A fresh take on silent spookiness: 'The Bat' (1926) on Sunday, Oct. 27 at Somerville Theatre

A lobby card promoting 'The Bat' (1926) in its original release.

Something new—well, sort of—is flying into the Somerville Theatre  this Halloween season.

On Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m., I'll accompany the silent thriller 'The Bat' (1926) at the Somerville as part of the venue's 'Silents, Please!' series.

Based on a popular stage play, 'The Bat' was very successful in its original release at the height of the silent era.

But since then, it's rarely been screened or seen anywhere. That's surprising, in part because it's a good film that holds up well, but also because it had a lot of influence on the creation of an iconic superhero character: Batman!

Why has 'The Bat' been so elusive?

Well, it's not one of the silent era's many "lost" films. A circulating 35mm print of it has been available from the UCLA Film & Television Library for a long time, but has almost never been booked.

It might be that the film has no "star" performers with names still recognizable today. There's no Clara Bow or Rudolph Valentino in it. It does have Louise Fazenda and Jack Pickford in it, but they're not exactly household names anymore.

Also, the film was produced independently and released through United Artists. So it was not part of the output of a major studio such as MGM or Paramount, so after its original release it kind of got lost in the shuffle.

Another reason is that 'The Bat' has never been released on home video—that is, until now.

This Halloween season, 'The Bat' is getting a new attention thanks to a home video release of the film (on Blu-ray dis)c thanks to Ben Model, my friend and fellow silent film accompanist.

Cover art for the home video release of 'The Bat' (1926) by Undercrank Productions.

Ben accompanied the film at a screening some time ago, and was so impressed he organized a Kickstarter campaign to release the film through his label, Undercrank Productions.

The home video version of 'The Bat' came out just recently, and looks great! (I was a Kickstarter backer, so received a copy when the project was completed.) You can buy it online: for more information, visit the Undercrank website.

Or you can see it as it was intended: on the big screen at the Somerville Theater, with live music, on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. We'll be showing the new digital restoration from Underground/UCLA in DCP format. (Earlier references to using the 35mm print were my mistake!)

For more about 'The Bat' and Sunday's screening, check out the press release below. And happy Halloween!

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A trade ad promoting the original release of 'The Bat' (1926) to movie theater bookers.

MONDAY, OCT. 21, 2024 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com

Halloween treat! Rarely screened thriller 'The Bat' (1926) to fly at Somerville Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 27

Calling all Batman fans! Early silent comedy/mystery to be shown with live music; inspired Bob Kane to create Batman superhero

SOMERVILLE, MASS.—It's a rarely screened movie credited with inspiring comic book artist Bob Kane to create the iconic 'Batman' character.

It's 'The Bat' (1926), a silent comedy/mystery directed by Roland West.

See 'The Bat' via a new digital restoration on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.

The screening will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films.

Admission $17 adults; $13 members; $12 seniors/children. Tickets are available at somervilletheatre.com or at the door.

The show will allow audiences to experience 'The Bat' the way its makers originally intended: on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience.

 

The film recently underwent a digital restoration and release by Undercrank Productions. The new restoration will be show in DCP format. 

The story: throughout the city a mysterious thief known only as The Bat is looting the wealthy. The Bat, who wears a full-head bat mask and cape, enjoys toying with his prey by sending notes telling where he is going to strike next. 

As the seearch intensifies, at the country estate of the recently deceased bank owner, Courtleigh Fleming, a disparate group assembles, each with their own agenda.

When Courtleigh Fleming’s nephew is shot to death on the mansion’s grand staircase, the race is on to unmask the killer, stop The Bat, and find a fortune in stolen money hidden within the house.

'The Bat' was originally a popular stage play by Mary Roberts Rinehart before being transformed into a movie during Hollywood's silent film era.

The cast, which includes period favorites Louise Fazenda, Arthur Housman, Jack Pickford, and Jewel Carmen, supports the ominous mood while providing plenty of amusement.

Director Roland West was a master visual stylist with a penchant for the macabre. In 'The Bat,' he expertly manipulated light and shadow.

West also assembled a top notch production crew that included art direction by William Cameron Menzies and photography by Gregg Toland, who would later shoot 'Citizen Kane' (1941) with Orson Welles. 

'The Bat' was a hit when first released, and was also influential, as the masked figure of 'The Bat' had a profound effect on young artist Bob Kane, who cited the film as one of his main inspirations for the creation of Batman.

Rapsis, a composer who specializes in film music, will create a score for 'The Bat' on the spot, improvising the music as the movie unfolds to enhance the on-screen action as well as respond to audience reactions. 

Rapsis performs the music on a digital synthesizer, which is capable of producing a wide range of theatre organ and orchestral textures.

"Live music was an integral part of the silent film experience," Rapsis said. "At the time, most films weren't released with sheet music or scores. Studios relied on local musicians to come up with an effective score that was different in every theater. At its best, this approach created an energy and a connection that added a great deal to a film's impact. That's what I try to recreate," Rapsis said.

‘The Bat’ (1926) will be shown with live music on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.

Admission $17 adults; $13 members; $12 seniors/children. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.somervilletheatre.com or call the box office at (617) 625-5700.