The Silent Film Festival helped Bo'ness Hippodrome celebrate its centenary in style last night, kicking off a weekend of silent films with King Vidor's comedy Show People.
A cava reception got things off to a refined start, with many of those attending glamming up for the occasion. In addition to several ladies in slinky dresses - including festival director Alison Strauss - there were recognisable characters. Among them was a dapper Charlie Chaplin - although she had a slapstick moment of her own when she forgot about her mascara moustache and managed to wipe it all over her hands.
Cava quaffed and nibbles nibbled, it was time for the main event at the West Lothian venue, which is Scotland's oldest cinema.
Neil Brand gave a sprightly introduction to the film and its preceding short before sitting down at the piano to provide excellent live accompaniment. He said: "I can't begin to tell you the difference the Artist has made to me."
He added that his job offers a "very cool" opportunity to spend his life "riffing on the back of some of the greatest art ever made".
The short film screened before the event showed the town of Bo'ness in 1930 in footage shot by cinema pioneer Louis Dickson, who was also responsible for building the Hippodrome.
Show People - which is surely one of the films that inspired The Artist and every bit as good as the Oscar-winner - stars Marion Davies as Southern belle Peggy Pepper. We watch as she becomes a comedy sensation after one of the established comedy actors Billy (William Haines) takes her under his wing. But when dramatic roles come calling, will she forget about her past personality and her loyal friend? A smart satire that offers a peep behind the curtain of filmmaking of the era - and some impressively waspish impersonations of Gloria Swanson - Show People feels surprisingly fresh and modern even today and had the audience in gales of laugher.
The Silent Cinema event runs all weekend and the opportunity to see some of these classics in a cinema where they may well have originally been seen all those years ago is well worth taking.
For more information about the Hippodrome and Silent Film Festival, visit the official site.
