Up next: Rin Tin Tin in Plymouth, N.H. on Thursday 6/3, plus pandemic thank you notes

Rin Tin Tin shares a moment on the set with frequent human co-star June Marlowe.

Next up: we go to the dogs with canine superstar Rin Tin Tin in 'Clash of the Wolves' (1925). It's a rip-roaring (and tail-wagging) adventure flick screening with live music by me on Thursday, June 3 at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. More details in the press release below.

And as we cruise through this year's Memorial Day weekend (marked by dank, rainy weather in New England), a look at the calendar shows it's the last weekend for me until September that does not include some kind of silent film screening with live music.

To me, that's the surest sign that the Covid-19 pandemic is finally lifting. All of my usual summer series are back up and running in 2021, and there's even a new series starting at the Rex Theatre in downtown Manchester, N.H. 

That's quite a change from this time last year, when ALL screenings were cancelled due to you-know-what. And it's been slim pickings ever since, with screenings later resuming only in the Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H., the Flying Monkey in Plymouth, N.H., and at the Center for the Arts in Natick, Mass.

I'm indebted to these three venues for staying open and trying to run some programming, even at a time when first-run movies and live music acts just weren't realistic options. But they all soldiered on with silent film/live music programs, which did bring in audiences during the pandemic.

At the Town Hall Theatre, owner/operator Dennis Markaverich actually increased the silent film schedule during the pandemic, more than doubling the number of screenings during a typical month. This led to a spate of adventurous programming, including Fritz Lang's two-part 1922 epic 'Dr. Mabuse Der Spieler' last fall and a two-day marathon screening of all 15 chapters of 'The Woman in Grey,' a multi-part serial from 1920.

Dennis also indulged me with a week-long series of silent comedy programs last summer, an aviation film festival last fall, a week of obscure silent features in January, and a three-day recreation of the Kansas Silent Film Festival in February. So it's been a year to remember, for all the right reasons. Thank you, Dennis!

Now I'm looking forward to getting back to accompanying silent films in a wider range of venues this summer, including the Brandon (Vt.) Town Hall (starting Saturday, June 5 with 'The Mark of Zorro'), the Leavitt Theatre in Ogunquit, Maine (starting Wednesday, June 9 with Chaplin's 'The Kid'), and — new this summer! — the Rex Theatre in Manchester, N.H. with Buster Keaton on Thursday, July 15.

A complete list of all silent film screenings on my calendar is available online by clicking on "Upcoming Silent Film Screenings" at the top right corner of this page. Also, send me your e-mail address and you'll get a monthly round-up of upcoming programs of silent film with live music. 

With so many bookings on the calendar, I'm tempted to say it's great to be back. But quite a few venues are still not back to showing regular screenings, especially in the Boston area, where tight restrictions were lifted only this weekend. 

So it may be awhile before we get to enjoy silent films again at the Somerville Theatre, the Coolidge Corner, the Brattle, or other Beantown locales. Stay tuned!

For now, you can catch Rin Tin Tin on Thursday, June 3 at the Flying Monkey. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. and more info in the press release below. See you at the movies!

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The opening title of 'Clash of the Wolves.'

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com

Rin Tin Tin leaps back into action Thursday, June 3 at Flying Monkey

Legendary dog star races to the rescue in 'Clash of the Wolves' silent adventure film, presented with live music

PLYMOUTH, N.H.. — He couldn't speak. But that was no handicap for a star during the silent film era.

He was Rin Tin Tin, the legendary German Shepherd dog whose popularity rivaled that of any human performer when the movies were brand new.

See for yourself on Thursday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m., when the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center screens a vintage Rin Tin Tin silent adventure film with live music.

In 'Clash of the Wolves' (1925), Rin Tin Tin plays a wild wolf who befriends a prospector; together they hunt down a criminal intent on jumping the prospector's claim and stealing his girl.

'Clash of the Wolves' will be shown at the Flying Monkey, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H. Admission $10 per person, tickets available at the door or via www.flyingmonkeynh.com.

The film will be shown with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer and performer who specializes in scoring silent film.

