So, I went to see THE GODLESS GIRL at Seattle's Paramount Theatre tonight, and the first thing I saw was two people picketing outside the theatre! They were carrying signs that said IT ISN'T SILENT MOVIE MONDAYS WITHOUT DENNIS JAMES and handing out flyers that said the Seattle Theatre Group hadn't contracted Dennis for the next run this fall/winter. I asked them what was up, and they said he was unceremoniously fired by the Seattle Theatre Group with no reason given. There were two security guards in front of the door, ostensibly in case Dennis showed up and tried to get in. Crazy. I hope the poor guy's doing OK.
Dennis was replaced at the last minute by Jim Riggs, who said he first saw THE GODLESS GIRL this afternoon. His score was pretty good, especially considering he whipped it up in a few hours.
Anyway, the last thing I expected to see tonight were picket signs!
GODLESS GIRL SPOILERS BELOW!!!
The print shown was apparently the 1929 sound reissue version, with the sync sound mentioned in the opening credits, and minus the end dialogue scene, with an extended final scene of the burned Brute, minus all the intertitles so we don't know what the hell he's talking about. Cue audience confusion. And, instead of him merely telling the inspector to let the kids off the hook (I'm presuming that's what he's telling him, as that's what he tells him in the original release version restored in 2007 with the Carl Davis score), he goes on and eventually dies in close-up, and the scene fades out. The End. No bright wrap-up with the kids getting out of prison and going on their merry born-again ways. I'm presuming they dubbed dialogue over this alternate version of the Brute's final scene...can anyone shed more light on this, and the added sound sequence which follows?