Upstate New York: Three shows with the Mont Alto Orchestra

[Rodney]

The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra will be playing three evenings in upstate New York starting September 10. All three shows are in elegant vintage movie theaters with excellent 35mm projection. Live music, pristine prints, and (we hope) a large audience will make this the ideal way to see these films -- or to revisit them. The prices are remarkably reasonable for live-music silent film events. Links to all venues can be found on our "Schedule" page.

Wednesday September 10: The 80th Anniversary of the Stanley Theater in Utica! 7:30 p.m. $9.50, cheaper for members.

Featuring Charley Chase in MIGHTY LIKE A MOOSE, Buster Keaton in STEAMBOAT BILL, JR., and the all-whistling, all dancing Mickey Mouse in STEAMBOAT WILLIE. We'll also be performing the title music from RAMONA, the Dolores Del Rio film that opened the Stanley exactly 80 years ago, but is unfortunately now a lost film. Our as-yet-unrecorded score for STEAMBOAT BILL JR. includes a variety of American music ranging from spirituals to cakewalks to foxtrots, to reflect the clash of generations represented in the film.

Thursday September 11: Cornell Cinema in Ithaca. $10 general, $8 students.

We'll be playing at the historic Willard Straight theater, built in 1925. The program will be THE KID BROTHER, starring Harold Lloyd as the youngest brother in a family of burly mountain lawmen in what is probably his best film. "...the music was so terrific it could have stood separately as a concert. The film/music combo, well, was like hot fudge on a sundae." -- Leah Garchik, San Francisco Chronicle.

Friday September 12: The Capitol Theater in Rome NY. 7 p.m. $8.50, only $1.50 for children!

We'll be performing our score for THE KID BROTHER again, preceded by Buster Keaton's THE BOAT. This lovely theater has excellent carbon-arc projection, and with a recently struck print, this will be an excellent way to see this masterpiece. "The fest started off on a very high note on Friday night with a screening of Harold Lloyd's The Kid Brother accompanied by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. One of Lloyd's funniest films (it was his favorite) with music by the best music combo that specializes in silent movies -- an unbeatable combination." -- John Sinnott, DVDtalk.com

Also, if you're in the area, tune in at noon on September 10 to WCNY to catch an interview with us.

Rodney Sauer
Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
www.mont-alto.com

[silentfilm]

http://www.romecapitol.com/events.html

The Kid Brother (1927) accompanied by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
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Friday, Sept 12 @ 7pm
Colorado's world-famous Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra provides stunning live accompaniment for our showing of Harold Lloyd's 1927 feature length silent comedy, "The Kid Brother". This charming comedy is one of Harold Lloyd's most beloved films. The most important family in Hickoryville is (naturally enough) the Hickorys, with sheriff Jim and his tough manly sons Leo and Olin. The timid youngest son, Harold, doesn't have the muscles to match up to them, so he has to use his wits to win the respect of his strong father and also the love of beautiful Mary. 35mm print from Sony. Also on the bill, Buster Keaton's 1921 short comedy, "The Boat." Accompanied by Rodney Sauer on piano. 35mm print from Douris Film Corp. "Mont Alto is the finest silent movie musical group around today."--John Sinnott, dvdtalk.com.

Adults $8.50, Seniors $7.50, Capitol members $6.50, children $1.50.

[silentfilm]

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pb ... /809110311

Cornell Cinema presents the silent comedy classic ‘The Kid Brother' tonight
September 11, 2008

Join Cornell Cinema today at 7:15 p.m. in Willard Straight Theatre for a special presentation of the silent comedy classic “The Kid Brother “

(1927), starring Harold Lloyd, with live musical accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. Considered by many critics to be among the finest — and funniest —silent comedies ever made, “The Kid Brother” will be screened in a newly restored, color-tinted 35 millimeter film print.

“Harold Lloyd's next-to-last silent comedy has it all: action, romance, and drama, on top of non-stop laughs. The sheriff of Hickoryville is father to three sons, two big brawny boys and timid half-pint Harold, who dreams of heroism while housekeeping with hilarious ingenuity. But when the town accuses them of theft, Harold must use his wits and fists to save his family. Lloyd considered this to be his best film, and it's hailed as his masterpiece.” (San Francisco Silent Film Festival)

The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, a five-piece theater ensemble from Colorado led by Rodney Sauer, revives the long-neglected repertoire of music written for silent film orchestras. Since 1994, they have accompanied over 50 silent films using historic “photoplay music” in venues from San Francisco to New York City. Using typical instrumentation of violin, cello, clarinet, trumpet, and piano, Mont Alto captures the sound and spirit of the golden age of film music.

“Mr. Sauer specializes in compiling scores from the authentic photoplay music of the period, drawing on the work of neglected composers like Gaston Borch and J. S. Zamecnik; the results are often breathtakingly beautiful and always in the strict service of the film on the screen.” (Dave Kehr, New York Times, April 25, 2008)

The screening is cosponsored with the Department of Music and the Ithaca Motion Picture Project. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for students, seniors & kids and will be available at the door.

For more information, please visit cinema.cornell.edu, or call 255-3522.