Saturday, May 19, 2012
movies & tv Soar with The Eagle
Posted by Gabe Wardell on Sat, May 19, 2012 at 6:51 PM
By now, you should know the drill.
Celluloid is dying, and all that.
So just about every time someplace like the Strand or the Fox or the High hops into the 'ol Delorean and sets the flux capacitor to the silent cinema era, count us in.
As theaters convert to Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) Compliant systems, they are scrapping their 35mm equipment. The irony of the DCI conversion could not have been more evident this past Oscar season as The Weinstein Company's anachronistic The Artist, a near note perfect homage to a silent era film (down to its 1.37:1 Academy Ratio frame) screened digitally in multi-plexes in suburbs near and far. Ill equipped to properly frame the film, most venues left the masking open. That the film screened digitally in most theatres passed largely without comment. But it is worth noting that a digital image cannot replicate true black and white. What you see with any digitially projected black and white film is an approximation.
Couple this with the live "pre-show", as practiced at the Strand, complete with a sing-a-long, and you've got an opportunity not only to "see" a silent film, but also to experience it. Back in the day, this is what they used to call going to the movies. Now we call it an "interactive experience."
"Like" it!
(complete Strand Press release after the jump)
2012 SILENT FILM SERIES CONTINUES AT THE STRAND WITH THE EAGLEMARIETTA, Ga. (May 3, 2011) - The Strand continues its second season of silent films on Sunday, May 20th with a screening of The Eagle, a story of classic vengeance, outlaws, and love accompanied by Strand Organist Ron Carter.
In the tradition of silent film theatre, Ron Carter, Strand organist, will play live accompaniment along with the film. There will be an organ pops preshow and sing-a-long at 2:30pm.
"In today's society we are so caught up in multi-tasking. We are on our cell phones, watching TV, on the computer- all at the same time. We have lost what it means to be absorbed into one experience. With a silent film you have to watch every nuance, every facial expression, every lighting effect, the words on the screen, and listen to the musical themes," says Ron Carter, who will be accompanying The Eagle. "So many people come up to me after the film ends and exclaim that they had no idea what a wonderful experience it is to be a part of a silent film screening with live theatre organ accompaniment."
The Eagle (1925) stars Rudolph Valentino as Lt. Vladimir Dubrouvsky, a lieutenant in the Russian army. Dubrouvsky catches the eye of a Czarina who forces him to flee after he spurns her advances. A warrant on his head and a scorned Czarina calling for his blood, Vladimir learns that his family lands have been duplicitously stolen by the evil Kyrilla Troekouroff. Vladimir fights against his injustices by donning a black mask and becoming the feared outlaw, The Black Eagle. In his search for vengeance against the evil Troekouroff, he instead finds love in an unexpected place.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for seniors, students, and military.
The historic Earl Smith Strand Theatre is a multi-use performing arts and events facility. The theatre is governed by the Friends of The Strand, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and depends on the financial support of private and corporate donors. It is The Strand's mission to serve the community with cultural entertainment for a diverse audience and to promote economic health in the City of Marietta and Cobb County. For more information or tickets, visit www.earlsmithstrand.org or the Box Office at 770.293.0080 or 117 North Park Square, Marietta 30060. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 12PM; 1PM to 4PM; and two hours before the show.
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