Silent Movies featured in Bloomfield

The poster for the silent film Sadie Thompson.
Source: http://www.mardecortesbaja.com/SwansonSadie.jpg

By Kali W. Pye

BLOOMFIELD – Its nostalgia for some, curiosity for others and some just come to enjoy the atmosphere says Larry Spencer who runs the bi-weekly Silent Movie showings in Bloomfield.

The silent movie nights take place at the Baxter Arts Centre every other Thursday, the next one taking place Thursday, June 19. They are going to be showing Sadie Thompson starring silent film actress Gloria Swanson. The doors open at 7p.m. and the movie starts at 7:30.

Spencer says he chose to show silent movies because they provide a distinct art form that allows you to recognize a message without the use of words.

“Its interesting to see the style of acting and production compared to modern movies. Its intriguing to see how people express their emotions in silent movies, its quite different from what you see today,” says chair of the Bloomfield Centre for Creativity Rob Leek.

The Baxter Arts Centre was bought from the Prince Edward County council and donated three years ago by Don Baxter with the intentions to turn it into an arts centre.*

The silent movie night attracts people of all ages.

“Its surprising how many young people come out,” says Leek.

The movie nights tend to attract around 40 people each time.

The showings began last year with around six or seven movies. Spencer says he spends the winter searching online for silent movie reviews and tries to include a mixture of comedy and dramas.

“I think people remember some of the more dramatic scenes, like the damsel in distress tied to the railway,” says Spencer.

He says the slapstick humour also draws people to come and watch, and that people enjoy the scenes that comedic greats like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton have done.

“I think to experience it on your own isn’t half as much fun as experiencing it with a group of people who are in the same mood as you,” says Spencer.

*CLARIFICATION: The Don Baxter building was donated to Prince Edward County several decades ago, but it was purchased in 2011. On-going renovations are being funded through donations.