Silent Films Festival revisits early ages of motion pictures

Chico's Third Annual Silent film Festival begins Friday at the Chico Women's Club.

Chico >> It's hard to believe now but at one point silent film was once the cutting edge of modern technology. It remains engraved in cinematic history and continues its legacy with Chico's third annual Silent Film Festival being held at the Chico Women's Club beginning 6 p.m. Friday.

Now more accessible than ever thanks to the Internet and the public domain, silent movies were the forerunner to the film industry. From production to distribution everything was built from the ground up.

"Every good film that has been produced has some root in the silent era," explained festival coordinator Debra Lucero. "People have watched, in awe, at what was created without the benefit of sound effects or digital effects or sound systems or green screens."

Starting out as just an idea by film preservation expert David Shepard, now a festival that has been working with the Shasta County Arts Council for the past three years has expanded into a family community event for all to enjoy. Shepard will also provide short commentary about the films.

This year's festival will set a primary focus on films starring the pioneer of silent acting Charlie Chaplin. The festival celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Little Tramp, the famous iconic mustached character.

The ingenuity of the Tramp character is that each and every one of us can relate to him. He is the mailman the brings the envelopes to a viewer's door, the secretary who answers phone calls, or the cashier who rings up costumers. It is a genuinely human portrayal of a the struggling American dream.

"The story it's always about the story, we need to keep telling the stories of hardworking people," Lucero explained. "The Tramp plays a factory worker literally gobbled up by the grinding gears of industry."

Although silent films had no dialogue they weren't necessarily silent. Music is dominant and can evoke emotions that sometimes words simply can't explain so they were accompanied by elegant soundtracks.

Along with the silent films to be shown on a 16 mm projector, special guest pianist Frederick Hodges will provide live accompaniment. Hodges will be playing tunes of the jazz and ragtime era.

"You have a world-class pianist who interprets the film as it's happening whether it's walking up stairs or falling down or falling love or falling out of love," Lucero said. " There is no constant assault of sound on your body like many experience in modern theaters it's the kind of sound that rumbles deep in your chest."

The festival will run through March 29. Tickets are $10 for adults for individual sessions or $25 for an all festival pass. Children 12 and under are $2, and children 5 and younger are free.

For film schedule: