Review

Harold Lloyd's 'The Freshman'
Duke of Yorks Cinema, May 7 1998

"Live" cinema is really a misnomer, very possibly a paradox, perhaps even a tautology. Whatever, watching a "silent" film with live orchestral accompaniment is great fun. Positively edifying.

Once upon a time history fans, all films were like this. With the obliteration of that suspension of disbelief at hand; all it takes is a glance from the screen down to the pit, and lo! the music which bouys your diegetic immersion is right there in front of you, so to speak.
Hear a bum note? You can vent your displeasure and it will hit right home, bullseye. Unhappy with a solo? You can get out of your seat and collar the culprit.
And here's a funny thing indeed; true interactivity, with ne'er an image or sound floating out there in cyberspace at all. Kind of odd in an event recreating the public environment of the moving image from nearly a century ago. Ah, the good old days, something for Luddites everywhere.
Makes one muse upon roots, lineage and progression. And sunny summer mornings during school holidays with a Harold Lloyd feature always on the TV. Good film, great music, wonderful transport to all kinds of dusty recesses of the past.

Nick Elson


Harold Lloyd's 'The Freshman' Duke of Yorks Cinema, May 7 1998
	"Live" cinema is really a misnomer, very possibly a paradox, perhaps even a tautology. Whatever, watching a "silent" film with live orchestral accompaniment is great fun. Positively edifying.
	Once upon a time history fans, all films were like this. With the obliteration of that suspension of disbelief at hand; all it takes is a glance from the screen down to the pit, and lo! the music which bouys your diegetic immersion is right there in front of you, so to speak. Hear a bum note? You can vent your displeasure and it will hit right home, bullseye. Unhappy with a solo? You can get out of your seat and collar the culprit. And here's a funny thing indeed; true interactivity, with ne'er an image or sound floating out there in cyberspace at all. Kind of odd in an event recreating the public environment of the moving image from nearly a century ago. Ah, the good old days, something for Luddites everywhere. Makes one muse upon roots, lineage and progression. And sunny summer mornings during school holidays with a Harold Lloyd feature always on the TV. Good film, great music, wonderful transport to all kinds of dusty recesses of the past.
	Nick Elson