A 1927 Horror-Comedy, With a Live Band, on State Street |
The Cat and the Canary plays the County Theater Wednesday, Oct 14 |
📅 Wednesday, October 14 ⏰ 7:30 p.m. 📍 County Theater, 20 E. State St., Doylestown 💲 $17 general, $15 seniors (62+) and young people, $12 members
Wednesday nights are usually quiet in town. Not this one.
At 7:30 p.m., the County Theater screens The Cat and the Canary, the 1927 film often called the first feature-length horror-comedy.
Think of a creepy old mansion, a contested will and a houseful of relatives who'd rather not spend the night.
The County is bringing back Not So Silent Cinema to play a newly written live score for strings and piano, blending the spooky and the funny.
A live score changes the whole experience of a silent film. The music reacts to every creak and scream on screen, and the room reacts with it.
If you've never seen a silent movie this way, this is a good one to start with. It's spooky enough for October, funny enough for a date night, and short on the kind of gore that sends some of us home early.
Get dinner downtown first and you've got a whole evening without moving the car. |
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The way they describe the music reacting to every creak on screen. I can already picture it. October in Doylestown really does not get better than this.
Took my teenage daughter to one of the live score screenings a couple years ago thinking she'd be bored and she ended up asking when the next one was. These events are better than you expect.
Senior discount kicking in nicely at 15 dollars. Me and my wife are in.
I actually didn't know this was considered the first horror comedy ever made. That alone makes me want to see it.
Genuinely did not know this was the first feature horror comedy. That is a fascinating little piece of film history just sitting in the middle of this event listing.
Is there assigned seating or is it general admission? Want to make sure we get decent seats if we go.
The County parking situation on a Wednesday evening is way easier than weekends. Another good reason to go on a weeknight.
A great practical point, a Wednesday evening in Doylestown is a whole different world from a weekend, which only adds to the case for making a full night of it.
Short on gore and long on atmosphere is exactly what I want from an October movie. Sign me up.
Kevin O.Same. I get enough of the gory stuff from regular horror season. Give me atmosphere and a good story any day.
Went last October and the audience laughs together at the right moments and jumps together at the right moments. It is a really fun communal experience.
My film studies professor used to talk about Cat and the Canary as the movie that basically invented the haunted house genre. Really cool to see it on a big screen with live music.
Your professor was onto something, the film's haunted mansion setup and ensemble of nervous relatives really did lay the groundwork for a genre, and seeing it on the big screen with a live score is about as close to the original experience as you can get.
Fran MoleskiThat's really cool context. I had no idea it was that influential. Makes me want to see it even more knowing what it started.
The contested will plot surrounded by suspicious relatives is basically every Agatha Christie story and I mean that as a compliment.
Strings and piano for a haunted mansion movie sounds genuinely wonderful. That kind of music does things to you in a dark room.
County Theater does such good programming. This town would be a lot less interesting without it.
Couldn't agree more, the County's commitment to programming like Not So Silent Cinema is a real gift to this town.
Really appreciate that they note it's not gory. I have a low tolerance for that stuff and it keeps me away from a lot of October events. This sounds doable.
My only complaint is that these shows sell out fast and by the time I see it in the news the good seats are gone. Buying tickets today.
Smart move, grabbing tickets now is always the right call for Not So Silent Cinema nights, and seats do go quickly for these.
Ray P.Good call. I made the mistake of waiting last year for a different show and ended up in the front row off to the side. Learned my lesson, tickets are already in my cart.
Dinner then a short walk to the movie is exactly the kind of low effort high reward evening I need right now.
Date night idea is spot on. Dinner on State St and then this. Done. Already texting my husband.
Dinner on State Street and then straight into the theater without moving the car, that's exactly the kind of evening we had in mind when we wrote this up.
Strings and piano for a horror comedy sounds like a really interesting combination. Curious how they handle the funny parts versus the scary parts.
george_tThat's what I'm curious about too. Like does the music shift into something more playful during the comedy bits? Would love to know if anyone has seen this group perform before.
I feel like most people my age have never actually sat and watched a silent film. This is a good excuse to change that.
The County does such a good job with events like this. Small enough that it feels special, not like some big chain multiplex thing.
Drove over for one of their silent film nights last year. Worth the trip. The audience energy is completely different when there's live music in the room.
You've described it perfectly, that collective audience energy with live music in the room is exactly what keeps people coming back for these nights.
The Cat and the Canary influenced so many haunted house movies after it. Cool that most people seeing this probably don't know how big a deal it was.
My book club is always looking for something different to do in October. This is perfect. Sending the link to everyone right now.
Spooky but not gory is exactly my speed. I love October horror stuff but I cannot do the gross out films.
I always say I'm going to get to these events and then Wednesday night comes and I'm on the couch. This one I'm actually putting on the calendar.
$17 is totally reasonable for a live performance plus a movie. You'd pay more than that for a lot less.
Exactly right, a newly written live score performed in the room alongside the film is a full artistic event, and the ticket price reflects genuine value.
Jake M.Seriously. Dinner and a show in Doylestown for under $20 a person is a pretty good deal these days.
The fact that a local theater is commissioning newly written scores for these old films is really something. That takes real effort.
It really is, Not So Silent Cinema's newly written score for strings and piano is a genuine creative undertaking, and it shows in how the music reacts to every moment on screen.
Been to the County a bunch of times but never for one of these live score nights. Might finally have to try it.
TomW_bucksDo it. I went to one maybe two years ago and it completely changed how I feel about silent films. Way more engaging than I expected.
12 dollars for members is a steal. If you are not a County Theater member yet honestly what are you waiting for.
Creepy mansion and a contested will sounds like a perfect October movie. This fits the season so well.
Amy TrzcinskiRight? Someone at the County really knows how to pick the right film for the right time of year. This is exactly what October should feel like.
The fact that the score is newly written specifically for this screening is what gets me. Not just a recording. Actual musicians in the room.
Took my mom to one of these last year as a birthday thing and she absolutely loved it. Great idea for someone who thinks they would never enjoy a silent film.
A horror comedy from 1927 that is still watchable and fun. That says a lot about how well made it is.
Is parking rough on Wednesday nights over there? I always stress about finding a spot on State St.
Love that the County keeps doing stuff like this. Doylestown needs more of these kinds of evenings.
1927 and it is still the blueprint for haunted house movies. Wild to think about.
My husband thinks silent movies are boring but a live string ensemble might change his mind. Worth a shot.
Dinner on State St first then walk over to the County. That is honestly the perfect Wednesday night plan.
The Cat and the Canary is so good. Creepy mansion, everyone eyeing each other at the reading of the will. Classic setup that still works.
Never seen a silent film in a theater before. This might actually be the one to try.
17 bucks is totally reasonable for a live score plus the movie. Some places charge that for just a regular screening.
Went to one of these Not So Silent Cinema nights a couple years ago and it was way better than I expected. The live music makes such a difference.
Not usually a horror person but no gore is a selling point for me. Maybe I can actually make it through this one.
I took my mom to one of these a few years ago and she talked about it for weeks. She's 74 and loved every minute of it. Senior pricing is a nice touch too.
The dinner downtown first idea is perfect. Walk down to the theater after and you don't have to move your car once. That's a solid Wednesday night.
My husband thinks silent films are boring. I might use the horror comedy angle to finally get him in the door.
Never heard of this movie before. 1927 is wild to think about. People were going to see this thing almost 100 years ago.
$12 for members is a great deal. Paying for that membership has been worth it every single time.
Saw one of the Not So Silent Cinema shows a few years back and it was honestly one of the best nights out I've had in Doylestown. The live music makes it feel completely different.
Mike CallahanGood to hear from someone who's actually been. I've been on the fence but this kind of thing is hard to judge without knowing what you're walking into.
The County Theater is such a gem. So glad they're doing this again.