An original lobby card promoting 'Clash of the Wolves.'

Rin Tin Tin films were produced by then-struggling Warner Brothers and proved immensely popular around the world, with audiences marveling at the then-new German Shepherd breed's feats of derring-do as he out-smarted his human co-stars.

At the time, studio executives referred to Rin Tin Tin "the mortgage lifter" because the dog's pictures helped rescue the ailing studio from bankruptcy.

Rin Tin Tin was so popular, he was named "Best Actor" at the first-ever Academy Awards in 1929 until ceremony officials decided on a re-vote in favor of human performer Emil Jannings.

To improvise a live musical score for 'Clash of the Wolves,' silent film musician Jeff Rapsis will use a digital synthesizer to recreate the texture of a full orchestra.

"The Rin Tin Tin films are great pictures for audience reaction, even today," Rapsis said. "They're full of fast-paced action, great stunts, and above all they really move!"

"If you're new to the art form of silent film, seeing the Rin Tin Tin pictures in a theater with live music is a terrific way to get acquainted with the enduring power of this kind of movie-making," Rapsis said.

Rin Tin Tin remained popular throughout the silent film era and until his death in 1932, which made headlines around the globe. But his progeny went on to star in later films and TV shows, keeping the name before the public for generations.

Rin Tin Tin's descendants are still bred, continuing the bloodline to the present day. The ongoing Rin Tin Tin phenomenon inspired a recent book, "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend" by New Yorker writer Susan Orlean.

‘Clash of the Wolves' (1925) starring Rin Tin Tin will be shown with live music on Thursday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H. For more info, call (603) 536-2551.

Admission $10 per person, tickets available at the door or online at www.flyingmonkeynh.com.

 

Rin Tin Tin meets with studio executives to plot his next career move.
 

This Sunday: the exciting finale of 'Officer 444' plus 'Old Ironsides' (1926) at Town Hall Theatre

Original promotional art for 'Old Ironsides' (1926).

At the Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H., this Sunday marks the end of a journey.

That's because we're running the long-awaited final chapter of 'Officer 444,' a ten-part police adventure serial that we've been screening since January.

And what a long road it's been. Join us as we learn the identity of Officer 444's arch-nemesis, 'The Frog,' and find out how justice will be served. Or something like that.

I have to say: nine chapters into this tale, and it still hasn't made much sense. 

But we'll finish it up on Sunday, May 23 as the lead-in to our "pre-Memorial Day weekend" screening of 'Old Ironsides' (1926), a swashbuckling dramatization of the early years of the USS Constitution. 

And just doing some math...if the real USS Constitution (still afloat in Charlestown, Mass.) was commissioned in 1797, that means it was 129 years old when this film was released.

And right now, we're 95 years from when 'Old Ironsides' (1926) was released. So it won't be too much longer until we reach the point when this film is closer to the ship's launching than to the present day.

The fun begins at 2 p.m. More info in the press release below. Hope to see you there!

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George O'Brien and Esther Ralston in 'Old Ironsides' (1926).

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com

Silent film classic 'Old Ironsides' to screen on Sunday, May 23 at Town Hall Theatre

Sea-faring epic recreates early years of USS Constitution, built to battle pirates; presented with live music

WILTON, N.H.—Relive the early days of the USS Constitution, when the ship was launched by a young nation to battle pirates off Africa's Barbary Coast.

'Old Ironsides' (1926), an epic silent adventure film, will be screened with live music on Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H.

The screening is free to the public; a donation of $10 per person is suggested to support the Town Hall Theatre's silent film series.

The Town Hall Theatre continues to observe procedures to comply with all state and CDC public health guidelines. Capacity is limited to 50 percent; patrons are required to maintain social distance and wear masks until seated.

Live music will be provided by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based silent film accompanist.

The film tells the story of the early days of the USS Constitution, which today is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. Launched in 1797, she was one of six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed.

Nicknamed 'Old Ironsides,' she was originally scheduled to be broken up in 1830, the end of her normal service life. But the ship was saved that year by a poetic tribute published by Oliver Wendell Holmes. The poem supplied the story for 'Old Ironsides' nearly a century later.

