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Post by linefacedscrivener on May 27, 2021 15:02:30 GMT -5
 The Cossacks (1928)
“Since writing the above I went, Sunday, to Cisco, a town some forty miles north of Cross Plains, and saw John Gilbert in The Cossacks. God, what a picture. I take back all the anathemas I have ever hurled at John Gilbert. The picture was very accurate, as near as I could judge and because that wild, fierce race always had a peculiar appeal to me, I have devoted some study to their manners and customs. Living only to fight and drink, knowing nothing else! I wish to God I had been born in some such environment and grown up, knowing nothing else, wishing nothing else, knowing not even how to read and write.” —Robert E. Howard to Harold Preece, September 1928 Release Date: June 23, 1928 REH Rating: * * * * *
The Cossacks (1928) was based on the short novel by the same title, written by Leo Tolstoy. The story is believed to be semi-autobiographical, detailing Tolstoy’s experiences at the very end of the Caucasian War (1817-1864), when Russia invaded the Caucasus. The American Film Institute gives the following synopsis of the movie: “Lukashka humiliates his father, Ivan, by refusing to participate in the Cossack preoccupation—killing Turks. The townspeople brand him a coward, and his behavior elicits the disapproval of Maryana, his favorite pastime. The escape of several Turkish prisoners arouses his fighting spirit; he becomes a real warrior and returns from battle proudly displaying a mouth wound (a heroic injury, yielding status). When his pride causes him to be aloof with Maryana, she accepts the marriage proposal of visiting Prince Olenin. Lukashka chases the couple, already on their way to the capital, kidnaps Maryana, and leaves the royal party to a band of marauding Turks.” The film was released on 10 reels and ran for 92 minutes long (though some shorter showings brought it down to 74 minutes). It cost $694,000 to make, and grossed $1.3 million at the box office, making it a big success for the time-period. Originally distributed by MGM, it is now part of the Warner Brothers Archive Collection. Unable to find a copy of the film online, just some really sketchy looking foreign websites, I purchased this one in order to watch it. Despite having to pay $10, I have to agree with Howard – it was well worth it. This was a film that felt truly like a "Howard film” and one I could definitely see him enjoying immensely. I can also see him drawing upon this film for some of his stories. It was a fun flick to watch, it held up with the test of time, and it was one of the few silent films where I really didn’t care that it was silent. If you are a Howard fan, this is a Howard film to watch.  www.amazon.com/Cossacks-DVD-R-John-Gilbert/dp/B00P8RUOSS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+cossacks+1928&qid=1622145867&sr=8-1 |
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Post by johnnypt on May 27, 2021 20:32:17 GMT -5
Didn’t they find the ‘full’ Metropolis in some strange place in Brazil? I think they found some lost film in the Czech Republic or somewhere like that. You never know. Heck there could still be some REH writing in someplace someone hasn’t looked (doubtful but still).
I want to say the Cossacks was on TCM some time in the last decade or so.
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Post by linefacedscrivener on May 28, 2021 6:38:10 GMT -5
Didn’t they find the ‘full’ Metropolis in some strange place in Brazil? I think they found some lost film in the Czech Republic or somewhere like that. You never know. Heck there could still be some REH writing in someplace someone hasn’t looked (doubtful but still). I want to say the Cossacks was on TCM some time in the last decade or so. You have a good memory! It was on Turner Classic Movies and Ben Mankiewicz introduced the film. Although the film itself is not available on the web, his introduction is: www.tcm.com/video/1373949/ben-mankiewicz-intro-the-cossacks-1928 |
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Post by johnnypt on May 28, 2021 10:32:59 GMT -5
Didn’t they find the ‘full’ Metropolis in some strange place in Brazil? I think they found some lost film in the Czech Republic or somewhere like that. You never know. Heck there could still be some REH writing in someplace someone hasn’t looked (doubtful but still). I want to say the Cossacks was on TCM some time in the last decade or so. You have a good memory! It was on Turner Classic Movies and Ben Mankiewicz introduced the film. Although the film itself is not available on the web, his introduction is: www.tcm.com/video/1373949/ben-mankiewicz-intro-the-cossacks-1928Back in my pre-cord cutting DVR days... |
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2021 11:33:32 GMT -5
The Cossacks (1928)
“Since writing the above I went, Sunday, to Cisco, a town some forty miles north of Cross Plains, and saw John Gilbert in The Cossacks. God, what a picture. I take back all the anathemas I have ever hurled at John Gilbert. The picture was very accurate, as near as I could judge and because that wild, fierce race always had a peculiar appeal to me, I have devoted some study to their manners and customs. Living only to fight and drink, knowing nothing else! I wish to God I had been born in some such environment and grown up, knowing nothing else, wishing nothing else, knowing not even how to read and write.” —Robert E. Howard to Harold Preece, September 1928 Release Date: June 23, 1928 REH Rating: * * * * *
