Two landmark films of the silent era will return to the big screen this spring at the Jane Pickens Theater, accompanied by live musical performances from noted silent-film musician and historian Jeff Rapsis.
The special screenings — part of a series designed to recreate the early moviegoing experience — will take place April 1 and May 21 at the Washington Square theater.
The first program, on April 1 at 7 p.m., features Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 masterpiece “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, the drama recounts the final days of Joan of Arc, portrayed in a celebrated performance by Renée Falconetti. Adapted directly from the transcripts of Joan’s 15th-century trial, the film is known for its groundbreaking cinematography and intense use of close-ups.
Dreyer’s complete version of the film was believed lost for decades until a nearly pristine print was discovered at a mental institution outside Oslo, Norway.
The second screening, on May 21 at 6 p.m., celebrates the 100th anniversary of Buster Keaton’s “The General” (1926), co-directed by Clyde Bruckman. Frequently ranked among the greatest films ever made, the comedy-adventure follows a railroad engineer who pursues Union spies who have stolen his locomotive, resulting in what many consider one of cinema’s most thrilling extended chase sequences.
Rapsis will perform live scores on synth-piano for both screenings, improvising music that follows each film’s emotional arc. He will also introduce both films and lead post-screening Q&A discussions with the audience.
Tickets are available at the box office or online at janepickens.com.