And when I learned it was actually a drama that centered on irrigation, it moved further down my list of "must-see" films.
Well, yes, it's a terrible title. And yes, it is about irrigation.
But all that disguises a terrific silent film with a whole lot going for it:
• A cast led by Ronald Colman, Vilma Banky, and a very young Gary Cooper.
• Great location shooting in Nevada's Black Rock Desert.
• Direction by Henry King at the height of his powers.
• Great cinematography from Greg Toland, who would later shoot 'Citizen Kane' for Orson Welles.
• A spectacular flood sequence that never fails to mesmerize an audience.
I first saw parts of this film thanks to Kevin Brownlow, who included sequence from it in his "Hollywood" documentary series about the silent film era.
Brownlow, the legendary British film preservationist and advocate, included the material in a presentation he gave a few years ago at the University of Arkansas, for which I was privileged to supply musical accompaniment.
I was amazed at the flooding sequence, and so sought out the whole picture.
'The Winning of Barbara Worth' (1926) turned out to be one of the many forgotten gems from the silent era—pictures never get included in the list of timeless classics or studied in film class, but which nevertheless achieve excellence on their own terms and hold up very well when screened today.
Well, you have a chance to discover this great flick this week. I'll be accompanying a screening of it on Thursday, June 9 at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center in Plymouth, N.H.
Showtime is 6:30 p.m. More details about the film and the screening are in the press release below this.
After that, it's two "unforgotten" gems.
• On Friday, June 10 at 7 p.m., it's Buster Keaton in 'The General' (1926) at Red River Theatres in Concord, N.H.
• And on Sunday, June 12 at 8 p.m., it's Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in 'The Kid' (1921) at the Aeronaut Brewery in Somerville, Mass.
But first up is 'Barbara Worth' (1926), and below is more info. Hope to see you there!
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2016 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com
Rip-roaring epic silent Western to be shown at Flying Monkey on Thursday, June 9
'The Winning of Barbara Worth,' starring Ronald Colman and Gary Cooper, to be screened with live music in Plymouth, N.H.
PLYMOUTH, N.H.—A film that helped set the stage for Hollywood's love affair with the American West will be shown next month at The Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center.
'The Winning of Barbara Worth' (1926), a silent drama starring Gary Cooper, Ronald Colman, and Vilma Banky, will be screened on Thursday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. at 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.
Live music for the movie will be provided by silent film accompanist Jeff Rapsis. Admission is $10 per person.
Directed by Henry King, 'The Winning of Barbara Worth' chronicles the epic story of pioneer settlers who dreamed of irrigating California's parched Imperial Valley in the early 20th century. Filmed on location in Nevada's Black Rock desert, the movie is noted for its extensive use of vast open spaces and wild scenery.
The story centers on a rivalry for the affections of Barbara Worth (Vilma Banky), adopted daughter of a powerful rancher. A local cowboy (Gary Cooper) finds himself competing with a newly arrived engineer (Ronald Colman), who has come to the rural valley to work on plans to harness the Colorado River for irrigation.
Will the local ranch-hand prevail over the city slicker engineer? Can citizens of the parched region prevail over nature and transform their lands into an agricultural paradise? Will rumors of shortcuts taken in constructing a massive dam lead to disaster?
All these questions combine to create a film that showed Hollywood and movie-goers the power of a drama set in the rural American west. The film is also noted for its camerawork by Greg Toland, who would later go on to do principal photography for 'Citizen Kane' in 1941.
For 'The Winning of Barbara Worth,' Rapsis will improvise a score from original musical material that he composes beforehand, using a digital synthesizer to recreate the sound and texture of a full orchestra.
"What I try to do," Rapsis said, "is create a score that bridges the gap between a film that might be 80 or 90 years old, and the musical expectations of today's audiences."
'The Winning of Barbara Worth' is the latest in a monthly series of silent films presented with live music at the Flying Monkey. The series provides local audiences the opportunity to experience silent film as it was intended to be shown: on the big screen, in good-looking prints, with live music, and with an audience.
"If you can put pieces of the experience back together again, it's surprising how these films snap back to life," Rapsis said. "By showing the films under the right conditions, you can get a sense of why people first fell in love with the movies."
Upcoming programs in the Flying Monkey's silent film series include:
• Thursday, July 14, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: 'Spite Marriage' (1929). Buster Keaton's final silent film finds the stone-faced comic so in love with a stage actress that he joins the cast of her hit play to be close to her. What could go wrong?
• Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: Rudolph Valentino Double Feature! On the 90th anniversary of the hearthrob's shocking and untimely death, we pay tribute with 'The Sheik' (1921) and 'Son of the Sheik' (1926). Bring tissues!
'The Winning of Barbara Worth' (1926) will be screened with live music on Thursday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H. Admission is $10 per person. For more info, call (603) 536-2551 or visit www.flyingmonkeynh.com. For more info on the music, visit www.jeffrapsis.com.
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