All I can say is, I never thought I'd be jealous of people who live in Ohio (sorry Ohioans, you know I love you). But if you happen to be anywhere near the Springfield area, you would do well to get yourself to the State Theater for tonight's one-time-only screening of 1919 German Expressionist classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligariwith musical accompaniment by the unorthodox trio known as Equinox.
Tickets are only five bucks, and you can't beat that with a bat, to quote the Black Sheep. Equinox has previously accompanied State screenings of two other silent gems, Nosferatu and Metropolis. Next October, they will travel to Dayton for a reprise of Nosferatu, as well as a ballet interpretation of Dracula. When it comes to horror as art, it would appear that the Buckeye State is the place to be.
I realize this is a very localized item, but it captures my imagination simply because it's such a rare treat in the year 2008 to be able to view a silent film the way it was intended to be viewed--with a live score. Hopefully we see more of this kind of thing. I'll never forget attending a similar showing of Nosferatu in NYC about 15 years ago. It was an amazing experience, in spite of a too-hip-for-the-room audience that laughed throughout the picture. Hey, that's New York, folks--you take the good with the bad.
I've never actually seen The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, though I would like to.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it would be some experience to see Nosferatu with a live orchestra.
When I saw it, it was just with a piano accompaniment. But it still added so much.
ReplyDeleteCaligari is a fantastic film. The surreal sets are so outlandish and powerful to the whole mood and setting of this film, if a director were to do something similar today they would be hailed as a genius. The closest thing to make it to celluloid since is an animated Tim Burton film.
ReplyDeleteI think the sets in Son of Frankenstein were also strongly inspired by it.
ReplyDeleteI think I speak for everyone who attended when I say that it was an incredible show. Equinox did Caligari justice, and that is a genuine achievement.
ReplyDeleteVery glad to hear it! Now if only we could their show on the road...
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