Closing Night Gala with Live Score by Günter Buchwald & Frank Bockius
http://www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org/whats-on/events/event.aspx?eid=5452&did=27172
USA 1927, 118 mins + short, Dir.: Frank Urson & Cecil B.DeMille (uncredited), Cast: Phyllis Haver, Victor Varconi, Virginia Bradford
Seventy-five years before Bob Fosse’s Oscar-winning musical version of Maurine Watkins’ successful stage play, Cecil B. DeMille’s production company made this saucy silent film version. Phyllis Haver is hugely entertaining as the brazen Roxie Hart “Chicago’s most beautiful murderess” – a woman so pathologically shallow she sees notoriety for a murder rap as an opportunity to secure her fortune. Egged on by her crooked lawyer (“they’ll be naming babies after you”) Roxie neglects her long-suffering loyal husband and sets about milking her celebrity status for all she’s worth.
The sequence in the prison is an absolute delight – particularly the rivalry between Roxie and fellow-murderess Velma (played by DeMille’s mistress), as are the climactic courtroom scenes. A cracking, satire on fame and the media, this fun-filled tale of adultery, murder and sin (so sinful that DeMille – known for his Biblical epics – was at pains to keep his name off the credits) is as fresh and relevant as ever.
Celebrated silent film accompanist and composer Stephen Horne – winner in the international poll by Silent London for HippFest’s ‘Stella Dallas’ commission last year – is joined by versatile and supremely talented percussionist Frank Bockius for this rousing conclusion to HippFest 2017.
Performing live: Stephen Horne (piano, accordion) & Frank Bockius (percussion).
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