Film & TV

Classic Silent Movies Become Remastered With Original Live Scores

Whether you’re a movie buff or a muso, you’ll love watching these classic silent films to a soundtrack of original live scores from Adelaide’s brightest musical minds!

The Mercury Cinema will present Silent Remasters as part of the Adelaide Cinémathèque, a one-day music and screen mini-festival—scroll on down for more program details.

Silent movies not your thing? Adelaide musicians are bringing new life with a collection of new original live scores for silent classics being performed live

Adelaide musicians will make the silver screen sparkle with a collection of new original live scores for silent classics being performed live at the Mercury Cinema as part of the Adelaide Cinémathèque’s Silent Remasters on Saturday, 8th September.

Recently returned from NYC, Dan Thorpe will join up with Mat Morison to score one of the most loved films of the silent era Buster Keaton’s The General.  Electronic groove masters Rosetwins will develop the audio styling for Alfred Hitchcock’s acclaimed early career film, The Lodger, and the internationally regarded and award-winning Ashley Hribar will improvise live to create the soundtrack to Faust, a film internationally renowned as one of the greatest movies of all time.

All three films will be presented at Adelaide’s iconic Mercury Cinema, allowing audiences to dip in and stay for one film or catch all three.

“There is something exciting and intriguing about bringing together old and new technology,” said Anne Wieberg, Adelaide-based event producer and current Darwin Festival Music Programmer.

“It was this challenge that inspired me to invite artists who have an electronic background or have a more ‘futuristic’ or eclectic approach to creating music to participate in this year’s Silent Remasters. I’m convinced that all three films will have a very different soundtrack, and with so much of the music being improvised, the audience will experience a memorable one-off performance, giving the films a completely new life.”

Director of the Mercury Cinema, Gail Kovatseff, said that Silent Remasters really offers Adelaide audiences a unique experience.

 “Silent Remasters is always a treat, so being able to consume it all in one day with such terrific films and musicians will make that much more special. It has been such a long time since we have had a live score  for a silent collection, and I’m really excited to see the artists interpretations of these classic silver screen favourites,” said Ms Kovatseff.

Silent Remasters takes place on Saturday, 8th September and the Mercury Cinema. Tickets can be purchased online here or at the door.

It’s $15 per film (or $13 for concession) or you can treat yourself to a pass for all three films for $40 (or $30 for concession). Current members of Cinémathèque can use existing passes to attend!

PROGRAM

The General (G) (1926) – 2.00pm

Director: Buster Keaton
In one of the most loved films of the silent era, an engineer pursues union spies through enemy lines after they’ve stolen his beloved locomotive.

Musicians – Mat Morison and Dan Thorpe:
Dan Thorpe is a queer noisemaker from Adelaide. Influenced by everything from queer punk to American experimentalism. His broad base of musical experience is reflected in a curious, experimental and genre defying compositional and performance output linked together by a love of storytelling and sense of irreverence for existing forms.

At the core of Mat Morison’s creative practice is a language they’ve been developing over several years called Tempiosa. It is through the creation of this language that Mat is able to make strange and insightful connections between a wide range of disparate passions and pursuits. 

The Lodger (PG) (1927) – 4.15pm

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
In Alfred Hitchcock’s early exploration of urban chill, a landlady suspects her new lodger is a madman that is killing women in London.  Famed for its innovative camera work and special effects (like a ceiling that turns transparent to reveal the pacing lodger above), this silent classic is still thrilling.

Musicians  The Rosetwins:
These two sibling producer/DJs, Alanah and Fraser Croft have a passion for electronic Music. They have shared a love for music since they were young and have merged this into creating music together. They just released a house style EP and have played a few live shows and DJ’ed events around Adelaide. Their music incorporates ambient washes, insistent soft bass tones and repitched vocal samples. It has been a long-time dream of theirs to produce a movie soundtrack and they are excited to merge the old with the new.

Faust (M) (1926) – 6.00pm

Director: F. W. Murnau
The demon Mephisto wagers with God that he can corrupt a mortal man’s soul—Faust.  Faust, the devout alchemist, is tempted by the Devil into trading his soul in exchange for youth—but there is a chance for redemption. This could be Murnau’s masterpiece, a triumphant synthesis of cinematography, scenery and special effects.

Musician: Ashley Hribar:
Internationally regarded and award winning Ashley is a composer and pianist known for his improvisations. His compositions are poly-stylistic collages often employing extended performance techniques, voice and the deployment of objects. He is highly regarded for his silent movie scoring and live performances including of Cabinet of Dr Caligari and Richard 111 as part of Silents Now UK.

More News

To Top