Movies

Two short films Donna and I enjoyed together:

Possum Trot - The Life and Work of Calvin Black (1977) - Possum Trot was a mid-desert rock shop and eccentric tourist spectacle created by Calvin and Ruby Black. This film was made after Calvin had died but features some of the recordings he made for his remarkable interactive Fantasy Doll Show. A glimmer of the amazing greatness of his work is shown by stop-motion animation of the stage full of dolls singing and dancing to one of Calvin's squeaky Residents-like songs. This, and the visual impact of the wind-powered animated outdoor figures, and aged lumpish Ruby Black wandering amid the scrub and sand leaves an indefinable emotion lingering long afterward. This is the unique work of a remarkable couple. Praise their names. This film was written by Allie Light and filmed by Irving Saraf, but isn't listed on IMDB and I have no idea how available it is. 10/10

Chess Fever (1925) Silent Russian comedy about a relationship imperiled by the young man's obsession with chess. Features competition footage of the champions of the day, and creates a fantastic vision of a society entirely chess-mad, except for the romantically yearning young woman. Highly enjoyable. Includes kittens. 9/10