I love silent movies. In particular the great silent film comedians; Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd. I just returned from the Cinema Arts Center in Huntington where I saw Harold Lloyd's classic silent comedy, "Safety Last". It wasn't new to me. I first saw the film when I was in high school, and have seen it a number of times over the years. My last screening took place about 15 months ago when I received the Harold Lloyd DVD collection as a Christmas gift.
Two things made this a unique night.
- It was the first time I ever saw it with an audience
- It had live piano accompaniment
If you love the old silent films, this is the only way to see them. Even though I know every gag in the film, I literally laughed until I cried. There were 150 people in the audience. They were all ages. The laughter was constant and contagious. Gags that I never laughed at before became side splitting. I have never been to a comedy film made in the last 20 years that had the audience in stitches like this film did.
It is a true testament to the genius of Harold Lloyd. Watching the film with an audience you see how meticulously paced it is. Each joke builds off the last to reach a comic crescendo. Lloyd was one of the first film makers to preview his films to live audiences. The feedback from the preview audience was used to re-edit and modify the film until it was perfect. There really is no three minute stretch of the film that does not have a laugh.
The score by Ben Model was brilliant. As a bonus, Ben brought along a Charlie Chase short, "Hello Baby" and introduced many people to their first glimpse of a forgotten genius.
Do yourself a favor and go see a theater screening of a silent comedy. You will not be disappointed.
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