The JPT celebrates International Silent Movie Day on September 29 with a double-feature starring silent movie icon Buster Keaton. Both films will be accompanied by a live musical score performed by silent film musician Jeff Rapsis. The first film shown will be Sherlock Jr., celebrating its 100th anniversary, followed by one of Keaton’s best narratives, Our Hospitality. For tickets and more information, click here.
Jeff Rapsis has been accompanying silent films at The JPT for the last three years and has supported The JPT in continuing to connect with its silent film roots by performing live improvisational scores to some of the most historic and impactful silent films, just like how silent films were shown 100 years ago at The JPT.
“Silent films are a unique collaboration between history and the present. Even if you’ve never experienced a silent movie, I encourage you to give it a try. By viewing these films, guests get to look back at what life was like 100 years ago, while also seeing how storytelling in film has shifted dramatically with the use of language and sound in modern movies,” said Jeff Rapsis, silent film accompanist. “I am incredibly excited to celebrate International Silent Movie Day at The JPT and look forward to bringing these classic films to life with live music.”
Sherlock Jr.
A kindly movie projectionist (Buster Keaton) longs to be a detective. When his fiancée (Kathryn McGuire) is robbed by a local thief (Ward Crane), the poor projectionist is framed for the crime. Using his amateur detective skills, the projectionist follows the thief to the train station — only to find himself locked in a train car. Disheartened, he returns to his movie theater, where he falls asleep and dreams that he is the great Sherlock Holmes.
Our Hospitality
Sole heir Willie McKay (Buster Keaton) journeys by train from New York City to Kentucky to claim his fortune amid a decades-old feud with the Canfield family. En route, he meets and is smitten with young beauty Virginia (Natalie Talmadge), who invites him to dinner. Still, he realizes too late that she is the only daughter of patriarch Joseph Canfield (Joe Roberts). The rules of hospitality protect McKay from harm in their house, but he must outwit her brothers to resolve the feud.
Event Details:
Doors will open at 4:00 PM. An introduction by Jeff Rapsis and the screening of Sherlock Jr. will begin at 4:30 PM. After a 10-minute intermission, Our Hospitality will start at approximately 5:30 PM, with an audience Q&A hosted by Jeff Rapsis to conclude the event. For tickets and more information, click here.
Jeff Rapsis will also be back at The JPT on October 29 playing a live musical score for a special Halloween screening of Dracula (1931). Tickets have not been released, stay up to date on showtimes by clicking here.
