September 29th is Silent Movie Day at the historic Babcock Theatre, and we are excited to announce that we will be having a special double feature screening of Buster Keaton’s SHERLOCK JR. and F.W Murnau’s THE LAST LAUGH in celebration of each film’s 100th anniversary! One of the best silent comedies of all time paired up with one of the most heart-wrenching dramas of all time paired together on a double bill at a historic theatre? This is a night to remember!
Starting on the comedic side of things, Buster Keaton play the titular SHERLOCK JR.- a projectionist who longs to be a detective, and finally gets the opportunity to put his amateur skills to the test when he is framed by his rival for stealing his girlfriend’s father’s pocket watch! Legendary bouts of physical and situational comedy ensue!
But things quickly take a turn for the serious in THE LAST LAUGH. The man who directed such expressionistic experiences as Nosferatu and Faust tells a tragic story of an elderly doorman at a prestigious hotel. This deeply committed man has loved and dedicated himself to his job for years, but when his employers deem him too physically worn out to keep up, they demote him to the hotel’s bathroom. Feeling betrayed and unworthy, the man falls into a deep depression, questioning what he has to live for, forcing him to face scorn from his friends, neighbors, and society.
This is an incredible retrospective double feature that truly encapsulates the incredible feats that filmmakers have been achieving for well over a century, and only a fool would miss out on an opportunity to see something like this! Won’t you join us??