ALEXANDER SHIRYAEV (1867–1941) 3: DANCE, TRICKS, AND ANIMATION

Alexander Shiryaev's Puppet Theatre. Photo from: Peter Lord: "The Start of Stop-Frame: Animation's Great Lost Pioneer", The Guardian, 14 Nov 2008.

The highlight of the Festival, introduced by David Robinson, the world premiere of the restored films from the Prestech laboratory, João de Oliveira getting the award, with John Sweeney excellent on the grand piano (these are films where music counts), together with a violin (by Günter Buchwald?) in Harlequin's Jest. Presented with live commentary at Le Giornate del Cinema Muto, Pordenone, Cinema Verdi, 10 October 2008.

The following list is from the Catalogue:

1. Dance Films with Shiryaev and Matveeva
[COSSACK DANCE] (source: 17.5 mm neg., restored and transferred to 35 mm, 1113 frames, 1’09”)
[FOLK COURTSHIP DANCE] (source: 35 mm neg., 1’35”)
[“FOOL’S DANCE” FROM PETIPA’S MLADA] (source: 35 mm neg., 2’15”)
[HUNGARIAN? DANCE] (source: 35 mm neg., 2’56”)
[“MATELOTE”] (source: 17.5 mm neg., 51”)
[POLISH? DANCE] (source: 17.5 mm pos., 2’37”)
[POLISH? DANCE] (source: 17.5 mm pos., 54”) Shiryaev solo.

2. Trick Films
[BOY IN A SACK] (source: 17.5 mm pos., 52”)
[CHAIRS] (source: 35 mm neg., 35”)
[THE ENCHANTED TEA TABLE] (source: 17.5 mm pos., 42”)
[MAGICAL DRESSING] (source: 17.5 mm neg., 500 frames, 35”)
[PIERROT AND THE MAID 1] (source: 17.5 mm neg., 1820 frames, 1’52”)
[PIERROT AND THE MAID 2] (source: 17.5 mm pos., 2’02”)
[PIERROT AND THE MAID 3] (source: 17.5 mm neg., 2292 frames, 2’23”)

3. Paper Films
[BIRDS IN FLIGHT] (source: 45 mm paper film, digitally re-animated by Aardman Animations, Bristol, 2008, 4”, now looped, DigiBeta)
[“BUFFOON’S DANCE” FROM THE NUTCRACKER] (source: 45 mm paper film, reanimated by Viktor Bocharov, 2003, 1’30”, DigiBeta)
[CAKEWALK] (source: 45 mm paper film, re-animated by Viktor Bocharov, 2003, 1’04”, DigiBeta)
[SNAKE] (source: 45 mm paper film, re-animated by Viktor Bocharov, 2003, 5”, DigiBeta)

4. Puppet Animation Films
[“BABY DANCE” FROM DIE PUPPENFEE] (source: 35 mm neg., 1’17”)
[HARLEQUIN’S JEST] (source: 35 mm neg.; 5 scenes, 12’41”, plus interpolated titles)
[“HINDU DANCE” FROM LA BAYADÈRE] (source: 35 mm neg., 3’)
P’ERO-KHUDOZHNIKI [No.1] (Artist Pierrots 1) (source: 35 mm neg., 5’35”)
P’ERO-KHUDOZHNIKI [No. 2] (Artist Pierrots 2) (source: 35 mm neg., 3’05”)
[TWO PIERROTS PLAYING BALL] (source: 35 mm neg., 1’17”)

The films were not shown in the order of the catalogue. Comments on the actual screening: 1–7 dvd, 8–11 35 mm, 12–13 dvd, 14–18 35 mm, 19–22 DigiBeta, 23–29 35 mm. The films almost never had title cards. All four film groups had a special charm of their own, but maybe the most marvellous was the last section. Harlequin's Jest was the final number.

A milestone in the history of dance in the cinema and animation.