Janet Gaynor in F.W. Murnau’s 1927 Silent Classic SUNRISE Screens at The Des Peres Theater November 17th – Presented by ‘Silents, Please STL’

“For wherever the sun rises and sets, in the city’s turmoil or under the open sky on the farm, life is much the same; sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet.”

Janet Gaynor in director F.W. Murnau’s 1927 Silent Classic SUNRISE screens at The Des Peres Theater (12701 Manchester Rd, Des Peres, MO 63131) November 17th at 7pm. – SUNRISE is presented by Silents, Please STL, a local group that aims to promote and preserve the art of silent filmmaking from the early 20th Century through community programming and education. Admission is $10 and tickets can be purchased in advance HERE. (which supports this screening and helps to sustain ongoing programming). Silents, Please STL‘s Facebook page can be found HERE

SUNRISE won three Oscars at the very first Academy Awards ceremony in 1927: Best Actress (Janet Gaynor), Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction.

In SUNRISE, a farmer with a pretty wife and a young child begins a downward spiral after starting an affair with a vacationing woman from the city. She wants him to return to the city with her but when he mentions his wife, she suggests drowning her. The farmer is reluctant but agrees and he and his wife set off that evening for the city in his boat. When the time comes however he can’t go through with it but his wife is scared silly. When they reach the city they see a young couple getting married and he begs his wife to forgive him. She does and they have a wonderful day together – they have their photo taken, go to a funfair and then dancing. When returning in their boat in the late evening they encounter a huge storm putting both of their lives in danger.