Directed by James Cruze, 'Old Ironsides' is an action/adventure film that traces the story of an early USS Constitution crew member.

The crew member, a gunner, is shanghaied while ashore in Boston and forced to serve on another ship, the Esther, a commercial vessel bound for Italy.

Among those on board are a young boy running away from home, and the daughter of the ship's owner.

After crossing the Atlantic, the Esther is attacked by pirates off the coast of Algiers in the south Mediterranean Sea, with the crew and passengers taken captive.

Will the USS Constitution arrive in time to save the ship's daughter from being presented as a gift to a Sultan in Algiers?

The film, a big-budget extravaganza from Paramount Pictures, boasts an all-star silent era cast that includes Wallace Beery, George Bancroft, Charles Farrell, and Esther Ralston. Among the crew members is Boris Karloff, famous later for his starring role in 'Frankenstein' (1931).

'Old Ironsides' was filmed at sea off the coast of California's Catalina Island, using a full-scale replica of the original ship. The movie was praised for its authenticity and commitment to historical accuracy. Only a handful of scenes used small-scale models, a rarity for the time.

In addition to its elaborate battle scenes, the film is notable for its high quotient of comedy. At the time, Hollywood was first starting to make motion pictures with stories that delivered all-around entertainment. Cruze was among the directors becoming adept at integrating comedy, drama, romance, and action all into one spectacular audience-pleasing package.

Surprisingly, 'Old Ironsides' sank at the box office in its original release. Critics praised the film, but Jazz Age audiences failed to flock to the historic epic, which was released at the height of the Roaring 1920s.

See the sea-faring epic 'Old Ironsides' (1926) on Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H.

The screening is free to the public; a donation of $10 per person is suggested to support the Town Hall Theatre's silent film series.

For more information, call (603) 654-3456 or visit www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.

Show me 'The Money!' See French epic 'L'Argent' (1928) on Thursday, 5/13 in Plymouth, N.H.

Original promotional poster for the French silent film epic 'L'Argent' (1928).

Coming up next: music for 'L'Argent' (1928), one of those sprawling biggies from Europe and a film I've never tried scoring before.

Well, there's a first time for everything, and in this case it's Thursday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center. 

More details about the film and the screening are in the press release below. But first, a few notes from yesterday's screening of the silent version of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' (1916) at the Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H.

When I put this on the schedule, I didn't realize it would be Mother's Day. And it also turned out to be one of those sparkling spring days we get here in New England before the summertime humidity settles in. 

Even so, the Town Hall Theatre was about half-full with people ready for an adventure. So it was successful from the exhibitor's point of view.

Alas, I have to say Universal's restoration and reissue of the picture turned out to be something of a botched job. 

The film looks fantastic, as excellent first-generation material survives. 

But a good chunk of the middle of the film has scenes that are clearly out of order, which really really  detracts from the experience.

And the thing is, it's not one of those cases of a film being intentionally vague, or deliberately misleading, or whatever. There are just scenes that are obviously out of order. It's that simple.

Example: We get dramatic scenes of libertine adventurer Charles Denver on 'Mysterious Island,' lost and looking insane in the jungle, with no explanation of how he got there. Then, a bit later, we see him back at sea on his well-equipped yacht, deciding to get rowed ashore. And so on.

Attention Universal: if you want input about how to fix this, I have about 60 people in southern New Hampshire who would be happy to give you notes. It can't be that hard. Did anyone bother to screen this before it got released?

I wonder if it was an issue of money. And that topic takes us to the next silent film adventure on the calendar: the ambitious 1928 French epic 'L'Argent' (meaning 'Money') from director Marcel L'Herbier.

Catch a rare chance to see this piece of cinematic history on Thursday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center up in Plymouth, N.H. 

More info below. See you there! 

P.S. Badly punning promotional catchphrase: "See 'L'Argent!' The Change Will Do You Good!"

P.P.S.: "L'Argent!' You Can Bank On It!"

