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Hippodrome Blog June 2021
The first of a regular blog post for our website from Alison Strauss, Arts Development Officer (Film and Media), Falkirk Community Trust – programmer of the Hippodrome year-round since it re-opened in 2009 and founding Director of the annual Hippodrome Silent Film Festival (2011 – present).
The Hippodrome, Bo’ness shortlisted for Cinema of the Year
Scotland's oldest purpose-built picture house has been shortlisted for Cinema of the Year (for a company with 24 screens or under) in the 2019 Screen Awards.
National Lottery Cinema Day is back in 2019!
The Hippodrome is taking part in The National Lottery Cinema Day once again and we are super excited to be able to offer you guys a FREE film...
Coming Soon
We will soon be launching programme notes to accompany some of our events, watch this space!
What's On
The Croods 2 (PG)
- Wednesday, 04 Aug 21 at 16:00 PM
The Croods have survived their fair share of dangers and disasters, from fanged prehistoric beasts to surviving the end of the world, but now they will face their biggest challenge of all: another family...
Riders of Justice (15)
- Wednesday, 04 Aug 21 at 19:30 PM
Markus returns home to care for his daughter when his wife dies in a tragic train accident. However, when a survivor of the wreck surfaces and claims foul play, Markus suspects his wife was murdered and embarks on a mission to find those responsible.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (U)
- Friday, 06 Aug 21 at 16:00 PM
Welcome to the Jam! NBA champion and global icon LeBron James goes on an epic adventure alongside timeless Tune Bugs Bunny with the animated/live-action event “Space Jam: A New Legacy,”.
Summer of Soul (12A)
- Friday, 06 Aug 21 at 19:30 PM
In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion.
Reel Women Season: Clueless with intro by Clare Grogan (12A)
- Saturday, 07 Aug 21 at 19:30 PM
Welcome to a specially selected season of four films presented by this month’s celebrity guest curator: Clare Grogan. The first film of the season is the brilliant and funny 90s classic Clueless.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (U) Autism Friendly
- Sunday, 08 Aug 21 at 13:30 PM
Welcome to the Jam! NBA champion and global icon LeBron James goes on an epic adventure alongside timeless Tune Bugs Bunny with the animated/live-action event “Space Jam: A New Legacy,”.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (U) Cuppa Screening
- Monday, 09 Aug 21 at 11:00 AM
Black Widow (12A)
- Friday, 13 Aug 21 at 16:00 PM
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller “Black Widow,” Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.
Limbo (12A)
- Friday, 13 Aug 21 at 19:30 PM
Ben Sharrock’s critically adored Limbo is a wry, funny and poignant cross-cultural satire that subtly sews together the hardship and hope of the refugee experience.
Reel Women Season: The Piano with intro by Clare Grogan
- Saturday, 14 Aug 21 at 19:30 PM
We are proud to welcome Clare virtually to the Hippodrome. The season is supported by funds from the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund. The second film of the season is period drama The Piano.
Black Widow (12A) Autism Friendly
- Sunday, 15 Aug 21 at 13:00 PM
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller “Black Widow,” Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.
Limbo (12A) Cuppa Screening
- Monday, 16 Aug 21 at 11:00 AM
Ben Sharrock’s critically adored Limbo is a wry, funny and poignant cross-cultural satire that subtly sews together the hardship and hope of the refugee experience.
Spirit Untamed (PG)
- Friday, 20 Aug 21 at 16:30 PM
An epic adventure about a headstrong girl longing for a place to belong who discovers a kindred spirit when her life intersects with a wild horse, Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in the beloved story from DreamWorks Animation.
The Courier (12A)
- Friday, 20 Aug 21 at 19:30 PM
THE COURIER is a true-life spy thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman GrevilleWynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history.
The Courier (12A) Cuppa Screening
- Monday, 23 Aug 21 at 11:00 AM
THE COURIER is a true-life spy thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman GrevilleWynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history.
