SLIFF/Kids Kicks Off Friday Night with Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, and Live Music

There’s nothing better than silent films accompanied by live music and I’d go as far as saying there’s nothing better than silent films accompanied by the Rats and People Motion Picture Orchestra. I’ve seen them do this several times, and it’s alwways a stunning good time at the movies. You’ll have the opportunity this weekend, and it’s FREE, with the kick-off of Cinema St. Louis’ first annual SLIFF/Kids, the  St. Louis International Children’s Film Festival, presented by PNC Arts Alive.

Buster Keaton in One Week

Friday night’s opening program is a trio of silent film shorts starring silent film legends – Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Laurel & Hardy (The Chaplin film will not be accompanied by live music but will play with its original Chaplin-composed score)

The event starts at 7pm.

The venue is Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium: Webster Hall, 470 E. Lockwood Ave. Parking is available both in front of and behind Webster Hall; no permits are required.

Charlie Chaplin in A Dog’s Life

The program features live music and clown performances and a trio of classic silent-film shorts by some of cinema’s funniest comedians:

• Charlie Chaplin becomes involved with a found pooch and stolen loot in “A Dog’s Life” (Charles Chaplin, 1918, 33 min.).
• Buster Keaton attempts to build a prefab house in “One Week” (Edward F. Cline & Buster Keaton, 1920, 24 min.).
• Laurel and Hardy sell Christmas trees door to door in “Big Business” (James W. Horne & Leo McCarey, 1929, 19 min.).