P.P.P.S.: "L'Argent!' A Film Of Great Interest!"

Okay, I'll stop now.

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Another piece of original promotional art. Is it just me or do his fingers look like some kind of unusual 1920s French neckwear?

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com

Silent film epic ‘L'Argent’ (1928) at Flying Monkey on Thursday, May 13

Innovative French blockbuster about high finance and corruption to be screened with live music

PLYMOUTH, N.H.—A rarely shown early French movie that broke new cinematic ground is returning to the big screen at the Flying Monkey.

'L'Argent' (1928), a drama about big business corruption, will run on Thursday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth.

The screening, the latest in the Flying Monkey's silent film series, will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films.

"This is a rare chance to see a terrific film as it was intended to shown: not on TV at home or on a laptop, but on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience," Rapsis said.

Admission is $10 per person, general admission. Tickets are available online at flyinghmonkeynh.org or at the door.

The Flying Monkey continues to observe all recommended Covid-19 safety protocols. Capacity is limited to allow for social distancing, and patrons are required to wear facial coverings until seated.

Loosely based on Emile Zola's 1891 novel of the same name, 'L'Argent' (French for 'Money') follows the story of an embattled bank speculator in Paris who backs a scheme for an daredevil aviator to fly across the Atlantic.

Intended to revive his flagging business empire, this desperate adventure brings about personal and financial ruin for an ever-widening circle of people.

The movie, conceived on a grand scale by director Marcel L'Herbier, originally ran 3½ hours. The version available today has been trimmed to 2½ hours. 

At the time, L'Herbier faced intense criticism for updating the Zola's classic story from the 1860s to the 1920s.

The director argued that Zola's tale spoke to timeless truths, and that updating it to the then-present day would show its universality.

The international cast includes two performers, Brigette Helm and Alfred Abel, who played key roles a year earlier in Fritz Lang's futuristic epic 'Metropolis' (1927).

'L'Argent' won acclaim for its visual design. The movie features enormous sets (some specially built, some borrowed from real life) and memorable camerawork by cinematographer Jules Kruger.

Some scenes required location shooting with large numbers of extras. The departure of the transatlantic flight was filmed at Le Bourget airport. For three days over the weekend of Pentecost L'Herbier was allowed to take over the Paris Bourse, employing 2,000 extras in the stock-exchange scenes.

Still more challenging was a night-time scene in the Place de l'Opéra which had to be specially lit and filled with people to convey the feverish excitement of waiting for news of the flight.

Upon release at the very end of the silent era, the film enjoyed some commercial success, particularly in Germany.

Its reception among critics was more mixed, as some regarded it as a visual triumph while others found scant justification in the story for the indulgence in spectacular sets and energetic camerawork.

In the 1970s, a detailed study by critic Noël Burch, who argued that L'Argent was a ground-breaking work and one of the cinema's greatest achievements, launched a re-evaluation of the film.

As a result, Marcel L'Herbier's  assessment that this was the summit of his silent career has found wider endorsement

In creating music for silent films, accompanist Jeff Rapsis performs on a digital synthesizer that reproduces the texture of the full orchestra and creates a traditional "movie score" sound.

For each film, Rapsis improvises a music score using original themes created beforehand. No music is written down; instead, the score evolves in real time based on audience reaction and the overall mood as the movie is screened.

'L'Argent' (1928) will be shown on Thursday, May 13 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 general admission. Tickets are available online at flyingmonkeynh.com or at the door. For more information, call the Flying Monkey at (603) 536-2551.

This Sunday's silent '20,000 Leagues' in Wilton, NH possibly playing host to steampunk flash mob?

Promotional artwork for the original silent film version of Jules Verne's '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' (1916).

Today I received this nice note from Johnathan Vail, a silent film fan from Nashua, N.H.:

Hi Jeff,

We have been enjoying your accompaniment for many years and look forward to more.

Anyway with the Jules Verne coming up I thought it would be a fine time to do some steampunk as I was kind of thinking of doing a steampunk photo shoot and Wilton is a pretty good location for it. 

