The Wild, Wild World of Charley Bowers 1926 – 1930 All Ages
When
1.30 pm, Sat 17 Jan 2026 (86 mins)Where
Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Admission
Free
About
A hidden gem of the silent film comedy landscape, we celebrate the filmmaker Charley Bowers who deserves a moment in the sun. This selection of short films showcases Bowers’s alter ego ‘Bricolo’ alongside the filmmaker’s extraordinary animation and wildly inventive mechanical mayhem. These silent films will play with their film soundtrack.
Egged On 1926
Always looking for the invention that will make him rich, Bricolo tries to build a machine that makes eggs unbreakable. Featuring an incredible animation sequence of cars hatching out of eggs.
23 minutes | All Ages
Many a Slip 1927
Bricolo must solve a problem of astronomical importance: how to make a banana peel less slippery.
26 minutes | All Ages
He Done His Best 1926
For the love of his gal, Bricolo takes a job in a restaurant and rapidly becomes the man who does it all, via his finest invention: a machine that automates the entire restaurant.
24 minutes | All Ages
It's a Bird 1930
Set in a junkyard, It's a Bird showcases Charley Bowers's inventive and playful filmmaking style. The story combines an inspired mix of live action acting, stop motion animation and of course a metal eating bird.
15 minutes | All Ages
Production Credits
Egged On
- Directors: Charley Bowers, Harold L Muller, Ted Sears
- Script: Charley Bowers, Harold L Muller, Ted Sears
- Cast: Charley Bowers
- Print Source: FPA Classics
- Rights: FPA Classics
- Year: 1926
- Runtime: 23 minutes
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Colour: Black & White
- Shooting Format: 35mm
- Screening Format: DCP
Many a Slip
- Directors: Charley Bowers, Harold L Muller
- Script: Charley Bowers, Harold L Muller
- Cast: Charley Bowers
- Print Source: FPA Classics
- Rights: FPA Classics
- Year: 1927
- Runtime: 26 minutes
- Country: United States
- Language: French
- Subtitles: English
- Colour: Black & White
- Shooting Format: 35mm
- Screening Format: DCP
He Done His Best
- Directors: Charley Bowers, Harold L Muller
- Script: Charley Bowers, Harold L Muller
- Cast: Charley Bowers
- Print Source: FPA Classics
- Rights: FPA Classics
- Year: 1926
- Runtime: 24 minutes
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Colour: Black & White
- Shooting Format: 35mm
- Screening Format: DCP
It's a Bird
- Directors: Charley Bowers, Harold L Muller
- Script: Charley Bowers
- Based on: the Lowell Thomas 'Tall Story' series
- Cinematographer: Harold L Muller
- Cast: Charley Bowers
- Print Source: FPA Classics
- Rights: FPA Classics
- Year: 1930
- Runtime: 15 minutes
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Colour: Black & White
- Shooting Format: 35mm
- Screening Format: DCP