(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- An accurate recreation of a Civil War episode, hundreds of extras, dangerous stunt sequences, and a real locomotive falling from a burning bridge into a gorge far below - the most expensive shot of the entire silent film era – and it all can be seen in “The General” on Sunday, August 9 at 8:30pm, co-sponsored by East Lynne Theater Company and The Cape May Film Society.
Written and directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman, “The General” was voted one of the 10 greatest films of all time in the authoritative “Sight & Sound” poll. Keaton took his ideas for this 1927 comedy from an actual Civil War incident recounted in the book “The Great Locomotive Chase,” written by William Pittenger, the engineer who was involved.
Buster Keaton (1895-1966) is considered one of the greatest comedians of all time, possessing the unique combination of acrobatic skills with psychological insight into his characters. Film critic Rogert Ebert wrote: “Keaton's works have such a graceful perfection, such a meshing of story, character and episode, that they unfold like music. Although they're filled with gags, you can rarely catch Keaton writing a scene around a gag; instead, the laughs emerge from the situation. And in an age when special effects were in their infancy, and a “stunt” often meant actually doing on the screen what you appeared to be doing, Keaton was ambitious and fearless.”
Silent films were usually accompanied by an organ, piano, and sometimes a full orchestra: the beginnings of film scoring as we know it. From Charlie Chaplin, who scored his own films, to John Williams and Thomas Newman of today, the power of music accompanying a silent or a talking film cannot be undervalued. Experienced composers know that music enhances the action and emotion, but never overshadows it.
Providing the live musical accompaniment for all these films is Wayne Zimmerman who has been playing for ELTC and The Cape May Film Society’s Silent Film Series since 2011. Wayne has played in a variety of venues from coast-to-coast and in Hawaii, regaling audiences with his silent-film accompaniment and concerts. At varying times he’s served as organist at the Lansdowne Theatre in Lansdowne, PA, the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, PA, the Brookline Theatre in Havertown, PA, and the Merlin Theatre in suburban Philadelphia. Currently he is president of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society.
Tickets for “The General” are $15, and ages 12 and under are free. Reservations may be made by calling ELTC at 609-884-5898 or online at www.eastlynnetheater.org. The Sunday Silent Film Series continues with “Phantom of the Opera” on October 25 and Charlie Chaplin in “The Rink,” “The Pawnbroker,” and “One A.M.” on November 15, the final day of the Cape May Film Festival.
Meanwhile, ELTC’s mainstage world premiere production of “Huckleberry Finn” continues Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:30pm through September 5.
