Seattle Theatre Group to Present Silent Movie Mondays Series ADORED & RESTORED, Begin. 1/13

The Seattle Theatre Group has announced the next beloved silent film series at the Historic Paramount Theatre. Now in its 11th year sponsored by Trader Joe's, the ADORED AND RESTORED Winter Series focuses on the importance of film preservation and the art of cinema by presenting some of the most influential films from the silent movie era. Each film was a "special pick" by one of STG's partners and includes a CineClub discussion led by a film professional. Highlights include Paramount movie history and its beginnings and livelihood as a movie palace.

The series begins on Monday, January 13th, with Sunrise (1927), voted #1 silent film by IMDB, a special pick from our house organist Jim Riggs, who will be our featured musician on the Mighty Wurtlitzer organ for each film, this masterpiece, restored in 2004, is full of cinematic innovations and groundbreaking cinematography, and won Academy Awards for Janet Gaynor and the category of Unique and Artistic Production for the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929. Sixty years later, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the United States Library of Congress, which includes films that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." The film tells the story of a married farmer who falls under the spell of a slatternly woman from the city. The woman then tries to convince him to drown his wife. Stay after for a CineClub discussion by Robert Horton, celebrated Film Critic, and curator of the Celluoid Seattle exhibit at MOHAI.

The series returns on January 27th, with the adored Pandora's Box (1929), a pick by SIFF and their Women in Cinema Festival, which will include a CineClub discussion after the film with SIFF's Director of Programming, Beth Barrett. This film, #11 on IMDB's best silent films, is directed by Austrian filmmaker G.W. Pabst and stars Louise Brooks, the stunning tastemaker of the '20s & '30s, who made women everywhere chop their hair, and created the bold and wildly popular "flapper girl" movement. This German dramatic silent based on Frank Wedekind's "Lulu" plays features Brooks' portrayal of a seductive, thoughtless young woman, whose raw sexuality and uninhibited nature bring ruin to herself and those who love her, although initially unappreciated, eventually made the actress a star.

The feature film for February 3rd, is the silent version of Peter Pan (1924) the first film adaptation of the play by J.M. Barrie, starring Betty Bronson as the title character. The film closely follows the plot of the original play, using much of its original stage dialogue in the intertitles. The film was celebrated at the time for its innovative use of special effects. Peter Pan vanished from the public eye in 1929 when studios were destroying silent films by the thousands to make way for sound. In 1971, a 35mm nitrate color print of Peter Pan was discovered at the Eastman Theater in Rochester, New York, and in 1995, a full restoration was made possible with funding from the Walt Disney Corporation. In the year 2000, Peter Pan was deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. This is a special pick by the Northwest Film Forum and their Children's Festival Film Festival, and will include a CineClub discussion led by Liz Shepherd, NWFF's Director of Children's Programming.

We finish the series with Buster Keaton's The General (1926), adored by many, and #2 on IMDB's list of best silent films, this is a special pick by long time projectionist Miles McRae. This American adventure-epic film was made and inspired by the 1862 Great Locomotive Chase. Keaton performed many dangerous physical stunts on and around the moving train, with a spectacular climax filmed in a forest in Oregon. Keaton considered The General to be the best of all his movies. In 1989, the film was deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Jennifer Bean, Cinema Studies professor at University of Washington will lead our final CineClub session of the series.

All films begin at 7PM, and tickets are $10 for general public, and $5 for seniors and students (not including fees), and on sale now!

Visit www.stgpresents.org for more info.

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