Coming to the Historic Strand Theatre
in downtown Vicksburg
L’inferno + Montopolis = not so Silent Film
Tuesday, October 1 at 7 PM
The Halloween season is starting early in downtown Vicksburg with a silent classic horror film accompanied by live music. Tuesday, October 1 the Italian silent classic, L’Inferno will be presented at the Strand Theatre with live original music by Montopolis of Austin Texas.
L’Inferno (1911) is the first feature length horror film ever released. An adaptation of Dante’s classic journey through hell, this masterpiece of silent film employs elaborate costumes, special effects, and set design to create an awe-inspiring and ethereal world. The original Montopolis score brings new life to this horror classic with a mix of psych rock, dark wave and terrifying sound effects performed live. Montopolis is following up their critically acclaimed tour of Man with a Movie Camera which they brought to the Strand in 2022.
About silent films and musical accompaniment, Daniel Boone, film programmer for the Strand, had to say, “silent films were never silent. From the early days, live music was performed to accompany the images. Sometimes written, but often improvised, the music was a complement, a completion of the film. When sound pictures became the norm, the element of live performance at the movies was largely abandoned. There was no need.”
“Not everyone believed sound was the best idea for the movies. The great Alfred Hitchcock thought the art of storytelling inherent in film was hampered by the necessity of recording the actors voices and background sounds. He referred to the new sound films as “photographs of people talking.” Even though most of the “limitations” of sound have been long been eliminated, the potential power of the image in “silent” film remains.”
“Recent years have seen a resurgence in silent films accompanied by live musicans. High profile projects like Carmine Coppola’s orchestral accompaniment to Abel Gance’s Napoleon and Richard Einhorn’s shimmering Voices of Light paired with Dryer’s Passion of Joan of Arc are only two of many examples. At festivals groups like The Alloy Orchestra have performed many scores to films such as Tod Browning’s Dracula, and Paul Fejo’s Lonesome. And in 2012 a silent film won the Oscar for Best Picture. We’ve a few silents with live music before, and it is experience that everyone should have.”
Montopolis is an indie chamber music group from Austin, Texas that performs the works of composer Justin Sherburn. Their genre-busting music uses inventive instrumentation to create "stunning and transcendent" (Austin Chronicle) concerts. Their programs are audience-engaging, multi-media events that combine live music with film and interactive storytelling. The Montopolis musicians include members of the Austin Symphony, Okkervil River, Tosca String Quartet, and the Polyphonic Spree.
The performance will take place at the Strand Theatre at 717 Clay Street. It will begin at 7 PM. Cost is $15 per person. Tickets are available in advance at Highway 61 Coffeehouse.
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