The Rats and People Motion Picture Orchestra Debuts a New Score! DR. WISE ON THE INFLUENZA (1919) October 26th

St. Louis’ Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra — a longtime local favorite — will debuting a new score October 26th at 8pm. It’s for a virtual screening the 1919 documentary DR. WISE ON THE INFLUENZA.

DR. WISE ON THE INFLUENZA is a fascinating public-information film on the 1918-1920 influenza pandemic. From the Local Government Board (subsequently known as the Ministry of Health), the film directly addresses the British public on the epidemic, with a “Dr. Wise” speaking–via silent-film intertitles–to spectators on the dangers of the flu and of some precautions to take against being infected. Ever timely, this film has recently been posted online by the British Film Institute, including on their website and on their YouTube channel, and so may now be viewed by another generation, 100 years later, experiencing another pandemic.

The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra will be hosting a short Q&A after the screening. They will be sharing a link to the event with more information soon, so keep your eyes peeled to their FB page HERE!