Oscilloscope

Mile0095

Winsor McCay: The Master Edition

Dir. Winsor McCay

On DVD 06/01/04

• DVD features

SYNOPSIS

Winsor McCay was the first master of animation and one of its greatest and most influential artists. His films — joyous, hilarious and beautiful —continue to delight and astonish audiences today. Milestone’s WINSOR MCCAY: THE MASTER EDITION features brand-new digital transfers of every surviving film by this cinema pioneer, a new piano score by composer Gabriel Thibaudeau, and John Canemaker’s wonderful documentary Remembering Winsor McCay (1976, 18 minutes).

McCay created a pantheon of beloved characters including Little Nemo, the intrepid traveler in Slumberland; Nemo’s friends Flip and Impie; and the enchanting Gertie the Dinosaur. Highlights in this collection include the stunning hand-colored Little Nemo (1911) mastered from the only known 35mm print in existence, and Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) which was recently restored by the National Archives of Canada using four 35mm nitrate prints from the Cinémathèque’s collection.

Other cinematic treasures include the funny and bizarre How A Mosquito Operates (1912), the deeply moving The Sinking Of The Lusitania (1918), the existing fragments of the lyrical The Centaurs (1918-21), the charming Gertie On Tour (1918-21) and Flip’s Circus (1918-21). McCay’s final three works, all from his surreal and bizarre "Scenes from a Rarebit Fiend" series are featured: Bug Vaudeville (1921), The Pet (1921) and The Flying House (1921).

DVD Features:

"Remembering Winsor McCay" -- the life and career of the great cartoonist Winsor McCay is warmly recalled by his former film assistant, John Fitzsimmons, with clips of classic McCay animated films. (18 minutes.)
Commentary by McCay historian John Canemaker
Extensive Stills Gallery!

Release Info