RETRO SILENTS FILM SERIES
Select Wednesdays at 7pm in Cinema One | $10 per person.
WEBSITE:
https://carolinatheatre.org/series/retro-silents-film-series/
February 4, 2026
Paul Leni’s THE CAT AND THE CANARY: New 4K Restoration!
(1927, 79 min)
A stormy night, a decaying mansion, and a fortune at stake: greedy relatives gather for a twenty-year-old will… and an escaped lunatic lurks nearby. Director Paul Leni turns this “old dark house” setup into a gothic visual feast, packed with suspense, clever twists, and jaw-dropping style. Stylish, inventive, and endlessly thrilling, The Cat and the Canary set the standard for American horror, delivering mystery, chaos, and unforgettable visuals — all without a single spoken word.
TRAILER:
February 25, 2026
Rupert Julian’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
(1925, 78 min)
Lon Chaney’s Phantom isn’t just scary — he’s unforgettable. Haunting the Paris Opera, crashing the grand Bal Masque in scarlet robes, and scheming through every shadow, he dominates the stage and your imagination. Romance, suspense, and theatrical chaos collide, amplified by hand-colored sequences and dazzling visuals that pop off the screen. Every corner of the opera house hides danger, mischief, or drama, and the tension keeps building. Gothic, creepy, and mesmerizing, The Phantom of the Opera is suspense, spectacle, and romance rolled into one, proving that silent cinema could be wild, daring, and endlessly entertaining.
TRAILER:
April 1, 2026
Buster Keaton & Clyde Bruckman’s THE GENERAL: 100th Anniversary!
(1926, 78 min)
Buster Keaton races through a train-chasing, heart-pounding, stunt-packed adventure that’s equal parts comedy and thrill. As a Civil War train engineer, he risks everything — his locomotive, his love, and his life — to rescue both. Explosions, runaway engines, and death-defying stunts push the action to insane heights, while Keaton’s deadpan humor turns disaster into pure comic genius. Romantic chases collide with jaw-dropping physical feats, making every sequence more daring than the last. The General isn’t just a silent film — it’s a full-throttle cinematic thrill ride that still shocks, amazes, and delights.
TRAILER:
May 6, 2026
F. W. Murnau’s SUNRISE: A SONG OF TWO HUMANS
(1927, 95 min)
George O’Brien and Janet Gaynor star in this silent masterpiece of passion, tension, and heartbreak. A man, tempted by another woman, teeters between desire and devotion, while his wife fights to save their love. Stunning cinematography, bold camera moves, and expressive lighting make every moment pulse with energy — from tender whispers to high-stakes drama. Sweeping landscapes, intimate gestures, and daring shots combine into a romantic silent film that captivates and mesmerizes, proving that cinema can make hearts race and emotions soar without a single spoken word.
TRAILER:
May 27, 2026
William A. Wellman’s WINGS
(PG-13, 1927, 139 min)
World War I takes to the skies in this explosive aerial adventure. Two young pilots, friends and rivals, fight for love, glory, and survival as they take on the enemy in breathtaking dogfights. Stunts soar to unprecedented heights — planes dive, spin, and barrel-roll with jaw-dropping realism that still feels intense nearly a century later. Romance, heroism, and chaos collide in a way that makes every frame pulse with energy. Winner of the very first Academy Award for Best Picture, Wings is epic, thrilling, and endlessly entertaining, proving silent cinema could deliver action as spectacular as anything today.
TRAILER:
June 24, 2026
Fred Newmeyer and Sam Taylor’s SAFETY LAST!
(1923, 73 min)
Harold Lloyd climbs skyscrapers, dangles from clock hands, and teeters on rooftops in one of cinema’s most famous thrill sequences. The danger is real, the laughs are constant, and the stunts are jaw-dropping. Lloyd’s charm and timing make the peril hilarious, while the rooftop chaos keeps your pulse pounding. It’s a combination of sheer spectacle, inventive comedy, and high-altitude insanity that has audiences holding their breath and laughing out loud. Clever, thrilling, and absurdly funny, Safety Last! proves the silent era could deliver tension, comedy, and adrenaline all in a single frame — and it’s still insane today.
TRAILER:
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