OKCMOA’s Noble Theater is very proud to present Silent Nights, a series of classic films starring silent comedy icons Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. The series will feature seven newly restored masterworks courtesy of Janus Films, plus one 16mm print drawn from from the Museum’s own collection. Select screenings will also be preceded by a surprise 16mm short.
The series opens with pristine restorations of Harold Lloyd’s The Freshman and Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, emblematic works from two of the silent era’s most influential and ingenious artists. Lloyd’s most commercially successful film, The Freshman follows the comedian’s bespectacled alter-ego as he attempts to go from hapless co-ed to “big man on campus” by joining the football team. Also appearing in Safety Last!, The Kid Brother and Speedy, Lloyd’s popular “glasses” character combines the charm, ambition, and optimism of the 1920s everyman with an an aptitude for death-defying, building-scaling, large-scale comic set-pieces that still have the power to thrill and surprise.
Deftly melding graceful, intricate sight-gags with tear-jerking drama and clear-eyed social commentary, Charlie Chaplin’s films transcend the comedy genre to capture something universally human and essentially cinematic. From his 1917 short film The Immigrant, presented on 16mm as part of a double feature with Lloyd’s comic masterpiece Safety Last!, through his first true sound film The Great Dictator, this series charts the evolution of Chaplin’s star persona, the intensification of his political commitment, and the refinement of his craft. We’re excited to close out the series with a screening of Chaplin’s beloved silent masterwork City Lights, featuring authentic, live piano accompaniment by Bill Rowland on Sunday, January 31.
To protect the safety of our staff and guests, masks are required in the Noble Theater and throughout the Museum. Seating has been limited to less than 25% capacity, with seats and rows blocked off between parties. Seats, armrests, and other high-touch areas of the theater and lobby are sanitized before use, and hand sanitizer is available for both staff and guests.
Silent Nights Schedule:
The Freshman (1925)
Friday, January 29 | 5:30 pm
Modern Times (1936)
Friday, January 29 | 8 pm
The Immigrant + Safety Last (1917 & 1923)
Double Feature!
Saturday, January 30 | 2 pm
Speedy (1928)
Saturday, January 30 | 5:30 pm
The Great Dictator (1940)
Saturday, January 30 | 8 pm
The Kid Brother (1927)
Sunday, January 31 | 12:30 pm
City Lights (1931)
Sunday, January 31 | 3 pm (screening with live piano accompaniment by Bill Rowland)
