BRATTLEBORO — The master of physical comedy and death-defying stunts returns to the big screen at Epsilon Spires on Saturday, November 26, with a double feature of silent Buster Keaton movies accompanied by a live pipe organ soundtrack.
The evening begins with the short film The Scarecrow, followed by one of Keaton's greatest feature-length films, Our Hospitality. New Hampshire-based organist Jeff Rapsis will perform a live soundtrack for both movies on the historic 1906 Estey pipe organ installed in the sanctuary of the renovated gothic cathedral that houses Epsilon Spires.
“The magic of Buster Keaton's movies - especially the finely-crafted film Our Hospitality - is that they continue to appeal to audiences of all ages nearly a century after they were created,” Jamie Mohr, executive director of Epsilon Spires, said in a news release. “Keaton's natural gift for comedy is matched by his genius for filmmaking, which combines breathtaking stunts with creative innovation and exquisite attention to detail.”
The Scarecrow is “a delightful romp” in which Keaton navigates various mishaps - including losing most of his clothing in a hay thresher and accidentally proposing marriage - while trying to win the love of a farmer's daughter.
Our Hospitality, which is based on the historic Hatfield-McCoy feud, tells the story of a couple from warring families (played by Keaton and his real-life wife, Natalie Talmadge) who survive several perilous situations in their quest to be together.
The film, which Keaton also directed, showcases his acrobatic ability, talent for physical comedy, and unparalleled fearlessness in performing his own stunts. Keaton nearly died during the filming of Our Hospitality when a safety rope broke while he was shooting a scene in the rapids of a raging river, and the risk involved in many of the stunts translates into a thrillingly suspenseful viewing experience for audiences.
Rapsis is returning to Epsilon Spires after having previously performed live pipe organ soundtracks for the films The Phantom Carriage, The Last Command, and It. Since 2007, Rapsis has been creating original soundtracks for silent films that combine traditional elements of scores from the era in which the films were produced with contemporary improvisation.
He is also the co-founder and associate publisher of a weekly newspaper based in Manchester, New Hampshire, and serves as executive director of the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, a nonprofit educational center based at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
Tickets for this family-friendly event are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 14. Sliding-scale tickets for those experiencing financial hardship are available for as little as $5 each at epsilonspires.org.