After quickly selling out, The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival (HippFest) has released more tickets for their Taste of Silents season. This new season of silent film screenings takes place at the lovely little cinema in Scotland‘s Bo’ness. The Hippodrome first opened in 1912 and has been recently restored to combine its original charm with modern facilities. So, what better place to watch old movies with a live musical accompaniment?
The Taste of Silents event opens on Saturday 11th September with a double bill of comedy. Easy Street (1917) and Wrong Again (1929) will be accompanied by musician, broadcaster and HippFest favourite Neil Brand. Easy Street is directed by and stars Charlie Chaplin. It’s a classic laugh-a-minute action-comedy. The film sees penniless Chaplin inspired to become a police constable, only to be assigned to rough and tumble Easy Street. Whilst Wrong Again (1929) is a Laurel and Hardy classic. The comedy duo are given jobs as stable-hands. Put in charge of a thoroughbred horse named ‘Blue Boy’, much confusion and hilarity ensues.
The evening’s piano accompaniment is provided by Neil Brand. Not just a world-renowned silent film accompanist, Brand is also a composer, writer and broadcaster. This year he was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music and he is a Fellow of Aberystwyth University too.
The silent film season of events
The Hippodrome’s Taste of Silents season will run on selected dates, until 31st October 2021. And to encourage a new generation of silent film fans, The Hippodrome’s Young Audiences scheme will make tickets for 16 to 25 year olds a bit more affordable.
As well as the opening double bill, there’ll be a screening of GRASS: A Nation’s Battle for Life with live accompaniment by Mike Nolan on piano. Plus, The Epic of Everest, a film by Captain John Noel and Danish film Häxan, which will also have live music.
The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival was launched in Bo’ness in 2011. It’s now a key annual event in the cultural calendar, drawing audiences from across the UK. The event is organised by Falkirk Community Trust with funding from Creative Scotland and Falkirk Council. And HippFest is hoping to return with a full programme next March.
When: 11th September – 31st October 2021
Where: The Hippodrome, 10 Hope Street, Bo’ness EH51 0AA
£: Tickets cost £4.50 – £10
More info: www.hippodromecinema.co.uk