The Cossacks (1928) was based on the short novel by the same title, written by Leo Tolstoy. The story is believed to be semi-autobiographical, detailing Tolstoy’s experiences at the very end of the Caucasian War (1817-1864), when Russia invaded the Caucasus. The American Film Institute gives the following synopsis of the movie: “Lukashka humiliates his father, Ivan, by refusing to participate in the Cossack preoccupation—killing Turks. The townspeople brand him a coward, and his behavior elicits the disapproval of Maryana, his favorite pastime. The escape of several Turkish prisoners arouses his fighting spirit; he becomes a real warrior and returns from battle proudly displaying a mouth wound (a heroic injury, yielding status). When his pride causes him to be aloof with Maryana, she accepts the marriage proposal of visiting Prince Olenin. Lukashka chases the couple, already on their way to the capital, kidnaps Maryana, and leaves the royal party to a band of marauding Turks.” The film was released on 10 reels and ran for 92 minutes long (though some shorter showings brought it down to 74 minutes). It cost $694,000 to make, and grossed $1.3 million at the box office, making it a big success for the time-period. Originally distributed by MGM, it is now part of the Warner Brothers Archive Collection. Unable to find a copy of the film online, just some really sketchy looking foreign websites, I purchased this one in order to watch it. Despite having to pay $10, I have to agree with Howard – it was well worth it. This was a film that felt truly like a "Howard film” and one I could definitely see him enjoying immensely. I can also see him drawing upon this film for some of his stories. It was a fun flick to watch, it held up with the test of time, and it was one of the few silent films where I really didn’t care that it was silent. If you are a Howard fan, this is a Howard film to watch. www.amazon.com/Cossacks-DVD-R-John-Gilbert/dp/B00P8RUOSS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+cossacks+1928&qid=1622145867&sr=8-1 I'm pretty certain Deuce has posted something about this before, but that poster looks like a recreation of Ilya Repin's painting 'Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of the Ottoman Empire' (1880–1891).  |
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Post by linefacedscrivener on May 28, 2021 14:59:04 GMT -5
The Cossacks (1928)
“Since writing the above I went, Sunday, to Cisco, a town some forty miles north of Cross Plains, and saw John Gilbert in The Cossacks. God, what a picture. I take back all the anathemas I have ever hurled at John Gilbert. The picture was very accurate, as near as I could judge and because that wild, fierce race always had a peculiar appeal to me, I have devoted some study to their manners and customs. Living only to fight and drink, knowing nothing else! I wish to God I had been born in some such environment and grown up, knowing nothing else, wishing nothing else, knowing not even how to read and write.” —Robert E. Howard to Harold Preece, September 1928 Release Date: June 23, 1928 REH Rating: * * * * *
The Cossacks (1928) was based on the short novel by the same title, written by Leo Tolstoy. The story is believed to be semi-autobiographical, detailing Tolstoy’s experiences at the very end of the Caucasian War (1817-1864), when Russia invaded the Caucasus. The American Film Institute gives the following synopsis of the movie: “Lukashka humiliates his father, Ivan, by refusing to participate in the Cossack preoccupation—killing Turks. The townspeople brand him a coward, and his behavior elicits the disapproval of Maryana, his favorite pastime. The escape of several Turkish prisoners arouses his fighting spirit; he becomes a real warrior and returns from battle proudly displaying a mouth wound (a heroic injury, yielding status). When his pride causes him to be aloof with Maryana, she accepts the marriage proposal of visiting Prince Olenin. Lukashka chases the couple, already on their way to the capital, kidnaps Maryana, and leaves the royal party to a band of marauding Turks.” The film was released on 10 reels and ran for 92 minutes long (though some shorter showings brought it down to 74 minutes). It cost $694,000 to make, and grossed $1.3 million at the box office, making it a big success for the time-period. Originally distributed by MGM, it is now part of the Warner Brothers Archive Collection. Unable to find a copy of the film online, just some really sketchy looking foreign websites, I purchased this one in order to watch it. Despite having to pay $10, I have to agree with Howard – it was well worth it. This was a film that felt truly like a "Howard film” and one I could definitely see him enjoying immensely. I can also see him drawing upon this film for some of his stories. It was a fun flick to watch, it held up with the test of time, and it was one of the few silent films where I really didn’t care that it was silent. If you are a Howard fan, this is a Howard film to watch. www.amazon.com/Cossacks-DVD-R-John-Gilbert/dp/B00P8RUOSS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+cossacks+1928&qid=1622145867&sr=8-1 I'm pretty certain Deuce has posted something about this before, but that poster looks like a recreation of Ilya Repin's painting 'Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of the Ottoman Empire' (1880–1891). Oh, man, that is way too cool! Thanks for sharing that Hun. You are definitely right, they certainly recreated the painting for the lobby card. Awesome. |
