20th Annual Silent Film Gala

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If you are a die hard silent film lover (and even if your just discovering it) the annual Silent Film Gala is one of the best events of the year.  This year the event had celebrated it’s 20th Anniversary.  I have a friend who is just delving into the world of silent film and has shown an amazing amount of interest and enthusiasm.  She had never seen a silent film on a big screen with an orchestra before, so I chose her as my guest.  I HAD to show her what it is like to see a silent film in the best possible way.  Watching it at home on the DVD player just can’t compare.  Leonard Maltin (one of my heroes) gave an articulate and insightful introduction.  Dustin Hoffman usually does this, but he was away in London on business.  This year’s film was Charlie Chaplin’s THE GOLD RUSH from 1925.  In the film the little tramp plays a lone gold prospector who braves the elements to search for love during the Klondike gold rush.  This film contains many of Chaplin’s most famous comic bits including eating his shoe and the famous dance of the dinner rolls.  Chaplin was quoted as saying, “This is the picture that I want to be remembered by.”  Sure enough 84 years after the initial release, the audience gave the film a standing ovation.  Where ever he is right now, something tells me that Chaplin is in no way surprised.  He knew his work would stand the test of time.  The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra also did a magnificent job accompanying the film.  I wish they played to silents more often!  I was fortunate enough to get to attend the VIP after party as well where we all feasted on seafood, k-bobs, hot soup and chocolate souffles.  My most favorite moment was when I glanced at my friend sitting there in the dark watching the flickering image….with a big smile on her face enjoying this film the way it was meant to be seen.  http://www.filmradar.com/karies_blog/item/20th_annual_silent_film_gala/