Cruel & Unusual Comedy at MOMA (NY) May 20-June 1, 2009

Cruel and Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film May 20, 2009–June 1, 2009 MOMA will be running a number of silent film comedies during the last part of the month. The series, titled Cruel and Unusual Comedy, will feature a number of evenings of silent films, grouped in themes, that use comedy to address pretty . All films are from the U.S. and are silent, with piano accompaniment by Ben Model. All running times are approximate. You can read film notes written by Steve Masa and Ben Model on their specialty blog http://cruelandunusualcomedy.blogspot.com/ You can find out more about the series on the MOMA website http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/948 Tickets are $10, less for seniors and students, and free if you are a MOMA member (although you do still require a ticket. Drag Shows: Cross-Dressing the Sexes Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 4:00 p.m. With piano accompaniment by Ben Model Getting Rid of Trouble 1912. USA. Directed by Del Henderson. With Charlie Murray. 10 min. Sweedie Learns to Swim 1914. USA. Directed by Wallace Beery. With Beery. 10 min. Chasing the Chaser 1925. USA. Directed by Stan Laurel. With James Finlayson. 10 min. Get ‘Em Young 1926. USA. Directed by Fred Guiol. With Stan Laurel. 18 min. Good Night Nurse 1917. USA. Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle. With Arbuckle, Buster Keaton. 18 min. Race Riots: Beyond Black and White Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 4:00 p.m With piano accompaniment by Ben Model A Change of Complexion 1914. USA. Directed by Phillips Smalley. With Henry Bergman. 10 min. Haunted Spooks 1920. USA. Directed by Hal Roach. With Harold Lloyd, Sunshine Sammy. 20 min. Below Zero 1925. USA. Directed by Norman Taurog. With Lige Conley, Spencer Bell. 18 min. A Natural Born Gambler 1916. USA. Director unknown. With Bert Williams. 20 min. Black and White 1913. USA. Directed by Del Henderson. With David Morris. 10 min. Gratuitous Violence: No Turn Unstoned Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 7:00 p.m. With piano accompaniment by Ben Model Deep Sea Panic 1924. USA. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. With James Parrott. 12 min. Their First Execution 1913. USA. Directed by Mack Sennett. With Ford Sterling. 10 min. The Phoney Cannibal 1915. USA. Directed by Charles E. Ward. With Lloyd Hamilton, Bud Duncan. 10 min. The Counter Jumper 1922. USA. Directed by Larry Semon. With Semon, Oliver Hardy. 18 min. Cold Hearts and Hot Flames 1916. USA. Directed by John G. Blystone. With Billie Ritchie. 20 min Animals and Children: No Harm Done Friday, May 29, 2009, 4:00 p.m With piano accompaniment by Ben Model An Elephant on His Hands 1912. USA. Directed by Frederick Thomson. With George Ober. 10 min. Cat, Dog, and Co. 1929. USA. Directed by Anthony Mack. With the Our Gang kids. 18 min. Mind the Baby 1924. USA. Directed by Al Herman. With Pal the dog. 18 min. The Knockout 1923. USA. Directed by Len Powers. With the Dippy-Doo-Dads. 10 min. When Summer Comes 1922. USA. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. With Billy Bevan. 18 min. The Machine Age: Mack Sennett vs. Henry Ford Monday, June 1, 2009, 4:00 p.m. With piano accompaniment by Ben Model Lizzies of the Field 1924. USA. Directed by Del Lord. With Billy Bevan. 18 min. His Bread and Butter 1916. USA. Directed by Edward Cline, Hank Mann. With Mann, Slim Summerville. 18 min. Get Out and Get Under 1920. USA. Directed by Hal Roach. With Harold Lloyd. 18 min. Squeaks and Squawks 1920. USA. Directed by Noel M. Smith. With Jimmy Aubrey, Oliver Hardy. 18 min. Neck and Neck 1924. USA. Directed by Fred Hibbard. With Lige Conley. 18 min.