The Buster Keaton night lived up to last glories
1 Nov 11
The Hall was alive with the sound of music at the 9th Buster Keaton Silent Annual Film Show
"That night was a really good night - it was just great!"
Some in the audience reckon it was the best year yet, with the program combining one of Keaton's cleverest productions, the 45 minute gem Sherlock Jr., together with a most original treatment of the Aussie classic The Sentimental Bloke that gave new life to both film and poem.
Although both films are romances in which the underdog eventually triumphs, the contrasting styles of the films, produced only five years apart, made for an absorbing viewing experience.
Sherlock Jr. was full of wit and whimsy. Keaton used film techniques that were ahead of his time, such as double exposure to introduce a dream sequence.
At one point the projectionist-cum-aspiring-sleuth steps right into the film being projected on the screen and becomes part of the plot. There he lurches from one scene to another (e.g. diving into the sea in one scene, to find himself, in the next instant, not under water but upsidedown and waist-deep in snow). The abrupt changes of scene are utterly bewildering for the hapless amateur detective, played by Keaton, but hilarious for the audience. As one happy attendee recalls:
"He [Keaton] used all the portals to another world in creating a wonderful fantasy for us."
After interval, The Sentimental Bloke, cleverly edited by Peter Wesley-Smith, contained its own surprises.
Stanzas from the original C. J. Dennis poem were read by retired actor from Berry Earle Cross.
His tone and delivery were perfectly matched to the work.
Then when it came to the point in the film featuring the song The Curse of the Aching Heart, the local singing group, The Thirsty Night Singers, rose to their feet and sang the song in four-part harmony!
Silent films remind us that we don't need dialogue to tell a story in pictures.
But for a silent film to really delight us, there needs to be a "soundtrack" in the form of live musical accompaniment.
And for the 9th time, Kangaroo Valley residents and visitors were privileged to have the services of professional musician and silent film aficionado Robert Constable.
Once more travelling from New Zealand for the occasion, Robert's performance at the keyboard was masterly.
His accompaniment to The Sentimental Bloke was especially impressive, with evocative wisps of familiar melodies dancing around the images. Happily the show was well attended.
In addition to being thoroughly enjoyable, the event raised $2,600 for scholarships for East Timorese students from our sister village of Remexio.
This will go a long way to supporting the students as they continue their secondary or tertiary studies next year. Without financial support from Kangaroo Valley, most of the students would be unable to continue their education.
Every year organiser Martin Wesley-Smith ensures that something extra and different is included in the Buster Keaton formula to maintain the interest. This will surely be the same next year, when the 10th Buster Keaton Silent Annual Film Show may be the last.
Don't miss it on September 29, 2012.
Photograph bottom left: Gosefa is studying Portugese language at National University in Dili. Here she is framed by Les Mitchell from KV and Padre David, the priest from Remexio who visited the Valley earlier this year.
Les met Gosefa and the other scholarship recipients during the two months he resided in Remexio, where he taught English.
Libby Turnock