Our Ladies (15)
- Friday, 27 Aug 21 at 16:30 PM
Our Ladies follows a group of Scottish schoolgirls on a day trip to Edinburgh to perform in a choir competition. For these teens from a small town in the Scottish Highlands, it becomes a chance to escape their daily lives and run riot in the big city.
Cruella (PG)
- Saturday, 28 Aug 21 at 11:00 AM
Emma Stone stars in Disney’s CRUELLA, an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinema’s most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil.
Our Ladies (15) Cuppa Screening
- Monday, 30 Aug 21 at 11:00 AM
Our Ladies follows a group of Scottish schoolgirls on a day trip to Edinburgh to perform in a choir competition. For these teens from a small town in the Scottish Highlands, it becomes a chance to escape their daily lives and run riot in the big city.
Easy Street (1917) & Wrong Again (1929) double-bill
- Saturday, 11 Sep 21 at 19:30 PM
Our HippFest Taste of Silents season begins with two short comedy films - Easy Street a Charlie Chaplin all-time family-favourite about a reformed tramp who becomes a police constable and is assigned to rough and tumble Easy Street to deal with Eric the Tough - a huge thug who dominates the lives of everyone there. Followed by Wrong Again a Laurel and Hardy classic where our favourite comedy duo are given jobs as stable hands and are put in charge of a thoroughbred horse named “Blue Boy" confusion and hilarity ensues when the two mistake the horse for a missing painting of the same name, and go in pursuit of a $5,000 reward. Performing Live: Neil Brand (piano) Dir. Charlie Chaplin | USA | 1917 | N/C U | 24mins Dir. Leo McCarey | USA | 1929 | N/C U | 20mins Screening material courtesy of Lobster Films Neil Brand Neil is a silent film accompanist, composer, writer and broadcaster his achievements are too extensive to list, but recent touring work includes 'Neil Brand presents Buster Keaton' and 'Neil Brand presents Laurel and Hardy'. Neil has received wide acclaim for his radio and TV work including for his recent series 'The Sound of Movie Musicals with Neil Brand' on BBC 4. This year Neil was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music, he is a Fellow of Aberystwyth University, was awarded the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA) Gold Badge in 2016 and is considered one of the finest improvising piano accompanists in the world. www.neilbrand.com
GRASS: A Nation's Battle for Life (1925)
- Saturday, 25 Sep 21 at 15:30 PM
A spectacular ethnographic record, reprised due to popular demand after its rapturous reception earlier this year as part of HippFest online and in 2019 by all those fortunate enough to attend the Festival's community screening at the Barony Theatre in Bo'ness. This film was intended for the lecture circuit but was snapped up by Paramount for theatrical distribution on the strength of its powerful dramatic punch. It's easy to see how the character of Denham in King Kong was modelled after the adventurer Cooper, whose daredevil real-life exploits were the stuff of Hollywood adventure films. A highlight for most people at HippFest online, this is your chance to experience live the subjects' near-mythic odyssey, the staggering beauty of the scenery, and the endearing moments of intimacy and warmth, all heightened by Mike Nolan's extraordinary accompaniment. Performing Live: Mike Nolan (piano) Dir. Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack I US I 1925 | N/C U | 1h 3m Screening material courtesy of Milestone Films and Kino Lorber Mike Nolan Mike works across Scotland as a composer, choral conductor and performer and is a regular at HippFest where his accompaniments for features and shorts are always warmly received. He has accompanied silent film screenings for over 20 years including several commercial releases and live performances for the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive. Mike is also a Nordoff-Robbins trained music therapist.
