Silence is Golden on Telluride Film Festival’s Silver Screens

Buster Keaton in “The General,” a 1920s American Silent Comedy

Who said silent films are a thing of the past? “The Artist,” an ebullient silent film depicting Hollywood during the roaring Twenties, generated quite the buzz this year at both the Cannes and Telluride Film Festivals. I missed it since I was away for most of this year’s festival in T-ride but hope to catch it after its November 23 release in movie theaters (likely art houses) across America. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius and starring Cannes Best Actor winner Jean Dujardin, leave it to the French to create and produce a silent film in the year 2011.

I was, however, able to catch “From Morning to Midnight,” a German silent film from the Twenties the last night of this year’s Telluride Film Festival, a showing made memorable by the accompaniment of the Alloy Orchestra. The film itself was rather macabre (dare I say very German?). But I was highly entertained nonetheless by watching and listening to the Alloy Orchestra, a Telluride Film Festival favorite that has been gracing this world-renowned festival with their presence for about two decades. This three-man musical ensemble has played the world, bringing silent films magically to life in such distinguished cultural centers as The Louvre, Lincoln Center, The Academy of Motion Pictures, the National Gallery of Art and more. If you ever have a chance to see them, seize it! This year was my first in the eight years I’ve been attending the Telluride Film Festival and I’ve become a huge fan.

The Alloy Band

Why are they so great? I guess it’s their unusual combination of found percussion instruments and state-of-the-art electronics. (Hence the name Alloy.) Part Blue Man Group, part Stomp, part Philadelphia Philharmonic, these three guys know when to hit the right notes at just the right times. Clearly they have humor, too. (They do after all refer to themselves as an orchestra.) I met band leader Ken Winokur over a glass of wine in the park before the show and said a quick hello to Roger Miller and Terry Donahue afterward. Look forward to seeing you guys again!

Never has silence been so golden…and such an amalgam of metals.

Read Hiding Up in Telluride, Silver Mined on Screens, a piece in this week’s New York Times for more on this year’s Telluride Film Festival and the movies to look for in the coming months. You may also enjoy Telluride Film Festival:  A Moviegoer’s Lovefest, my own take on this fantastic event.

Have to go—I’m off to see a friend that acted as George Clooney’s bodyguard here all last weekend. She’s tall, blond, athletic and I’m sure tight-lipped about any inside scoop on this year’s real talk of the festival. Maybe she’ll give me a tidbit after I ply her with a couple of wines. This is when silence is fire-engine red!