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THE SMOKING CABINET: A Festival of Early Cabaret and Burlesque
| THE SMOKING CABINET: A Festival of Early Cabaret and Burlesque (1895-1933) 7th, 8th, 9th December 2007 The Curzon Soho Opening night party £10 (screening, plus acts in association with Future Cinema) all other screenings £5.50 Bookings: 0871 7033 988 / www.curzoncinemas.com Website/ mailing list: www.thesmokingcabinet.com www.myspace.com/thesmokingcabinet  The Smoking Cabinet presents an exotic array of films that epitomise the flair, eroticism and joie de vivre of burlesque, fin de siècle follies, the machine age, and modernist cabaret. Come and celebrate various forms of decadent entertainment from the belle époque to the end of the Weimar Republic, the cinematic history of the subversive! We’ll take a peak into the seductive, sultry and downright bizarre with a series of rarely-screened shorts, a well-loved classic cabaret feature, and inspiring talks. Revel in the delectable secrets of cabaret inspired early cinema and prepare yourself for the work of Fernard Léger, Man Ray, Percy Smith, Adrian Brunel, Jean Renoir, Georges Méliès as well as music hall stars, circus performers, early erotica and performing animals.  OPENING NIGHT FRI 7 December 8.20PM till late, bar performances from 7.00 PM //MOODY’S CLUB FOLLIES// & Opening Night Soirée Films, dancing, live music, acts, interviews, and magic lantern displays plus a complimentary tipple for all guests, thanks to Tiger Beer! A series of shorts including suggestively blossoming flora in //The Birth of a Flower// (Percy Smith, 1910) and footage from an original 1920’s London revue in the shape of //Moody’s Club Follies// (1923). Marvel at delectable dance routines courtesy of Future Cinema and a fabulous performance from the unmissable Bourgeois & Maurice, plus an incisive interview with our patron Lisa Appignanesi on her book ‘The Cabaret’. SAT 8 December 6 PM //ELECTRIC WOMEN// and additional oddities, followed by discussion: “Burlesque & Cabaret on Film: Screening the fantastical” with special guests including Vanessa Toulmin, Director of the National Fairground Archive and Fabien Riggall, Future Shorts Cinematic wonders abound in this series of magic tricks, acrobatics, performing animals and early erotica. Featuring Fred Evans, Adrian Brunel and Georges Méliès; come join us for a sing a long to //Yes We Have No- !// (1923), guffaw at the topsy-turvy world of //Vice Versa// (1910), the spine tingling beauty of //Electric Women// (1927) and other oddities. SUN 9 December 12 Noon //THE BLUE ANGEL// followed by discussion: “Women in Burlesque & Cabaret: Empowerment vs. Titillation” with Amy Lamé plus special guests Director: Josef Von Sternberg Germany 1930 / 105mins The definitive study of Weimar decay and decadence: Marlene Dietrich stars as the seedy stage starlet who corrupts and then devours an uptight teacher (Emil Jannings) in one of cinema and Europe’s most poignant periods. Followed by discussion. 6PM //TILLY LOSCH IN HER DANCE OF THE HANDS// and other rarities & Closing Party Join us for our last screening, live music, cakes and dancing as we wind down with ciné dance classic //Annabelle’s Butterfly Dance// (1895-1897), //So this is Paris!// (1926) and //Tilly Losch in Her Dance of the Hands// (1930-1933), and some riotous, rampant Dadaism in //Ballet mécanique// (1923-1924). Talks / Discussions Burlesque & Cabaret on Film: Screening the Fantastical Sat 8th December after Electric Women with Vanessa Toulmin plus special guests This talk will take a look at burlesque and cabaret traditions from the 1880s through to the 1930s, their portrayal on screen and the significance of their current revival. What exactly is burlesque? How does one qualify a cabaret? Does it help us to understand early cinema as a nascent form of multimedia exhibition? Speakers include Vanessa Toulmin, Director of the National Fairground Archive. Women in Burlesque & Cabaret: Empowerment vs. Titillation Sunday 9th December after The Blue Angel with special guests including Amy Lamé Burlesque is back and women are up front both on stage and in the crowd; but how and why has a seemingly male-focused art-form become a popular form of expression for so many women, and can women use this form to establish a new space for the expression of femininity and female sexuality on their own terms? Does this expression constitute empowerment or is it old-fashioned titillation for the boys? Airing their opinions are special guests including Amy Lamé, host of the seminal club and cabaret night Duckie. Plus The Smoking Cabinet at Volupté; screenings as part of the Afternoon Tease Saturday 8th December, 2:30pm onwards Enjoy a full afternoon tea, live burlesque performance and screenings of some early cinematic delights courtesy of The Smoking Cabinet as part of Volupté’s weekly afternoon spectacle Call Volupté on 0207 831 1622 to reserve your table and quote THE SMOKING CABINET when you book for £2 off the entry price. |
