The Kennington Bioscope is a regular cinema event featuring live accompaniment to silent films that takes place at the Cinema Museum.
Thin Ice/Bergenstoget plyndret i natt (1928), directed by Uwe Jens Krafft. This is screened from a BFI 35mm print.
Thin Ice is known in Norwegian as Bergenstoget plyndret i natt (The Bergen Train Looted Last Night) and was adapted by Alf Rød from the 1923 novel of that name written by Nordahl Grieg and Nils Lie under the joint pseudonym `Jonathan Jerv’. Directed by Uwe Jens Krafft and with German actors Aud Egede-Nissen and Paul Richter in the leading roles, Thin Ice is the story of a student embarking on a daring raid on a train passing through the mountain scenery from Oslo to Bergen. His motivation: having obtained a job as advertising executive with the railway company and seeking the hand of the boss’s daughter, he hopes to confirm his chances with both by staging the robbery – but is this merely a publicity stunt, or something more? The extensive Norwegian outdoor scenes were photographed by Paul Berge and Johannes Bentzen; interiors were shot by Günther Krampf in the EFA and UFA studios in Berlin (the film was released in Germany as Schneeschuhbanditen). Thin Ice was Norway’s first true attempt at an international film success and fulfilled its promise; even without promotion over 100,000 Norwegian cinemagoers saw the film, which was subsequently exported to 11 countries.
The first part of the evening will feature a screening of Ménilmontant (1925). Ménilmontant is an avant-garde French film directed by Dimitri Kirsanoff. Its narrative develops solely through images and montage, without the support of sound or title cards. Ménilmontant tells the story of two young sisters who leave their country home in the wake of their parents’ brutal murder, and settle in the eponymous working-class Parisian neighborhood where they fall prey to the ruthless seduction of a young man. The film is notable for its use of double exposure, the depiction of disorienting urban landscapes via very rapid cutting, as well as for the brutality of the opening and closing scenes. This will be screened from a 16mm print from The Cinema Museum’s collection.
Colin Sell will be providing live piano accompaniment for Ménilmontant and John Sweeney will be playing for Thin Ice.
Silent film with intertitles which may be suitable for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Tickets & Pricing
£7. Seats are limited, so please arrive early or request an invitation using the email kenbioscope@gmail.com.
