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Dave Glass has launched another in his amazing series of silent comedy D&D Kickstarter projects, this time devoted to the droopy-moustached Hal Roach star Snub Pollard. At least 26 shorts will be included (it's a two-disc set), mostly rarities unavailable elsewhere, but there will be a new scan of a nitrate print of his most iconic film It's a Gift - the one featuring Snub as an eccentric Heath Robinson-style inventor with a car powered by a giant magnet! Some previously unobtainable Harold Lloyd one-reelers, with Snub in support, are also lined up.

Dave goes to enormous lengths to combine prints of various gauges sourced internationally from archives and private collectors. The musical accompaniments are by some of the best in the business. I can certainly recommend his previous Blu-ray releases devoted to Lupino Lane, Billy Bevan and Monty Banks.

"An anthology of film criticism exploring the work of iconoclastic director of Robert Downey, Sr." co-edited by Kier-La Janisse and Clint Enns.

Featuring new essays by 22 scholars, critics, archivists, music historians and pop culture chroniclers alongside a selection of reprinted archival writings, Truth and Soul: A Robert Downey, Sr. Reader explores the cultural legacy of the many offbeat and fascinating works that he produced over his career, with a particular focus on how they intersect with race, class, consumerism, family, gender politics and debates of “highbrow”/”lowbrow” art. Each chapter provides readers with the context to understand and explore Downey's work and to uncover the real truth and soul that brought life and laughter to his whimsical films.

Full table of contents here.

brundlefly wrote: Wed Aug 20, 2025 5:41 pm "An anthology of film criticism exploring the work of iconoclastic director of Robert Downey, Sr." co-edited by Kier-La Janisse and Clint Enns.

Featuring new essays by 22 scholars, critics, archivists, music historians and pop culture chroniclers alongside a selection of reprinted archival writings, Truth and Soul: A Robert Downey, Sr. Reader explores the cultural legacy of the many offbeat and fascinating works that he produced over his career, with a particular focus on how they intersect with race, class, consumerism, family, gender politics and debates of “highbrow”/”lowbrow” art. Each chapter provides readers with the context to understand and explore Downey's work and to uncover the real truth and soul that brought life and laughter to his whimsical films.

Full table of contents here.

A long overdue project. Happy to support it

MM Serra needs financial help with her healthcare.

MM Serra - filmmaker, educator, and Executive Director of the Film-Makers’ Cooperative for over 30 years - has recently experienced a number of significant health challenges. As a result, she has had to undergo a series of operations and extensive rehabilitation. Serra currently has 24-hour care and will need to pay for a home-health aide and physical therapy to assist her with household tasks and mobility for the next several months.

We are asking for your help and support to raise money for Serra in order to ensure her recovery and well-being...

Some of the team behind the upcoming Fleischer cartoons set have a Kickstarter for Silent Cartoon All Stars Vol 1. 24 days left and quite a bit to go.