2019 Festival Comments:

Bruce Calvert
—Dallas, Texas

It certainly isn't the biggest film festival. It doesn't show the rarest films and the festival certainly isn't as fashionable as the TCM Festival or Cinecon. On the other hand, they have some of the best silent film accompanists in North America. It is also free, and that draws in many people who would never consider paying money to attend an expensive festival. The festival staff and the audience members are really friendly.

That perfectly sums up the charm and uniqueness of the Kansas Silent Film Festival. The weather isn't always the greatest, the location is a bit out of the way, but the venue, staff, and talent are all great.

Want to volunteer for 2020? Contact us at ksffvolunteer@gmail.com

Jim Rhodes
—Festival Founder,
Topeka, KS

Many thanks for your continued HARD WORK to put on another successful KSFF. The festival has indeed become a "fixture" in the life and history of Topeka of which we can be proud.

Marcy Tintera
—University of Nebraska
   Lincoln, NE

Many, many thanks AGAIN Bill, Committee AND Volunteers for another wonderful festival. I'd seen bits and pieces of Metropolis but never the entire film before. Very interesting, and the music from the Alloy Orchestra was so intense. Amazing that that much music could come from just three people! We so enjoyed the Cinema Dinner and Ben Model's presentation on "Undercranking: The Magic Behind the Slapstick". It was very informative and we wished there had been more time to have heard more from him. My favorite film this year was BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. The looks that Stan Laurel gets on his face are priceless. We're already looking forward to 2020, and thanks in advance!

Paul Post
—Topeka, KS

Another great festival. I'm glad to be a small part of it. Count me in for helping next year.!

Jeff Rapsis
—Bedford, NH

Jeff R. checking in to say something you already knew: that this year's Kansas Silent Film Festival was outstanding in many ways! Congratulations to you and everyone.

And also thank you to you and to all the folks who work all year long for this to happen. Those of us (such as me) who just blow in at the last minute really owe you all a debt of gratitude!

Thank you also for the chance to do music for a really interesting group of films, especially features 'Venus of the South Seas' (1924) and 'Bucking Broadway' (1917). Both of these were satisfying films to score and seemed to hold audience attention.

And thanks also for getting Bob K. to help with 'Venus.' Working with Bob and coming up with music for that very strange film was the most satisfying experience of the weekend, I thought. It all came together quite naturally and I very much liked how it turned out!

So it was a great time for what was my 20th consecutive year of trekking to Washburn University. How did that happen? But it has, and thank you for your role in encouraging this all along. In February, most people prefer to go to Aruba, but I go to Topeka!

[Jeff posted a write-up of related thoughts on his web iste, with link posted at the bottom of this column.]

Don Bishop
—Kansas City

It feels as though some 45 years of going to screenings of silent films was only a prelude to tonight's screening of "Metropolis." The musical accompaniment was unlike any I have ever heard. When I saw the array of percussive instruments onstage, I expected an impressive performance, but I could not have predicted how wonderful it was.

I don't know what to call some of the instruments, so for lack of vocabulary, I will call them clangers and scrapers. With the drums providing a conventional sound, though highly unusual to have them, in my experience with silent films, the clangers gave a metallic sound that fit the industrial feel of the movie so well.

The scraper the musician played as doors closed fit the moment so well and added much to the tension.

I appreciated the talent of the musician on the keyboard, too. Fabulous.

I was surprised at the tempo of the accompaniment when it started, and continued to be surprised when the pace continued almost entirely unabated for the length of the movie. I will use the word "tension" again -- the tempo added to the tension. Plus, with so many people shown running in a high proportion of the scenes, the tempo fit well.

Next, the visual: The quality of the images was superb. And after hearing about the discovery in Buenos Aires of a version of the film with additional scenes, I have been looking forward to seeing the extended version. It seems as though the additional scenes were found a long time ago. It was worth the wait.

I never saw a font the same as the font used for the title cards. The design of title cards sometimes adds to the viewing experience, and the design of the title cards for this version of "Metropolis" is terrific.

Now, a comparison: I believe I have seen "Metropolis" screened in a theater at least once. It was not memorable. I have watched it at least twice at home on a DVD. It was boring to watch,, and I could not understand the story. Even so, because of the movie's reputation, I wanted to watch it. I don't remember the accompaniment. Maybe it was fine, or maybe it was not so good. I can imagine if it was organ music, it would not measure up, especially with dreamy-sounding playing that some organists use.

When I saw "Metropolis" on the Kansas Silent Film Festival schedule, I almost skipped going to Topeka tonight. I believed there was little reason to watch the movie again, after previous experiences. But as I rushed around the house, tending to chores, repairs, packing the suitcase and doing some magazine work along the way, I had in mind a 5 p.m. departure to get to Topeka in time for the 7 p.m. start for the evening's program. I am so glad I attended tonight's screening.

Marcia Schroeder
—Wichita, KS

It was a great festival. Thanks for all the work you do. I thought Saturday night was terrific. I'd love to see all those "Knighthood" costumes in color.

[About lunch on-campus]: We decided to try the Lincoln Dining Center at the west end of Lincoln Hall. Great lunch. We were charged $8.02 each at the door. And then we could choose anything we wanted. There was a salad bar, a build-your-own sandwich bar, pizza, drinks, plus some other entrees and sides. Even breakfast cereal. Walt said the pizza was excellent. I stuck with a sandwich and salad and topped that off with cookies and capuccino for dessert. I think it merits a better plug in the program for next year, especially if the food court isn't open.