I’ve attended several events at Wigan’s multi-arts centre, The Old Courts, but The Not So Silent Movie Night truly stood out. With its unique twist, this event immediately captured my attention. The evening promised plenty of fun, featuring a diverse selection of silent films from various genres and eras, all set to live music by Barry Howard on the double bass and electronic beats from The Dots.

The Old Courts, a vibrant venue located in the heart of Wigan, regularly hosts a wide range of arts and heritage events. From networking gatherings for creatives at The Bailiff’s Bar to Open Mic Poetry nights and beyond, it serves as a cultural hub for the community. Recently, following the closure of the theatre and The Grand Vault due to structural damage, The Old Courts organised crowdfunding to support the reopening of these beloved venues. By the end of June, they successfully reached their goal, raising an impressive £10,386 from 323 supporters in just 60 days.

Helen Finney hosted the evening and proved to be the perfect choice for the role, delivering on her promise of great fun for everyone in attendance. She began by explaining to those, like myself, who were unsure of what to expect that the event would feature serialised short films accompanied by live music. The films had no specific theme, spanning various decades from the Victorian era to the 1960s. Wearing a top hat and bringing a sense of humour to the occasion, Helen kicked off the night with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The first film of the evening was a 1902 production by Mitchell & Kenyon, recently restored and colorised. The opening scenes vividly depict a bustling Wigan town centre in 1902, filled with people going about their daily lives. The film captures a variety of faces, from workers heading to their jobs to vendors selling their goods, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. These snapshots of Wigan allowed the audience to recognise familiar places while also sparking curiosity about the stories behind the faces on screen. The melodic piano accompaniment, with its blend of sharp and gentle notes, perfectly heightened the sense of nostalgia, prompting us to reflect on how our ancestors lived their daily lives.

One of my favourites from the evening was The Life and Death of 9413: A Hollywood Extra, an avant-garde silent film from 1928. Co-written and co-directed by Robert Florey and Slavko Vorkapić, the film tells the story of Jules Raucourt, who arrives in Hollywood with dreams of fame, only to be dehumanised and reduced to the status of “9413,” an anonymous extra. The film’s abrupt cuts, rapid movements, and distorted shapes offer a sharp critique of the darker side of the film industry, exposing the “smoke and mirrors” of Hollywood. The electronic music by The Dots, with its pixelated and distorted sounds, perfectly complemented the ruthlessness of Hollywood and mirrored Raucourt’s disillusioning journey. As Helen jokingly remarked, “Avant-garde films do love a staircase.”

In true style, the evening included intervals featuring retro advertisements. The first ad was a 1971 public information film introducing the new decimalised currency system to the British public. On February 15th, 1971, the UK transitioned from pounds, shillings, and pence to a new system of 100 pence to a pound. Even just watching the ad, I found myself a bit confused, which makes me wonder how people at the time managed to wrap their heads around the new currency!

Take a Chance, a 1918 silent film starring Harold Lloyd and directed by Alfred J. Goulding, is a short comedy that had the audience laughing at every scene. The story follows a young man who spends his last 25 cents chasing after a girl he’s infatuated with, leading him into a series of hilarious and tangled situations. The fast-paced music that accompanied the film only amplified the comedy, with the tempo of the bass perfectly matching the frantic energy of the on-screen antics, enhancing every pratfall and misadventure. By the end, the combination of Lloyd’s impeccable timing and the lively soundtrack left the audience thoroughly entertained and wanting more.

The Dot and Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics is a 1965 short film directed by Chuck Jones and co-directed by Maurice Noble. The story, told through geometry and shapes, follows a hopeless blue line who is in love with a red dot. However, the red dot finds the blue line too conventional and boring, becoming infatuated instead with a wild and seemingly unconventional squiggle. I was captivated by how the cartoon used shape, colour, and abstract thought to reflect the spirit of the 1960s, a time when societal conventions were being challenged. The film’s innovative approach earned it the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 1965 Oscars. The music by The Dots perfectly complemented the film’s style and design with its electronic sound, making me feel fully immersed in the cartoon’s whimsical narrative.

The St Bruno’s tobacco advert from the 1970s highlighted the absurdity of advertising from that era. The idea of smoking a cigar while skiing is so extreme and far-fetched that it adds a layer of comedy, especially considering the obvious health and safety risks, as Helen pointed out. It’s surprising to think that combining skiing with smoking pipes was ever considered a viable concept!

I thoroughly enjoyed the Not So Silent Movie Night at The Old Courts, which brilliantly combined the charm of silent films with the excitement of live music. The evening was filled with humour, great comedy, and the sharp wit of Helen Finney, who added her own touch of expertise to the films. The next Not So Silent Movie Night will be on October 30th at The Bailiff’s Bar. I’ll include the event details and information about The Old Courts for those interested in attending. I highly recommend it!

For information on events and details about The Old Courts, you can visit their official website or social media pages. Here are some useful links:

• The Old Courts Official Website
• The Old Courts Facebook Page
• The Old Courts Instagram
• The Old Courts Twitter

These links will provide you with the latest updates on upcoming events, tickets, and general information about the venue.