Silent Movies prove a hit with public
Music adds authenticity to line-up of Charlie Chaplin’s film work
This was a unique entertainment event with two classic black and white movies and live music playing along with the film.
Movie buffs from as far away as Napier and Palmerston North made Lower Norsewood their destination of choice over four nights last week when promotor David Selfe hosted his Silent Movie Festival.
This was a unique entertainment event with two classic black and white movies and live music playing along with the film, Jeremy Fitzsimons on percussion and David Selfe on piano; with a new score written for the films by David Selfe and arranged by Jeremy Fitzsimons.
The Old Dairy Factory gates opened at 6pm and from 6.30pm hot food was available on site from Trish of the Norsewood Cafe´ . From 7.30pm Dave Boston on guitar (Thursday and Sunday) and Anton Wuts on keyboard (Friday and Saturday) entertained and at 8.45pm a
Rush Monroe Ice Cream Break preceded the first movie A Dog's Life.
This movie featured Charlie Chaplin down on his luck and befriending a dog which turned into his partner in the struggle to make a living. It was hilarious slapstick fun although the hazy quality of production made it sometimes difficult to appreciate.
What made it all worthwhile was the accompaniment which became so integral to the movie, viewers ceased to notice it was not part of the original film. David Selfe played his mood-changing music continuously for the 35-minute film whilst percussionist Jeremy Fitzsimons used all the resources of several keyboards/xylophones, a base drum and other items chosen for a particular sound including a jaw harp and a San Vickers Stradivarius musical saw which soared with plaintive tones as the singer in the film brought tears to the film audience.
A Dog's Life was produced in 1918 and in 1921 The Kid was a kind of sequel, this time Charlie adopting a child left on the street who became his partner in crime in the window repair trade. This was the second movie of the night.
And the movie was great. So great that it was the second highest grossing movie of 1921 and considered a work so advanced it was selected for preservation in the United states National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant”. The local audiences loved it.
The quality of production was also excellent showing the advances in those three years.
Although unseasonally cool, each night from January 13-16 was clear, calm and dry and the 200+ patrons had come prepared to be warm.
Word is spreading with David and Jeremy considering offers to tour the South Island.