Events

Study to show silent film Little Orphant Annie

Special showing of lost 1918 classic

Posted

The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum is proud to present a special showing of the 1918 silent film adaptation of James Whitcomb Riley’s Little Orphant Annie. This classic movie will be presented at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Carriage House on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum.

The 1918 cinematic adaptation starred Colleen Moore as Riley’s famed Little Orphant Annie and is the earliest surviving film starring the legendary Moore. The complete version of this classic film was believed lost until film historian and film preservationist Eric Grayson painstakingly restored the film from five different prints, making this the longest and most complete version of the film ever commercially available. It includes rare filmed images of James Whitcomb Riley taken on the lawn of his Indianapolis home. Riley was filmed as part of the Indiana Centennial Celebration in 1916 shortly before his death. That film was woven into this movie.

As a special feature “Dr. Film” Erin Grayson will be presenting the movie and discussing the restoration and preservation of this classic movie that is full of dream-like sequences and imagery that pushed the film making techniques of 1918. Remember, it’s almost Halloween and the goblins will get ya if ya don’t watch out!

This presentation is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested.

For more information call Larry Paarlberg at 765-362-5769 or email lpaarlberg@ben-hur.com.


X