Return to Babylon (2008)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Alex Monty Canawati

Writers:

Susan Ashley Basinski (screenplay)
Alex Monty Canawati (writer)

Release Date:

2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Hollywood is rocked by scandal during the silent-movie era. |

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Maria Conchita Alonso	...	Lupe Velez
Jennifer Tilly	...	Clara Bow
Debi Mazar	...	Gloria Swanson
Ione Skye	...	Virginia Rappe
Tippi Hedren	...	Mrs. Peabody
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brett Ashy	...	Fatty Arbuckle
Jack Atlantis	...	William Desmond Taylor
Marina Bakica	...	Alma Rubens
Billy Bennight	...	Ma Kettle's other son
Phillip Bloch	...	Ramon Navarro
Alex Monty Canawati	...	Rudolph Valentino
Alejandro Delgado	...	Harold Lloyd
Blaine Dunham	...	Mae Murray / Marlene Dietrich
Michael Goldman	...	Adolph Zukor
Laura Harring	...	Alla Nazimova
Frank Infante	...	Dr. Feelgood
Paul Kent	...	Mack Sennett
Devora Lillian	...	Mary Miles Minter
Alyson MacInnis	...	Norma Talmadge
Morganne	...	Mabel Normand (as Morganne Picard)
Marion Ramsey	...	Maid
Celena Rubin	...	Maid
Enrique Sapene	...	Slate Boy
Stephen Saux	...	Mr. Producer
Jennifer Seifert	...	Pola Negri
Stanley Sheff	...	Douglas Fairbanks (as Maxwell DeMille)
Adnan Taletovich	...	John Gilbert
Rolonda Watts	...	Josephine Baker

Also Known As:

Babylon Revisited (USA) (working title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Filming Locations:

Villa Talmadge - 4320 Cedarhurst Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Ambyth Productions

Trivia:

Held up in post-production for at least 3 years, the producers have announced "Return to Babylon" is to be released in the summer of 2008. The reason for the delay was the discovery in post production anomalies in the film.... such as odd figures, morphing of characters and ghost-like images, etc. in some scenes. These were especially clear in still framing. These were found to be in the original negatives and not in the special effects. The film makers decided the images do not take away from the integrity of the film, thus the release date. Jennifer Tilly, one of the stars, talked about this on the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno in 2007.

In post production for an eternity

Also known as Birth of Babylon and/or Silent Madness, it's already a masterpiece, but director A. Monty Canawati's pathological attention to detail and unexpected financial delays have plagued this picture ever since late 2002. It is my sincere hope that someday this silent adventure into the absurd will see the light of day--in a theater--for all to enjoy. Enormous thanks to the entire cast and crew who worked tirelessly on this project for little or no pay. Special thanks to Monty Canawati for his guiding genius and willingness to take chances, even when the risk taking wasn't so popular. Return to Babylon was a learning experience of the highest order and a gift that opened up a whole new world; a world to which I will forever be attached.