Part of Recovered Treasures: Great Films from World Archives
Sunday, January 30, 2011, 5:00 p.m.

New York premiere of restored print by New Zealand Film Archive, 20th Century Fox, and Academy Film Archive

Dir. John Ford. 1927, 61 mins. This long-lost John Ford movie is one of the sparkling gems from the treasure chest of 75 American silent films recently discovered in New Zealand. A handsomely made backstage drama about an egotistical actor and a vaudeville couple who partner in a knife-throwing act, it hints at the influence of F. W. Murnau on Ford’s evolving style. Donald Sosin will evoke the vaudeville atmosphere of the film with a fourpiece band and vocals in the score he composed for the European premiere of this restored version at Le Giornate del Cinema Muto, in Pordenone, Italy.

The musicians are Joanna Seaton (vocalist), Susan Heerema (violin), David Tasgal (clarinet), Ken Lauber (drums), and Donald Sosin (keyboards). Seaton will debut the new title song for the film.

Free with museum admission.

Download the program notes