So mostly a heads up if there's some new people next week in costume.  And an opportunity if you have a pair of goggles and and top hat...

Wow! Nothing like a little steampunk to liven up rural New Hampshire. 

Let's hope this goes viral and downtown Wilton, N.H. (all one block of it) is overrun by people from the past's version of the future.  

Who knows? The show is attracting more notice than usual. Check out this extensive story in "Elf," the lifestyle magazine of the Keene (N.H.) Sentinel. (And thanks to writer Nicole Colson for a great job!)

All of this is in response to the upcoming screening of the original silent film version of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' (1916). Showtime is Sunday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H.

More info is in the press release below. 

I first encountered the silent '20,000 Leagues' a decade ago, when I accompanied it for the annual 24-Hour Boston Science Fiction Marathon. 

At the time, I recall thinking: "Wow, is there a silent film version of everything?"

I've since come to realize that...yes, there is. There's a silent Wizard of Oz. There's a silent Ben Hur and a silent Ten Commandments. There's even a silent 'Risky Business,' although the 1925 version starring Vera Ralston is about as far away from the Tom Cruise edition as the earth is from the moon.

Which brings us back to Jules Verne.The silent version of '20,000 Leagues' is in some ways a salute to that other Verne classic, 'From the Earth to the Moon,' because seeing it today is like visiting another planet. 

Let's hope the steampunk contingent turns out in force to lend an other-worldly feel to the whole enterprise. See you there on Sunday!

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Aboard (and astride) the Nautilus in '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' (1916).
 

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com

Town Hall Theatre to screen original 1916 silent film version of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'

Early adaptation of Jules Verne classic pioneered underwater photography; shown with live music on Sunday, May 9

WILTON, N.H.—The original silent film version of the Jules Verne classic '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' (1916) will be shown with live music on Sunday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H.

The screening is free to the public; a donation of $10 per person is suggested to support the Town Hall Theatre's silent film series.

The Town Hall Theatre continues to observe procedures to comply with all state and CDC public health guidelines. Capacity is limited to 50 percent; patrons are required to maintain social distance and wear masks until seated.

Live music will be provided by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based silent film accompanist.

In production for more than two years by Universal, the original silent film version of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' is an epic retelling of the classic Jules Verne novel, and with elements from other Verne stories mixed in.

Allen Holubar stars as the domineering Captain Nemo, who rescues the passengers of an American naval vessel after ramming them with his iron-clad steampunk submarine, The Nautilus.

Incorporating material from Verne’s 'Mysterious Island,' the film also follows the adventures of a group of Civil War soldiers whose hot-air balloon crash lands on an exotic island, where they encounter the untamed “Child of Nature” (Jane Gail).

Calling itself “The First Submarine Photoplay Ever Filmed,” the film is highlighted by pioneering underwater photography, including an underwater funeral and a deep sea diver’s battle with a giant cephalopod.

The film, directed by Stuart Paton, was filmed largely in the Bahamas to take advantage of shallow seas and bright sunshine. 

Several methods were devised to capture scenes underwater, including a sort of "reverse periscope lens" that used mirrors in long tubes to enable a camera onboard ship to film below the surface. 

The film has little in common with a later adaption released in 1954 by Walt Disney Studios and starring James Mason. (At left is the dust jacket for the novelization of the movie, which itself was adapted from Verne's novel. Are we all clear on that?)

In honor of extraordinary technical and artistic achievement, the silent version of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Accompanist Jeff Rapsis will create a musical score for '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' live during the screening, in the manner of theater organists during the height of silent cinema.

"For most silent films, including '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,' there was never any sheet music and no official score," Rapsis said. "So creating original music on the spot to help the film's impact is all part of the experience of silent cinema."

"That's one of the special qualities of silent cinema," Rapsis said. "Although the film itself is well over a century old, each screening is a unique experience — a combination of the movie, the music, and the audience reaction."

The original silent film version of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' (1916) will be screened with live music on Sunday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H. Free admission; a donation of $10 per person is suggested to support the Town Hall Theatre's silent film series.

For more information, visit www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com or call (603) 654-3456.