Silent films to roll at the Alamo

BUCKSPORT – The Alamo Theatre in Bucksport returns to its roots this month with a silent film festival.

Northeast Historic Film, which restores and brings classic films of Maine and New England to the public, will present the Northeast Silent Film Festival “Rural Places/Lost Worlds” from Friday through Tuesday at the 130-seat Alamo.

“It’s good to bring back a way of life,” said Andrea McCarty, an archivist at NHS. “We felt it was important to have a theater that could properly project at the speed it was shot in.”

Compared to today’s actors, those of the silent-film era were more expressive with their faces and movement, much like pantomime. More attention was applied to lighting, and sets were elaborate. The movies were also tinted to show the mood of each scene. In “Lost World,” one of the films showing at the festival, red represents a volcano erupting. Purple means night. Blue represents a sad scene of parting lovers.

With little dialogue to read in the intertitles, the audience can shout out or discuss the film with each other. .

Two accompanists will provide the music for the festival. Principal pianist is Philip Carli of Rochester, N.Y., who returns for a second year with the festival. Clayton Smith and the Bon-Ton Salon Orchestra of Bangor will perform for the last film, “Captain Salvation,” Tuesday.

Because NHS has mostly regional and home movies in its vaults, it obtained the silent films on loan from larger archivists around the country.

The festival will open with “Lost World,” one of the first prehistoric monster movies and a forerunner of “King Kong.”

Both “Shadows,” starring Lon Chaney as a Chinese laundryman, and “Captain Salvation” are set in Maine coast villages.

“The Toll of the Sea” features the first Asian-American in a major Hollywood film and was also the first feature movie shot in a two-color Technicolor process.

“Where Are My Children” confronts such issues as abortion and birth control and was directed by a woman – rare for 1916.

“Pass the Gravy” with Hal Roach, “True to the Navy” with Clara Bow, and “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp” with Harry Langdon and Joan Crawford all lighten up the theater with their comedic story lines.

One of last year’s films, “South,” an Antarctic adventure by Ernest Shackelton, reappears this year.

McCarty hopes those interested in silent films and those who have attended the festival last year will spread the word to others.

“Besides, where in Maine can you see silent films the right way?” she said.

For more information or to make reservations for the film festival or symposium, call Northeast Historic Film at 469-0924, e-mail oldfilm@aol.com or visit its Web site at www.oldfilm.org.