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Post by linefacedscrivener on May 28, 2021 15:14:10 GMT -5
 The Cossacks (1928)
“I went, Sunday, to Cisco, a town some forty miles north of Cross Plains, and saw John Gilbert in The Cossacks. God, what a picture.” —Robert E. Howard to Harold Preece, September 1928 There are some great fight scenes in the film, as well as some spectacular trick riding apparently done by real Russians Cossacks. They were members of a touring group performing in America at the time, putting on demonstrations of what they show in the film. Some of the Russians also served as extras in the film, thus lending the movie an air of realism. In addition to the real Russian Cossacks in the film, MGM also built a real life Cossack village. The Variety magazine from June 27, 1928 (p.31), explains about both: “The Cossack village is a faithful reproduction of the real thing. Superb horsemanship. The riders are mostly real Russians who came to this country to work in this picture and stopped en route to Hollywood to pull the most gigantic flop that Madison Square Garden has yet housed. The survivors of the fiasco finally reached the coast and are present in this film." Here is the only, seemingly, clip of the film from a reputable website (Youtube) depicting those real Russian Cossacks doing their trick riding: |
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2021 16:34:03 GMT -5
The Cossacks (1928)
“I went, Sunday, to Cisco, a town some forty miles north of Cross Plains, and saw John Gilbert in The Cossacks. God, what a picture.” —Robert E. Howard to Harold Preece, September 1928 There are some great fight scenes in the film, as well as some spectacular trick riding apparently done by real Russians Cossacks. They were members of a touring group performing in America at the time, putting on demonstrations of what they show in the film. Some of the Russians also served as extras in the film, thus lending the movie an air of realism. In addition to the real Russian Cossacks in the film, MGM also built a real life Cossack village. The Variety magazine from June 27, 1928 (p.31), explains about both: “The Cossack village is a faithful reproduction of the real thing. Superb horsemanship. The riders are mostly real Russians who came to this country to work in this picture and stopped en route to Hollywood to pull the most gigantic flop that Madison Square Garden has yet housed. The survivors of the fiasco finally reached the coast and are present in this film." Here is the only, seemingly, clip of the film from a reputable website (Youtube) depicting those real Russian Cossacks doing their trick riding: According to wikipedia the Russian Cossacks belonged to the "Dijigit Troupe" and toured Europe and the USA at the time. Dijigit or Yiğit translates as Brave in the modern Turkish language. The tricks on horseback kinda reminds me of a video by the Mongol stunt woman for Zhang Ziyi in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (unfortunately, I can't seem to find the video on YouTube, yet). |
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Post by linefacedscrivener on May 31, 2021 14:50:40 GMT -5
 The Cossacks (1928)
“Since writing the above I went, Sunday, to Cisco, a town some forty miles north of Cross Plains, and saw John Gilbert in The Cossacks. God, what a picture. I take back all the anathemas I have ever hurled at John Gilbert." —Robert E. Howard to Harold Preece, September 1928 Just months before in another letter to Preece, Howard had written, "Edmund Lowe was great, too. I think he has it on John Gilbert seven ways from the ace.” However, this film led Howard to recant his earlier opinion, and rightly so, for Gilbert was excellent in The Cossacks (1928). In this film, he plays the lover, not the fighter, only wanting to make love to Maryana. Yet, when pushed, his fighting side comes out and, of course, in the end, he not only wins the battle and the respect of his father, he wins the girl. John Gilbert (July 10, 1897 - January 9, 1936) was born in Utah, but his family moved quite frequently. Gilbert’s youth was apparently a sad one, filled with abuse and neglect. He had several menial jobs before he tried acting. By the time he became an adult, he had found steady work in the film industry. In 1916, he began appearing in credited roles, and by 1919, he was becoming a much sought after actor. Early in his career, he was picked up by the small Kay-Bee Film Company, then later Triangle Films, before landing with Fox in 1921. There, he found himself in his first leading roles with such films as Monte Cristo (1922). After his contract expired, he contracted with MGM in 1924, and appeared in