1920s Paris comes to Dartmoor with a rare screening of landmark silent film

Audiences are invited to step back into 1920s Paris with a special screening of a film made an astonishing 101 years ago. The silent film classic, ‘Fantôme of the Moulin Rouge’ will be brought vividly to life with live musical accompaniment by acclaimed
silent film performers Elizabeth-Jane Baldry and Stephen Horne.
The unique cultural event in Chagford on Friday, 24th April offers a rare opportunity to experience a new restoration of one of silent cinema’s most inventive and visually striking works as it was originally intended - on the big screen, accompanied by live
music.

The original poster from the film, 1925

‘Fantôme of the Moulin Rouge’, directed by French filmmaker René Clair, is a whimsical and surreal tale set in the bohemian heart of Paris. Blending comedy, fantasy, and early cinematic trickery, the film follows a young man, unlucky in love, whose spirit becomes mysteriously detached from his body, leading to a series of comic and crazy happenings. Widely celebrated for its creativity and charm, the feature film remains a landmark of early European cinema.
Enhancing the screening will be a live music score performed by international musicians, harpist Elizabeth-Jane Baldry, and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Horne.
With their signature combination sound of piano, harp, accordion, and flute, the award-winning duo regularly perform together at film festivals across Europe, blending historic films with live musical artistry. For this special Chagford evening, they will create an immersive soundscape that complements and elevates the film’s entertaining mix of poignancy, suspense and comedy.
Elizabeth-Jane says: “I absolutely love this film. It’s laugh-out-loud funny in places, as well as a touching story of star-crossed lovers. The location scenes are fabulous - it’s just incredible to see footage of hectic Parisian streets as they really existed 100 years ago. The dancing girls of the Moulin Rouge are adorable, and this new restoration even includes previously lost footage of a dazzling underground 1920s Parisian nightclub.”
To add to the atmosphere, the evening also features a bar where film-goers can sample the delights of ‘Green Fairy Absinthe’, the legendary spirit of Belle-Epoque Parisian café culture. Demand is expected to be high for this one-night-only event.
Tickets are £15.00, available from Sally's Newsagents, Chagford, or online (£16.96) from Eventbrite. (Search: “Chagford Silent Film Eventbrite”)

Event Details:
Film: Fantôme of the Moulin Rouge (1925, 99mins, directed by René Clair)
Date: Friday, April 24, 7.30pm
Location: Jubilee Hall, Chagford, Devon, TQ13 8DP
Live Music: Elizabeth-Jane Baldry (harp) and Stephen Horne (piano, flute, accordion)