11/17/12

THE MAN WHO LAUGHS



The Man Who Laughs (1928) is an American silent film directed by the German Expressionist filmmaker Paul Leni. The film is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel of the same name and stars Conrad Veidt as Gwynplaine and Mary Philbin as the blind Dea. The film is known for the grim carnival freak-like grin on the character Gwynplaine's face, which often leads it to be classified as a horror film.  Film critic Roger Ebert stated, "The Man Who Laughs is a melodrama, at times even a swashbuckler, but so steeped in Expressionist gloom that it plays like a horror film."
The Man Who Laughs is a Romantic melodrama, similar to films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923). The film was one of the early Universal Pictures productions that made the transition from silent films to sound films, using the Movietone sound system introduced by William Fox
After Universal Pictures had large hits with Gothic dramas such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925), the company encouraged film producer Carl Laemmle to produce a follow-up in a similar vein. Laemmle decided to film Victor Hugo's The Man Who Laughs. The title role was originally meant for Lon Chaney (who starred in the previous Universal films), but he was under a long-term contract with MGM Studios.
Being of German ancestry, Laemmle had connections with the German film scene, which gave him an inside track when negotiating with some of Germany's filmmakers and actors. Laemmle had seen director Paul Leni's Waxworks (1926) and was impressed with the movie's sets and ominous stylistics. Laemmle chose Leni to accept the challenge of crafting the film adaptation. In addition, Laemmle pursued Veidt, who played a prominent role in Waxworks, to star. Veidt had also previously starred in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920).
Baclanova's resemblance to modern singer Madonna in The Man Who Laughs has been noted by current critics.
Universal put over $1,000,000 into The Man Who Laughs, an extremely high budget for an American film of the time.

WTF IS GOING ON IN AFRICA?!


 Uganda is passing  “Imprison the Gays” bill by the end of the year. now news comes  about anti-LGBT laws in Cameroon and Nigeria!


The Office of the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Human Rights has gone on the attack against Cameroon’s penal code, which calls for imprisonment and fines for same-sex sexual relations, after reports of intimidation and convictions, sometimes based merely on the suspect’s appearance or mannerisms. In October, two men were jailed simply because they appeared effeminate and had been seen drinking Bailey’s Irish Cream.

The U.N. Human Rights office is receiving reports of death threats against civil-rights leaders working to help LGBT people in Cameroon. “Obviously laws that target people because of their sexual orientation are discriminatory by any nature,” says U.N. Human Rights spokesman Rupert Colville.  “That is why we strongly oppose them and we obviously try and convince governments that have such laws to change them.  And, of course, many governments have changed them.”

If that wasn’t enough to digest, Nigeria’s legislature has introduced a bill  that would not only imprison gay people, but those who stand up for them—criminalizing performing or attending a gay wedding. Gays and lesbians who marry will face 14 years in prison, while public displays of affection will land perpetrators a 10-year sentence.
“[Homosexuality] is alien to our society and culture and it must not be imported,” House majority leader Mulikat Adeola-Akande said. “Religion abhors it and our culture has no place for it.”
A similar bill passed Nigeria’s Senate last year but didn’t clear the Assembly.  The international LGBT rights group All Out has posted an online campaign calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to veto the current bill.
 In all, 38 countries in Africa have laws criminalizing homosexuality.
READ MORE~

GAY TRAVEL GURU


if this guy tells you to go somewhere... do it!

SOLO TEA PARTY


@ antebellum~ november 17th~ 4:11pm~ nice rainy saturday

tea served~ keenum black tea with baby rosebuds
accompanied by mixed berry tartlet

DIAMANDA~ LIVE


diamanda galas live @ the poznan jazz fair~ poland~ circa~ 1999

TURNING


TURNING, based on a critically acclaimed tour of Europe by Antony and Charles Atlas, 
is a music documentary that explores the heart of that performance. Through its synthesis of Antony´s songs and unfurling video portraiture of the 13 women who performed on stage, TURNING creates an intimate and cinematic experience exploring themes of identity, transcendence and the revelation of essence.

repost courtesy~ lauren pine~ nyc/antebellum correspondent

11/16/12

WESTON CAGE IN DRAG

weston cage is the goth metal son of nicolas cage. 
he has had numerous breakdowns during 2011.
these are pics he posted himself in drag circa~ 2010
photos courtesy~ weston cage~ beverly hills/antebellum correspondent

FOR TODAY~ MY THOUGHTS

CHOOSEN COMEPLETELY RANDOM~ NOVEMBER 16TH~ 2012~ 8AM