Cobb, Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, Jackie Condon and "Farina" Hoskins.  Our print of The Buccaneers features the original main titles and is printed on color stock with an amber tint, giving a Kodascope-like look to the print. (Silent / 2 reels / $185.00)

WITH LOVE AND HISSES (1927)
Roach/Pathecomedy. This "all-star" army-service comedy features the unbeatable trio of Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and James Finlayson - squaring off as private, sergeant and general respectively. The first reel involves the boarding of a train to boot camp - with rank offenses and infractions compounding by the minute. Stan's aromatic encounter with a garlic-eating fellow private in the close quarters of a berth is priceless. The second reel contains Pvt. Laurel infuriating General Finlayson during inspection - a march in the hot sun led by Sgt. Hardy, culminating in soldiers skinny-dipping in a nearby lake and losing their uniforms to a fiery blaze thanks to the careless flick of Ollie's cigarette butt. Seeing how they manage to get back to camp is worth the price of admission! This new "deluxe" edition of excellent quality comes amber tinted (on color stock) replete with synchronized score and effects via the "Laurel & Hardy Laughtoons" orchestral music originally composed for this film! - (Color Tinted/ Sound/ Two Reels/ $245.00)

   THE TREASURER'S REPORT (1928)
The Treasurer's Report marks the great Robert Benchley's cinematic debut. This comic talkie novelty (released shortly after THE JAZZ SINGER and possibly the first commercially released all-sound short) features Benchley as a very ill-at-ease assistant treasurer - forced to give an accounting of an organization's finances at a dinner. A brilliant party piece created by Benchley himself is a gem of understated humor - the sort that Bob Newhart would find success with decades later. (B&W/Sound/One Reel/ $140.00)


   BIG RED RIDING HOOD (1925)
Stars Charley Chase (as his early screen persona, Jimmy Jump) who has been commissioned to translate the book "Little Red Riding Hood" in to Swedish. However Charley is financially challenged and must grab ganders at the book from an open-air bookstand (tended by a persnickety old man and his lovely daughter - the cute as a button, Martha Sleeper.) The film contains a daydream sequence (with Helen Gilmore as the title character!) and a climax involving a bit of dark humor (a motorist who has purchased the book is murdered!) and one of the weirdest sights on film - Charley riding on a bicycle along side a runaway car - all the while totally immersed in reading the book that's sitting on the backseat! Directed by Leo McCarey. Produced by Hal Roach and released through Pathe.
(Color Tinted/Silent/One reel $135.00)


BRIDGE WIVES (1932)
Starring Al St. John as an overwrought husband on the verge of a nervous breakdown over the fact that his wife is neglecting him due to her bridge playing tournaments (a craze which is broadcast over the radio!) During the course of the film, Al has what amounts to SEVERAL conniption fits (incorporating his unique acrobatic skills) which have to be seen to be believed!!!! Directed by none other than Al's uncle, the one and only Roscoe Arbuckle (under the name William Goodrich). A rare find, guaranteed to bring down the house.
(B&W/sound/one reel  $150.00)

THE PLAY HOUSE(1921)
Comique/First National. Here we have one of the holy grails of 16mm film collecting - previously only ever available in practically unwatchable dupes with missing footage -- offered here for the very first time in a SUPERB new complete edition!!!! Buster Keaton stars in one of his first bonafide masterpieces as a stagehand who dreams of himself in multiple exposure (executed masterfully and magically through photography by Elgin Lessley.) Upon awaking from his dream, Buster encounters as well as creates more comic surrealism within a vaudeville setting. Buster is supported by Virginia Fox, one of two stage twins he falls in love with and burly Joe Roberts, his stage boss who he is constantly at odds with. Written and directed by Keaton and Eddie Cline. This new edition boasts excellent picture quality AND ALL ORIGINAL INTERTITLES - INCLUDING MAIN OPENING TITLES AND END TITLE!!!! (not even the Kino Video edition has original titles !) The closing leader even retains the "End Part One/Part Two" title cards (which originally came between reels one and two). Finally, this edition contains a truly dynamite custom synchronized track using authentic period music by the stellar Paragon Ragtime Orchestra! This is truly THE edition to have on this title and will become a treasured part of your film collection. (B&W/silent with music & effects/two reels / $245.00)



HIGH AND DIZZY (1920)

Roach/Pathecomedy. Harold Lloyd stars in one of his most hilarious and "hair-raising" two-reelers. Harold has a failing medical practice and is desperate for patients. Upon a "walk-in" by lovely Mildred Davis who seeks treatment for sleepwalking, Harold is immediately smitten and ingeniously creates the illusion that his business is thriving. Later he helps colleague Roy Brooks "save" a batch of bootleg brew and the sloshed pair avert one mishap after another, all the while creating ones for those unfortunate enough to cross their path. The film concludes with a remarkable "thrill" sequence with Harold in plenty of danger on the ledge of a hotel building, thanks to sleepwalking Mildred! Directed by Hal Roach. This new "deluxe" edition comes replete with a dynamite custom synchronized track featuring music by The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. (B&W/silent with music & effects/2 reels $250.00)

The Toy Shop (1928)

"A Tiffany Color Symphony" A kindly old toy maker (Joseph Swickard) befriends a young homeless waif (angelic Virginia Marshall) on Christmas Eve.  She falls asleep and dreams of dancing toys. After waking up she finds he has prepared a Christmas dinner and to the strains of Silent Night she affectionately embraces her new friend.  Simple, understated and utterly charming The Toy Shop is printed on low-fade color stock, preserving the original 2-color Technicolor look.  It features the original synchronized score. A Tiffany-Stahl Production. (10 minutes.  $160.00)

SEEING STARS (c1922) First National Promo featuring Chaplin & Keaton!

Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton appear TOGETHER on screen some thirty years before their teaming in LIMELIGHT in the First National promotional film, SEEING STARS ("the only motion picture of it's kind ever made"). Their appearance together is at a dinner held at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles to form the Independent Screen Actors Guild. Chaplin is seated alongside Jackie Coogan - Thomas Ince and Marshall Neilan are also with them. Keaton appears to be "the waiter" for the evening and, as a running gag, he keeps taking dinnerware away from Jackie! The film also promotes the upcoming
releases of THE BALLOONATIC, DAYDREAMS and THE PILGRIM - using unused alternate takes from those films! Others who appear throughout this "First National Attraction" include Norma and Constance Talmadge, Richard Barthelmess, Ben Turpin, Charles Ray and Louis B. Mayer. While the film is over 10 minutes long (over 400') it is obviously not complete - it's fragmentary state due to nitrate decomposition. However this print represents all that survives of this rare and unique piece of silent cinema history.
(B&W/silent/1 reel $160.00)

GOOD CHEER (1926)

One of the rarest of the silent Our Gang films at a very special price! Here's a description from THE LITTLE RASCALS by Leonard Maltin and Richard W. Bann:

"It's the day before Christmas, 'down where poverty shakes hands with sorrow and they both smile.' The poor street kids have sadly concluded that there is no Santa Claus - they've seen one too many phonies. Then two of the older kids, Mickey and Johnny, are visited by the spirit of the real Santa Claus, who inspires them to earn money so they can play Santa for others."

Print quality on this title is only fair, but more than acceptable for this charming rarity. Provided on color stock and tinted (blue for outdoor snow scenes and amber for indoor scenes).
(Tinted/Silent with Music Score/2 Reels Temporarily Unavailable

SAILORS, BEWARE! (1927)

Very hard to find and one of the best Laurel & Hardy silents! Stan is a cab driver whose passengers, Anita Garvin and her husband, the tiny Harry Earles (disguised as a baby) are jewel thieves. Their plan is to fleece the rich aboard the luxurious S.S. Miramar. When the cab, along with Stan, are hoisted aboard as cargo, he's put to work to pay for his passage under the supervision of Ollie, the purser with an eye for the ladies.

This is a very funny short with plenty of laughs as "the boys" give the haughty cruise ship passengers a vacation they'll never forget and foil the jewel thieves in  the process! Watch for Stan shoving a very young Lupe Valez into the pool!
(Tinted/Silent with Music Score/2 Reels $225.00)

WHY GIRLS SAY NO (1927)

Roach/Pathecomedy. Max Davidson's starring pilot film for Hal Roach (written by Stan Laurel and directed by Leo McCarey) with Spec O' Donnell, Creighton Hale, Oliver Hardy as a policeman and a cameo by Noah Young. This Davidson short is filled with mildly politically incorrect humor, as Papa Whisselberg (Max) is deadset on his daughter courting only "a Jewish boy" - leaving "Irisher" suitor, Creighton Hale, ethnically challenged. Great situation comedy which is not without its great sight gags (Officer Ollie plunging into a deep mudhole, Max's exploding birthday cake, Noah's breakaway car). Long unseen until this material came to light.
(B&W/silent/2 reels $250.00)

THE NICKEL-HOPPER (1926)

Roach/Pathecomedy. The lovely Mabel Normand stars in one of her very last films - where she plays the hard working "Paddy" - a babysitter by day and a taxi dancer by night. Her drab life is forever complicated by her lazy and overbearing father who scares away her prospective suitors. This light comic "featurette" (which nonetheless includes plenty of slapstick and sight gags) also features Oliver Hardy as an overly enthusiastic drummer, Boris Karloff as a creepy "masher" and the ever-popular James Finlayson. Stan Laurel co-wrote the story and gags. Directed by F. Richard Jones. Excellent sharp
quality, provided on lowfade color stock with beautiful tints.
(Tinted/Silent/3 reels $319.00)

THE BEATLES - BUDOKAN, TOKYO JAPAN CONCERT (July 1st 1966 @ 2PM) - Like new - MINT condition - 16mm print (kinescope) on low fade color stock with optical sound. The color is absolutely brilliant! The sound is great. The entire concert/film runs a full 30 minutes during which they perform the following songs: ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC - SHE'S A WOMAN - IF I NEEDED SOMEONE - DAY TRIPPER - BABY'S IN BLACK - I FEEL FINE - YESTERDAY - I WANNA BE YOUR MAN - NOWHERE MAN - PAPERBACK WRITER - I'M DOWN. This is the "afternoon" concert with the group wearing light brown pinstriped suits - generally considered the better of the two that were filmed.
(Color/Sound/3 reels $315.00)

CRUEL, CRUEL LOVE (1914)
Sennett/Keystone. This was long a lost film until this rather nice material  surfaced in South America. Charlie Chaplin stars as a well to do suitor (playing a variation of his "sharper" character from his debut film, MAKING A LIVING) courting the equally affluent Minta Durfee. The couple breaks up due to a misunderstanding. Dejected, Charlie goes home and decides to commit suicide, but his jovial butler (Edgar Kennedy) has replaced his poisoned drink with a harmless glass of water. Nonetheless, Charlie THINKS he's ingested poison and thus follows some of the hammiest melodramatics Chaplin
ever performed on film (replete with a rather shocking vision of Charlie being tormented by pitchfork-throttling devils in Hell !!!!) A must have for Chaplin buffs.
(B&W/silent/1 reel $120.00)