The Epic of Everest (1924)
- Saturday, 25 Sep 21 at 19:30 PM
A remarkable film and official film record of the legendary Everest expedition of 1924. This stunning restoration shows the third attempt to climb Everest which culminated in the deaths of two of the finest climbers of their generation, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, and sparked an on-going debate over whether or not they did indeed reach the summit. Filming in brutally harsh conditions with a hand-cranked camera, Captain John Noel captured images of breath-taking beauty and considerable historic significance. The film is also among the earliest filmed records of life in Tibet and features sequences at Phari Dzong (Pagri), Shekar Dzong (Xegar) and Rongbuk monastery. But what resonates so deeply is Noel's ability to frame the vulnerability, isolation and courage of people persevering in one of the world's harshest landscapes. Performing Live: Stephen Horne (piano, accordion, flute) A film by Captain John Noel | UK | (1924) | N/C U | 85mins Screening material courtesy of the BFI National Archive Stephen Horne Stephen first started accompanying silent films at BFI Southbank over 30 years ago. He has recorded music for several DVD releases and regularly plays at major international festivals including HippFest. Although principally a pianist, he often incorporates flute, accordion and keyboards into his performances, sometimes simultaneously. Stephen won "best online silent film screening of 2020" in the Silent London Poll and in July this year released a solo album Silent Sirens inspired by the musical themes he has developed accompanying the most haunting silent films in his repertoire www.stephenhorne.co.uk
Chicago (1927)
- Saturday, 16 Oct 21 at 19:30 PM
Seventy-five years before Bob Fosse's Oscar-winning musical version of Maurine Watkins' successful stage play, Cecil B. DeMille's production company made this saucy silent film version. Phyllis Haver is hugely entertaining as the brazen Roxie Hart "Chicago's most beautiful murderess“ a woman so pathologically shallow she sees notoriety for a murder rap as an opportunity to secure her fortune. Egged on by her crooked lawyer ("they'll be naming babies after you)" Roxie neglects her long-suffering loyal husband and sets about milking her celebrity status for all she's worth. The sequence in the prison is an absolute delight - particularly the rivalry between Roxie and fellow-murderess Velma (played by DeMille's mistress), as are the climactic courtroom scenes. A cracking, satire on fame and the media, this fun-filled tale of adultery, murder, and sin (so sinful that DeMille - known for his Biblical epics - was at pains to keep his name off the credits) is as fresh and relevant as ever. First screened at HippFest 2017. Performing Live: John Sweeney (piano) Dir. Frank Urson & Cecil B. DeMille | USA | (1927) | N/C U | 118mins With: Phyllis Haveer, Victor Varconi, Virginia Bradford Screening material courtesy of Flicker Alley John Sweeney Since 1990 John has played for silent film at festivals including the British Silent Film Festival, the Giornate del Cinema Muto and Cinema Ritrovato, both in Italy, and Silent Films Days festival in Norway. Recently he composed a score for Lois Weber’s Dumb Girl of Portici (Milestone DVD), The Great Victorian Picture Show at the London Film Festival (2018), and has recorded DVDs for the BFI, Cineteca Bologna and Edition Filmmuseum. John is one of the founders of the Kennington Bioscope which screens neglected silent films at the Cinema Museum in London, and which currently is doing regular online shows on their YouTube channel.
Häxan (1922)
- Sunday, 31 Oct 21 at 19:30 PM
An enthralling mix of documentary and fiction, this early horror film explores the history of witchcraft from its earliest days through to present (in this case 1922 when the film was first released). It shows representations of evil in a variety of ancient and medieval artworks, offers vignettes illustrating a number of superstitious practices, demonology, and satanism, and presents a spine-chilling narrative about the persecution of a woman accused of witchcraft. Performing Live: Jane Gardner (piano) and Hazel Morrison (percussion) Dir. Benjamin Christensen | Sweden | (1922) | N/C 15 | 122mins | Danish with English intertitles With: Benjamin Christensen, Elisabeth Christensend and Maren Pedersen Screening material courtesy of Svensk Filmindustri Jane Gardner & Hazel Morrison An acclaimed composer and pianist, Jane Gardner has delighted many silent cinema audiences with her original and sympathetic accompaniments. She has performed at HippFest since 2012 with percussionist Hazel Morrison, including acclaimed accompaniment for The Black Pirate, The Goose Woman, Earth, Filibus, Seven Footprints to Satan, and our Saturday morning Jeely Jar screenings for families. Jane was commissioned by HippFest with funds from the PRS for a live tour of Dragnet Girl which screened in venues across Scotland. Image © AB Svensk Filmindustri
