WILLIAMSVILLE — Once again, the specter of a vintage silent movie with a live, modern soundtrack is haunting Windham County.
On Saturday, April 15, the Williamsville Hall presents the 1928 French silent film, The Passion of Joan d'Arc, featuring the premiere of an original soundtrack performed live on piano by Dan DeWalt.
DeWalt's performance of an original soundtrack to Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times last year was acclaimed by the overflow capacity audience. While Joan d'Arc is a different beast altogether, the bond of music, emotion, and film are equally mesmerizing.
The Guardian ranks this Joan d'Arc as the very best silent film ever made. Although 90 years old, the cinematography is “gripping with its sparse intensity,” according to a news release. The dialogue uses the actual questions and answers exchanged between Joan and her persecutors, as they excoriate her for dressing like a man and being true to her faith.
The showing runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m.. Admission is by donation and will raise funds for the Williamsville Hall.