Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1920, John Barrymore

Also read:
"CJ Extra Q&A: Silents in the Cathedral to cound off October 30 at Grace," by Emily DeShazer, Topeka Capital-Journal, 10-21-2015
       

18th Annual
Silents in the
Cathedral
Grace Cathedral
701 SW 8th St. - Topeka, KS
Friday, Oct. 30th, 2015
7:00 pm
Sponsored by
The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
with the cooperation of the
Kansas Silent Film Festival, Inc.
Free to the Public

Music by Dr. Marvin Faulwell
playing the Cathedral organ
with Bob Keckeisen - Percussion
Introductions by Denise Morrison

Short Subjects:
Dr. Phcle & Mr. Pryde, Stan LaurelDr. Pycle & Mr. Pryde
1925, B&W, 20 min 
Starring Stan Laurel

  Stan Laurel is a hit in one of his early solo shorts (without Oliver Hardy). Laurel made several of these and they were often spoofs of popular feature films Stan Laurel, Dr. Pycle and Mr. Pryde- MUD & SAND and THE SOILERS are other examples. This horror/comedy turned out to be one of Laurel’s best. It follows the Jekyll/Hyde story, but Stan’s attempts at evil are pretty hysterical.

The Haunted House
The Haunted House
1908, B&W 
Directed by Segundo de Chomon

Segundo de Chomon, director of The Haunted House  Segundo de Chomon was a Spaniard who moved to Paris to work at Pathe Studios. He produced several trick films to compete with those produced by Georges Melies. This 6-minute short film shows an impressive use of stop-motion tricks for the time period.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring Sheldom LewisDr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
1920, B&W, 15 min 
Starring Sheldon Lewis

  Sheldon Lewis stars in this rival version of Jekyll & Hyde, completed and shown just ahead of the Barrymore version we are featuring tonight. This was intended to beat the Paramount version into theaters and it succeeded in that, but it is NOT the version anyone remembers today. These clips will contrast with the excellent work that Barrymore manages to do in the later version.

Feature:
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring John BarrymoreDr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
1920, B&W, 78 min 
Directed by John S. Robertson
Starring John Barrymore / Nita Naldi / Brandon Hurst 

   Our feature film for the 18th annual "Silents in the Cathedral" is the classic 1920 version of DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE, based on the short novel by Robert Louis Stevenson and considered by many to be the first great American Horror Movie.
   Paramount Pictures put together a modest production for this film and seized John Barrymore to play the dual role, a part he literally threw himself into. In many ways, John Barrymore in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeBarrymore is the whole show and he devours the part. He even brought his own houseplants to decorate the somewhat spare sets and spruce up the production.
   The story involves a respected doctor following his dream experiment to separate the ‘selves’ of man into the good and the bad. Performing it on himself, the result is a monstrous creation beyond his control, causing shattering consequences for all.
   When previously shown in 2001, this film ran just over an hour. Film preservation experts have found several missing sequences from the original film and restored it to nearly 80 minutes with sequences that ‘flesh out’ the story and the characters. This longer version will be shown at this event.
   Organist Marvin Faulwell and percussionist Bob Keckeisen have put together another dazzling musical score for this feature and they will be playing it live at the Cathedral.

    There will be a brief intermission during the feature presentation. Popcorn and bottled water will be sold as a fundraiser for the Cathedral Youth Group.

WRAP-UP:

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Gathering
Grace Cathedral, October 30, 2015Grace Cathedral, lobby entranceCathedral with lights outJune and BillJune and BillYoung fan and momView of screen from the choir loftBill Shaffer got this huge screen set upGrace Catheral windowMelanie and mom, NancyBill and BobDenise speaksEvent attendeesGatheringCathedral organ, with Marvin's musicGrace church organ 2

Welcome & Introductions
Steve Lipscomb, pastor, welcoming attendees to Grace CathedralWelcome by Brian Adams, of Topeka and Shawnee County Public LibraryWeclome by Denise MorrisonDenise Morrison introduces first filmDenise speaksMarvin Faulwell on organ, with Bob Keckeisen playing percussionBob and Marvin making music

Intermission
Church youth selling bottled water and popcornStretch breakMore intermissionMarvin returns to the church organ

Conclusion
Marvin and Bob take curtain callCrowd begins to disperseTrevor Jost and his sweetieMarvin and Bob and the huge movie screen

Aftermath
Taking down the screen ATaking down the screen BTaking down the screen CAfter-gatheringMelanie Lawrence shows her marathon metal

Photos of our 2015 event are by Jane Bartholomew and Carol Yoho