Older films get top billing in 2 series

Movies include comedies, sci-fi, Biblical epics

By Zack Van Eyck
Deseret Morning News

Published: Monday, Sept. 22 2003 12:00 a.m. MDT

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Cary Grant and Loretta Young in the 1947 film "The Bishop's Wife."

Deseret Morning News Archives

Summary

Silent comedies, horror and science-fiction classics and Biblical epics are among the films featured in two separate series kicking off this week:

THE ORGAN LOFT'S FALL SILENT FILM SERIES continues Thursday and Friday with screenings of the comedy "The Strong Man." Harry Langdon stars in this 1926 film as a soldier fighting in World War I who heads back to the States when the war is over and then tries to find Mary Brown, the woman with whom he's been corresponding. The film is not rated but would probably receive a G. It has only slapstick violence.

Live musical accompaniment for these screenings will be performed by Blaine Gale on the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. Also scheduled:

The 1920 version of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," starring John Barrymore as both the title characters. Unlike versions that followed, Barrymore's transformation was done largely through bodily contortions. Musical score provided by Greg Owen. (Oct. 9 and 10)

A restored print of "The Phantom of the Opera," the 1925 silent version of the Gaston Leroux tale, starring the Man of a Thousand Faces, Lon Chaney. Musical accompaniment by Blaine Gale. (Oct. 22-24)

"Comedy Cavalcade," which features short works by Laurel & Hardy and Charlie Chaplin, as well as "The Great Train Robbery," the original 1903 Edison short. The films will be divided into four sections, with four different accompanists — Blaine Gale, David Massey, Greg Owen and Mitzi Booth. (Nov. 13 and 14)

Show time for all programs is 7:30 p.m. The Organ Loft is located at 3331 Edison St. (east of State Street, just south of 3300 South). Tickets are $5 (485-9265).

"SAMSON AND DELILAH," director Cecil B. DeMille's Oscar-winning 1949 blockbuster, will kick off the Brigham Young University Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series on Thursday. The film will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium on the BYU campus. Admission is free but is limited to those 8 and older. No food or drink is permitted in the auditorium.

Starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr as the title characters, "Samson and Delilah" has been credited as the film that popularized religious epics, starting a trend that continued through the '50s and '60s.

Now in its fourth year, the Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series is sponsored by the Harold B. Lee Library's Special Collections.

Other films scheduled are:

"The Thing From Another World," the 1951 science-fiction thriller based on John W. Campbell's award-winning short story. James Arness (TV's "Gunsmoke") is almost unrecognizable under heavy makeup as the title creature. (Oct. 23)

The 1955 adventure film "The Far Horizons," with Fred MacMurray and Charlton Heston playing famed American explorers Lewis and Clark. (Nov. 20)

"The Bishop's Wife," the 1947 fantasy starring Cary Grant as an angel sent to Earth to help a clergyman (David Niven) who is trying to build a new church for his parishioners. Loretta Young plays the title character. (Dec. 11)

For further information call 801-422-6371 or log on to sc.lib.byu.edu.

E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com

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