“..What would the Tramp sound like?” This question was posed last night at the Paramount Theater by Richard Meyer - author, film scholar, and president of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. He was introducing the final film of the latest silent film series at the Paramount: The Iron Mask, a Douglas Fairbanks classic. Swords, murder, kidnapping. Humor, heartbreak, honor.

Meyer brought up an interesting point. Silent movie actors were mythological figures; somehow the mysteriousness of silence created an aura of legend, and speaking words would break the spell. It’s a different kind of communication in silent film, one of physicality and exaggeration. And on the big screen it’s an engaging experience. I found myself without desire to hear the characters speak, and the one time they did (in a live overdub), it was distracting to hear a speaking voice.

And anyway, the true voice of these productions is the accompaniment - in this case, Dennis James, on a big, beautiful Wurlitzer that is glitzier than the entire Paramount Theater. Half the time - okay, more than half - you just can’t believe the sound that comes out of that thing. And without rest for the duration of the film. More than anything else, it’s the accompanying music that tells the story. I began to wonder if the growing focus on movie soundtracks is creating sort of a return to form in that respect. Wouldn’t it be cool if theaters had actual bands in the theater, playing along with the movie? Just a thought.

As I mentioned, last night was the last of a series, but the Paramount will bring back the series every couple of months. Defintely, definitely go.