EAST PEORIA, IL -- In one of the oddest events yet, the Heartland Festival Orchestra's November 9 concert featured the music to two classic silent films, presented in a new venue, the Illinois Central College's auditorium.
The music was lovely and well played. The films, on large screens, were strange and dated, with lots of fighting and pratfalls that were supposed to be funny but failed at humor.
The films were Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid," (1921) a 60 minute film, and "The Count," (1916) a 30 minute film. The orchestra accompanied both films, with the hour-long, non-stop "Kid" likely an ordeal for the players.
The program demonstrated how music is timeless but films like these are dated. Still, they are a window into the past in acting, costumes, sets and even plots.
The "Kid" was written, directed, produced and acted by Chaplin. It was the better of the two films, showing how Chaplin matured as an artist from the "Count" with its endless pratfalls. Chaplin also wrote, directed and acted in it. The music was by Craig Safan from the original score.
Music for "Count" was by Erich Korngold from Suite from "Much Ado About Nothing."
Thus an interesting concert was pulled together. It wasn't Mozart but something different.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Comments