Success in black and white

Silent Film Festival enjoys Synthetic Sin on gala night.

by Amber Wilkinson

The Hippodrome Festival of Silent Film runs until March 22
The Hippodrome Festival of Silent Film runs until March 22 Photo: Amber Wilkinson
The fifth Hippodrome Festival of Silent Film, which kicked off on Wednesday, enjoyed a gala evening to remember in Bo'ness, West Lothian, last night.

With a drinks reception and many cinemagoers taking up the invitation to wear "flapper glamour" for the evening, the atmosphere was perfect for the screening of comedy romp Synthetic Sin - a flapper film starring the sparkling Colleen Moore as an innocent determined to "suffer and sin right now!" in order to become a better actress. Audiences for the festival seem to grow year on year, with people who had come from as far afield as London and the US mixing with an enthusiastic crowd of locals. Adding to the atmosphere was live music from Gladstone Bag.

Colleen Moore in Synthetic Sin.
Colleen Moore in Synthetic Sin.
The evening was introduced by the chair of the Falkirk Trust Ian Scott and festival director Alison Strauss. There is no getting away from the fact that a lengthy contribution from Creative Scotland's Janet Archer was a bit of a rambling misfire that seemed more intent on being an advert for the funding body than anything else. However, the energy of the room was soon restored by a peppy and informative introduction from journalist and Silent London editor Pamela Hutchinson. She set Synthetic Sin neatly in context and gave us all fair warning of the unfortunate racist 'blackface' that crops up in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable film.

The short that ran before it - a segment from Edinburgh-made film Construction Of The Ritz by James S Nairn, from the same year as Synthetic Sin - was also full of humour and life. Both that and the main feature benefited hugely from excellent live piano playing from, first Forrester Pyke on the short and then Neil Brand.

The festival continues until tomorrow night (March 22), for more details of films and events, visit the official site.

Share this with others on...
News

Open Invite Olivia Wilde on reinvention, improvisation and why her latest movie had to be shot on film

Because of a book Eran Riklis on adapting Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita In Tehran

On the edge Robert R Palmer and Hazel McKibbin on Last Man Up

Finding truth Lou Diamond Phillips on getting interesting roles and starring in Gangland

Body, heart and mind Leah Nelson on memory loss and making Tangles

Starring role for a 'reluctant' award winner Karlovy Vary turns spotlight on genius behind the lens Robert Richardson

Why it’s not all about Jesse Eisenberg on talking too much, keeping off the internet and staying creative

More news and features

We're bringing you news, reviews and more from the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.



We're looking forward to the Fantasia International Film Festival.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Muslim International Film Festival, Docs Ireland, Sheffield DocFest, ImagineNative, Tribeca, Cannes, Queer East, the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, Visions du Réel, Fantaspoa, Overlook, BFI Flare and SXSW.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Locarno Sangsoo and Yeo in mix as full line-up announced


MIFF Prize winners announced


Karlovy Vary Jesse Eisenberg on talking too much, keeping off the internet and staying creative


Fantasia Full line-up revealed; Her Private Hell to open


MIFF Festival director discusses London line-up as doors open