August 27, 2009

Lavish organ score to accompany 1927 silent film at Elliott Hall screening

Metropolis poster
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The event is a joint presentation by Purdue Convocations and The Long Center Theatre Organ Society. Before the screening, Lance Duerfahrd, professor of film and visual studies in the English department at Purdue, will briefly introduce the film, which has recently been digitally restored, providing background information and viewing tips.

Released in 1927 and set in the year 2026, the movie Metropolis is a look into the world of the future, where industrialization and technology have divided men from each other and from themselves. A towering city's exploited work force threatens to overthrow the technocratic elite who callously rule over them, even if it means destroying the city itself. Lang’s dystopian vision of the future pits science against religion, love against death, and revenge against redemption. Lavish and spectacular, with elaborate sets and modern science-fiction style, Metropolis is the crowning achievement of the German silent cinema. Its images have inspired such sci-fi landmarks as “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Blade Runner” and “The Matrix.”

Ohio native Clark Wilson is considered one of the finest practitioners of the art of silent picture scoring. He has been a visiting lecturer on theatre organ photoplay accompaniment for the Indiana University organ department, and will be working with the University of Oklahoma in setting up a picture-scoring program. Wilson plays a silent picture annually as part of the organ series at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and has performed at both the Cinequest and San Francisco silent film festivals. He is in his 18th year as resident organist and organ conservator at the famed Ohio Theatre in Columbus.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster outlets.  Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at (765) 496-1977.

Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations is among the oldest collegiate professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 30 to 40 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theater, dance, children's theater, world music, jazz, and chamber music, along with rock, pop, country and comedy attractions. With a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media.

Source: Abby Eddy, (765) 494-5045, aeeddy@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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Publication-quality photos are available at: https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2009/metropolis-poster.jpg

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https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2009/metropolis-bw.jpg

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