a number of leading roles opposite Greta Garbo in Love (1927) (a movie originally titled Anna Karenina) and Joan Crawford in Four Walls (1928). When he made The Cossacks, Gilbert was truly on top of his game as he was signing contracts for films at $250,000 each – very high for the industry at the time – and he was always the leading man. Then the talkies came. Apparently film-goers were no longer as impressed with him as they once were. He was losing his star power and the writing was on the wall. He did appear in at least one other film I have seen, The Phantom of Paris (1931), which I thought was good. It was a Phantom of the Opera movie originally intended for Lon Chaney, but he died before filming commenced. Gilbert’s life was typical Hollywood fare, married four times, divorced four times, he was an alcoholic, and died after a series of heart attacks. He died six months before Howard on January 9, 1936. He was 38.  |
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Post by linefacedscrivener on Jun 1, 2021 15:24:37 GMT -5
 The Cossacks (1928)
“I went, Sunday, to Cisco, a town some forty miles north of Cross Plains, and saw John Gilbert in The Cossacks. God, what a picture." —Robert E. Howard to Harold Preece, September 1928 Renée Adorée, the actress who plays Maryana, was born on September 30, 1898, the daughter of circus performers. She was incorporated into the family act from an early age and grew up touring with the troupe. While they were performing in Russia, World War I broke out and her family fled to England. She took up dancing and became popular in England, Australia, and France. In the early 1920s, she came to America, met actor Tom Moore, and they married in February of 1921, six weeks after they met. He was already a famous actor and so it helped her secure numerous roles, at first, opposite her husband, but then she pretty much broke out on her own. Adorée appeared in Monte Cristo (1922) opposite John Gilbert for the first time – they would go on to make six more films together. Her most important film, which was also opposite Gilbert, was The Big Parade (1925), generally considered one of the best films of the silent era. Her career began humming along, and The Cossacks (1928), which was also popular, was her 7th film made with Gilbert. She only had a cameo in one more of Gilbert's films. By the time she made The Cossacks (1928, she seemed to be on top of her came. She even appeared nude in a swim scene in the pre-code film The Mating Call (1928) that created a huge controversy that year. Still, she seems to have weathered it fine. Then, about 1929, everything turned bad, quickly. She had divorced Moore in 1926, but was married again in 1927. That marriage ended in divorce in 1929. When the industry switched to talkies, roughly 1929, her star power quickly faded. She made several more films, but her career in movies was clearly at an end. And then she was diagnosed with the disease Hester Howard had: tuberculosis. Tragically, despite her condition, she chose to finish the film Call of the Flesh (1930), against her doctor’s orders. She was in such bad shape afterwards, she had to enter a sanitarium where she stayed in bed for two years. She finally left there in April of 1933, but she was dead by October – she died October 5, 1933 from complications of her disease.  |
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Post by johnnypt on Jun 1, 2021 16:29:32 GMT -5
Hmm, I've seen that bath picture before. I remember, it happened one night...
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Post by linefacedscrivener on Jun 1, 2021 18:03:43 GMT -5
Hmm, I've seen that bath picture before. I remember, it happened one night... Oh, man, you are good! I thought that didn't look right. So, I did what I should have done first, and included the video. See above. Nice catch! |
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Post by linefacedscrivener on Jun 2, 2021 14:41:55 GMT -5
 The Cossacks (1928)
“I went, Sunday, to Cisco, a town some forty miles north of Cross Plains, and saw John Gilbert in The Cossacks. God, what a picture." —Robert E. Howard to Harold Preece, September 1928 “Heeeeeyyyyy Lukashka!” Out of all of the actors, in the film, the one that bowled me over was when a guy, who looked a lot like Lou Costello of Abbott & Costello fame, shows up on screen. I went back to the credits, but his name wasn’t there. I figured the guy just looked like him. But, I decided to look in the Internet Movie Database and, sure enough, Lou Costello was an uncredited extra in the film. Weird? |
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Post by johnnypt on Jun 2, 2021 15:09:24 GMT -5
You can see Lou in his pre-fame days the clearest near the opening of Laurel & Hardy's Battle of the Century as a ringside observer with a beard.
He was actually quite the athlete for a guy his size, did a lot of stunt work back then and a number of his own in the A&C era.
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Post by danieljames495 on Jun 2, 2021 17:12:27 GMT -5
Man, Abbot and Costello was one of my favorite shows.
Lou Costello is almost unmistakable. If it was just a resemblance it'd be an uncanny one for sure.
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