Raymond Griffith: The Silk Hat Comedian

Raymond Griffith is one of the best-kept secrets of silent comedy. During a twenty-five year career he not only wrote, directed and produced movies, but was also the star of nine comedy features for Paramount. Because of the disappearance and unavailability of his work he's been forgotten, but now this release of two of his best comedies puts the spotlight on Mr. Griffith and serves as an introduction to his many talents. - PATHS TO PARADISE (1925) is the most overlooked silent comedy classic of the 1920s. A clockwork-timed crook comedy that presents Griffith in all his smarmy elegance, it's expertly written, directed, and acted by a top-notch comedy ensemble. Griffith and co-star Betty Compson play rival jewel thieves who form an alliance to steal a valuable diamond. YOU'd BE SURPRISED (1926) stars the top-hatted bon vivant as a police coroner who's called in to solve the murder of an important district attorney. Dorothy Sebastian is the leading lady who helps Mr. Griffith sort through numerous red herrings to find the killer. Veteran supporting players add comic seasoning to the proceedings of one of the most recent rediscoveries of the lost Griffith films. - Both films are presented in new 2K digital restorations of archival 35mm prints preserved by the Library of Congress, and feature new theatre organ scores by Ben Model. Also included is a video essay about Raymond Griffith that uses film clips and still photos to examine his life and career, as well as to highlight the two featured films. DVD is NTSC, Region-free.