As the release date of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” approaches, it’s worth taking a minute to recall the very first vampire film: “Nosferatu” (1922). The German production was originally intended as a direct adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula,” but the rights to the work could not be secured, forcing, among other changes, “Dracula” to be renamed “Count Orlok,” played by Max Schreck in one of cinema’s most famous performances. Schreck embodied the creepy, animal-like bloodsucker so effectively that 2000’s “Shadow of A Vampire” suggested that Schreck was a vampire in real life.
A high-quality print of “Nosferatu” was screened at the Sarratt Cinema on Halloween as part of the International Lens series. The event opened with a costume contest, during which audience members displayed their creative outfits, which included the Phantom of the Opera, a pajama pirate and an octo-mom. The winners were later announced as a couple with books covering their faces — literal “Facebook friends.”
The host turned out to be none other than Count Orlock himself (though there were rumors that he was an alter-ego of Professor Paul Young, Director of Film Studies). Orlock, cane in hand, crept around front of the room as he introduced the film with a hilarious speech delivered in a thick vampire-accent. He described the movie’s historical background while admitting that Schreck’s portrayal of him was “adequate.”
“Nosferatu” (1922) is a silent film, but its screening at the Sarratt Cinema was accompanied by a live performance by the music group Rats and People. Rats and People began as a rock group but changed course when they were pleased with a live score they created for the Buster Keaton film “Go West” (1925). The post-screening discussion, led by a returning Count Orlock, revealed that the performance was Rats and People’s debut of their “Nosferatu” music.
The music consisted primarily of trombone, keyboard and strings backed by percussion with occasional use of electric guitar. A Theremin created an eerie effect, enhancing the chilling atmosphere of the movie. The elaborate orchestration developed and expanded as the film progressed, introducing a new melody when movie-Orlock first appeared. When a messenger banged a drum in the movie, Rats and People’s drummer delivered an appropriate burst of sound.
As host Orlock related, in the past live music was always played with silent movies. Now, such an experience is very hard to come by. Thanks to the International Lens series, several dozen people were able to enjoy a high-quality screening of a great movie and a top-notch musical performance.
