You are about to find out why hoards of enthusiastic people were swarming around Armidale's mall. We were about to watch one of the great movies of the 20th century. But you'll be amazed when I tell you that the film in question was released 98 years ago! Eh? That takes us back to the era of silent movies, which explains why, sitting alongside the screen, there was a keyboard! Silent movies were usually accompanied by 'atmospheric' music to enhance the action on the screen and, last Saturday, the performer was the head of Armidale's Conservatorium of Music.
He introduced the film in question - The Kid - and explained its origins and the key actor, one Charlie Chaplin! Apparently, this film is rated in Chaplin's top three ... and it's also his earliest as a director. The facilities looked a little crude - a laptop computer, the equivalent of a home projector, and a folding and somewhat transparent screen. This is what we saw:
Our pianist on the left.
The introduction on the right.
The film is about a distraught woman who abandons her baby, which is found and raised by Charlie. Somehow he makes this sad start into a hilarious comedy, which had our audience exploding in laughter. The surrogate father himself lives in a slum and is surrounded by dodgy neighbours ... and pretty incompetent police.
Our accompanist again.
And a close-up view of Charlie and the young Kid.
The film lasted an hour and it was a huge success. I'm now looking forward to a repeat event in 2020. Hopefully the organisers will see fit to run another Chaplin film.
By the way, doesn't Armidale have a vibrant cultural life!
By the way, if you're interested is finding out more about the film go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kid_(1921_film)
AS
He introduced the film in question - The Kid - and explained its origins and the key actor, one Charlie Chaplin! Apparently, this film is rated in Chaplin's top three ... and it's also his earliest as a director. The facilities looked a little crude - a laptop computer, the equivalent of a home projector, and a folding and somewhat transparent screen. This is what we saw:
Our pianist on the left.
The introduction on the right.
The film is about a distraught woman who abandons her baby, which is found and raised by Charlie. Somehow he makes this sad start into a hilarious comedy, which had our audience exploding in laughter. The surrogate father himself lives in a slum and is surrounded by dodgy neighbours ... and pretty incompetent police.
Our accompanist again.
And a close-up view of Charlie and the young Kid.
The film lasted an hour and it was a huge success. I'm now looking forward to a repeat event in 2020. Hopefully the organisers will see fit to run another Chaplin film.
By the way, doesn't Armidale have a vibrant cultural life!
By the way, if you're interested is finding out more about the film go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kid_(1921_film)
AS
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