Undercrank Productions

16/10/2024

I'm the guest on a special bonus episode of the Reely Old Movies podcast this week, talking about THE BAT, Undercrank Productions, and silent film accompaniment. Kudos to Harrison Scullin for having me on the show! Scroll down for the audio-only and YouTube editions of the episode.

01/10/2024

JB Kaufman has reviewed the new release of "The Bat" (1926) for his Movie of the Month! "…we can be thankful that this long-missing silent has been restored to our view, and in such an elegant presentation."
http://www.jbkaufman.com/movie-of-the-month/bat-1926

21/09/2024

Another nice review for the Kickstarter itself that I've just completed for "The Bat" (1926). This was in response to the latest backer update, sent yesterday, letting our supporters know their copy of Blu/DVD have been mailed out. I've got another Kx up my sleeve and hope to launch in the next few weeks.

13/07/2024

Now available for pre-ordering, and available July 30th! Discover Francis Ford and see some of the surviving silents of his on this new Blu-ray of restorations from Undercrank Productions. This project was initiated, programmed and co-produced by Kathy Fuller Seeley. "The Craving" was sourced from a 35mm in the collection at Eye Filmmuseum and then digitally restored for us by Thad Komorowski. All films on the disc are scored on piano by Ben Model. First comment (below) has pre-ordering info.

24/09/2023

The fan-funding Kickstarter campaign for our “THE BAT” (1926) project is now 96% funded! Thanks to all who swooped in and pledged, and esp. to those who shared the link and helped get the word out to people I’m not connected with here or on other socials. If you’re interested in pledging – bit.ly/UCP-bat-kix

20/09/2023

We've just launched THE BAT – our new Kickstarter!! Enjoy the promo video, or just go ahead and pledge. Either way, we hope you'll consider being part of this effort to bring an(other) obscure gem of the silent screen back to fans and renown.

The project: produce a new 2K restoration from a scan of archival 35mm, with a new score, for Blu/DVD/DCP in time for Halloween 2024

18/07/2023

Great review from Media Play News for the new Undercrank Productions blu-ray of restored Tom Mix silents: “This week marked my official introduction to Hollywood’s first cowboy superstar and it’s fair to say Sky High sent me into orbit.”

BLU-RAY REVIEW Street Date 7/18/23 (DVD), 7/25/23 (BD); Undercrank Productions; Western; $19.98 DVD, $21.98 Blu-ray; Not Rated. By the time Tom Mix had turned 30, the silent screen buckaroo had … Continue reading "Tom Mix: Sky High & The Big Diamond Robbery"

19/06/2023

Caroline Breder-Watts of the Columbus Moving Picture Show interviewed me for the festival's podcast. The new episode is available now!
https://www.columbusmovingpictureshow.com/podcast-1/episode/2ca1ce0c/ben-model-and-undercranks-10th-anniversary

06/06/2023

Here's Mary Mallory's article-interview on the L.A. Daily Mirror site about Undercrank Productions's 10th anniversary.
https://ladailymirror.com/2023/06/02/mary-mallory-hollywood-heights-ben-models-undercrank-productions-bring-silent-films-to-life/

04/06/2023

It's our 10th anniversary! All our Blu-rays and DVDs are on sale throughout June 2023 at DeepDiscount.com, Critics' Choice Video and Movies Unlimited. Check out the Undercrank Productions page on DeepDiscount here:

Shop our Undercrank 10th anniversary sale going on now.

28/04/2023

Another great review for Andrew Earle Simpson’s Frank Borzage set rel. by Undercrank Productions, this time from Ink 19’s Phil Bailey: “The disc is a winner, showcasing a great directorial talent flexing [Borzage’s] visual style and considerable range as a storyteller at the height of silent cinema.”

A pair of century old silent films from multiple Academy Award winning director Frank Borzage hit Blu-ray/DVD with new scores by Andrew Earle Simpson. Phil Bailey reviews the 1922 silent Frank Borzage double feature Back Pay & The Valley of Silent Men.

20/04/2023

Happy birthday to 16mm film! These silent comedies only exist or circulate because prints were made in in the 1920s and 1930s for the home use rental market.

Accidentally Preserved Volume 2: Rare and Lost Silent Films from Vintage 16mm Prints is a DVD series of rare/lost silent film shorts, presented in new digital HD transfers with new musical scores on piano or theatre organ by Ben Model. This second DVD release in the series contains 9 more rare/lost....

24/03/2023

Jeremy Carr writing in Film International says, "The release of any Borzage film is welcome, and these 2K (Back Pay) and 4K (The Valley of Silent Men) scans make for prized additions to the available filmography of one of cinema’s greats. The excellent piano and theater organ scores, newly composed and performed by Andrew Earle Simpson, only add to the value."

By Jeremy Carr. Two 1922 Borzage features are now available on Blu-ray/DVD, thanks to the laudable efforts of Undercrank Productions and the Library of Congress.” The arrival of any Frank Borzage film on DVD or Blu-ray is a noteworthy occasion. But when there are two packaged together and they are...

17/03/2023

Nice write-up from Media Play News for the new Frank Borzage 2-disc set from Undercrank Productions, scored (and Kickstarted) by Andrew Earle Simpson. MPN's reviewer has this to say about Borzage in his discussion of the two films on the set:
"Borzage was a poet, a dextrous romanticist who sanctified every frame with an eye toward beauty and engaging audience sympathy. His compassionate interest in humanity allowed for an occasional trickle of schmaltz without letting the floodgates burst. For Borzage, the redemptive power of love conquered all. He spent a career illustrating his belief."

BLU-RAY REVIEW: Undercrank Productions; $24.95 DVD, $29.95 Blu-ray; Not rated. Back Pay (1922) Cosmopolitan Productions/Paramount; Drama; Stars Seena Owen, Matt Moore, J. Barney Sherry, Ethel Duray. Fannie Hurst’s tale of … Continue reading "Frank Borzage: 1922 Silents"

27/01/2023

Two of the Marion Davies silents released by Undercrank Productions will air on the next “Silent Sunday Nights” on TCM! Both films were preserved by the Library of Congress, and their getting produced for & released on homevideo was funded by fans (like you). “Beauty’s Worth” was an Edward Lorusso Kickstarter, and “Beverly of Graustark” was one of Ben Model’s.

03/01/2023

HBD to Brooklyn's own Marion Davies! TCM celebrating by airing 5 of her silents today starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT that are Undercrank Productions releases and which were scored on theatre organ by Ben Model. 2 were Kickstarters of mine and 3 were Kx'ed by Edward Lorusso – which means that these films are now available thanks to a few hundred dedicated silent film fans (incl. you?), as well as to the preservation efforts of the Library of Congress.
• The Bride's Play (1922) - 8pm
• Beauty's Worth (1922) - 9:30pm
• When Knighthood Was In Flower (1922) - 11pm
• Little Old New York (1923) - 1:15am
• Beverly of Graustark (1926) - 3:15am