movies – David J. Kent

Lincoln at the movies

Abraham Lincoln is going to the movies. Granted, his last trip to the theater didn’t work out too well. But AFI – the American Film Institute – brings us a series of movies featuring Abraham Lincoln that everyone will want to see.

These are not just any Lincoln movies. “The Lincoln Cycle” is a series of newly restored, historic silent films from 1917 about the life of Abraham Lincoln. The restoration of the eight short films was done by the Library of Congress, debuted in 2018 and has been widely praised in the cinematic press. The restored films, featuring live accompaniment on a real theater organ, will be shown over two days — Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 — at the AFI Silver theater, 8633 Colesville Rd., in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, starting at 5:15 pm on Saturday and 5:30 on Sunday. The showings will be in the AFI’s main theater, which is widely rated as the best place to watch a movie in the Washington area.

According to AFI:

“The Lincoln Cycle comprises the surviving eight two-reel episodes of producer and star Benjamin Chapin’s 1917 life-of-Abraham Lincoln series. While Chapin gave himself screen credit for writing, producing and directing the films and portraying the 16th President (as well as his father Thomas and his grandfather, also named Abe), John Stahl credibly claimed to have been the series’ actual director, and the quality of the films’ structure and performances would seem to bear that out. Episodes from Lincoln’s youth are dramatized with vigor and sensitivity, and the portrayals by Charles Jackson as young Abe and Madelyn Clare as his mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln are revelatory. DIR John M. Stahl; SCR/PROD Benjamin Chapin. U.S., 1917, b&w, 217 min total (Part 1 approx. 106 min; Part 2 approx 111 min). Silent with English intertitles. NOT RATED”

As you can see, the films will be split over two nights. Part 1 on March 28th includes the first 4 short films. Part 2 on March 29th shows the other 4 short films. You can attend one night or both nights. Admission is $15 for each day and the screenings on both days will last about two hours. Tickets can be purchased at the AFI box office or in advance from the AFI Silver web site. The AFI Silver is about two blocks from the Metro Red Line and is near a host of Montgomery County parking garages, which are free on weekends. There is also a wide selection of restaurants nearby for pre or post-screening dining.

For more information and tickets, click for Part 1 on May 28th and Part 2 on May 29th

Personally, I think this is an extraordinary opportunity to see these rare films and I plan to be there for both nights. I hope you’ll join me.

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

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Yesterday I had a fascinating conversation with actor Bobby Campo about Nikola Tesla. It reminded me of the fascinating connections between actors and the electrical engineer that was the topic of my book, Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity.

Campo currently plays Seth Branson in the Scream: The TV Series. He also appeared in movies such as Legally Blondes and Final Destination, not to mention roles in various popular TV programs like CSI, CSI:Miami, and Gray’s Anatomy. We had a pleasant conversation about a wide range of Tesla-related topics. I has impressed by Campo’s technical knowledge; he’s actually done experiments and built a Tesla coil. I gave him some background about my book, suggested he also check out Bernie Carlson’s Tesla book, and hooked him up with the Tesla Science Foundation. I enjoyed our conversation immensely.

Campo was sent to me by another actor, James Lee Taylor (aka, Jammy). I first met James when I was asked to advise the Director, Writer, and Cast of the off-Broadway play, TESLA, in 2013. I reviewed the play here, and it went on to a huge hit, completely sold out every night of its run in New York. James Lee Taylor has gone on to star in several acting endeavors, most recently in a guest starring role as the love interest of Gabrielle Union (yes, THAT Gabrielle Union) in the hit BET TV show, Being Mary Jane. Taylor is also a highly sought after model; so much so that it seems every update he posts comes from a different continent.

David Bowie

The fascination with Tesla by actors doesn’t stop there. Pop icon and actor David Bowie played Nikola Tesla in The Prestige, a 2006 movie about magicians featuring other big stars who like Tesla: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Andy Serkis, and Michael Caine. Other actors fascinated by Tesla include prolific actor Jack Dimich, who not only co-starred with James Lee Taylor in the above mentioned TESLA play but plays Tesla in a new documentary in production. Another huge Tesla project is Tower to the People, directed by Joseph Sikorski, one of the biggest supporters of Nikola Telsa and the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe. Sikorski is also the driving force behind another Tesla movie in production, Fragments From Olympus: The Vision of Nikola Tesla.

I’ve been privileged to have been associated with these people. The interest and dedication to keeping Nikola Tesla’s name alive has been a wonderful experience, one that I hope will continue for a long time.

David J. Kent has been a scientist for thirty-five years, is an avid science traveler, and an independent Abraham Lincoln historian. He is the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (now in its 5th printing) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate. His book on Thomas Edison is due in Barnes and Noble stores in spring 2016.

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