Charlie Chaplin Films Screened at LA Chamber Orchestra’s Film Gala Sunday

A still from Chaplin's 'Shoulder Arms' (Photo: © Roy Export S.A.S)

Some people think of silent film screenings as novelties, but when you add live music to the mix—like the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) will do tomorrow—the passive screenings turn into performance. LACO's 22nd Annual Silent Film Gala will feature two 1918 Charlie Chaplin films, with the original Chaplin scores, restored, adapted and conducted by Timothy Brock and performed by the orchestra.

A Dog’s Life, written, produced and directed by Chaplin, The Little Tramp finds companionship with Scraps, a stray dog, and a young dance hall girl trapped in an establishment of ill-repute. A wallet, wrested away from crooks, helps the three find a happy ending.

In the war-themed comedy, Shoulder Arms Chaplin is posted to the front lines in France, which isn't a fun place to be. But the hero takes on a secret mission where he rescues the girl and manages to hijack the German Kaiser along with the Crown Prince and General von Hindenburg….but then wakes up.

As a bonus, the Walt Disney short Trolley Troubles (1927) will also be screened, with an original score composed for the evening by Alexander Rannie (keyboard), accompanied by violin (Margaret Batjer), clarinet (Joshua Ranz), percussion (Wade Culbreath) and piano (Alexander Rannie). The Disney short features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's Silent Film Gala
Tomorrow (May 22) at 6:30 pm
UCLA’s Royce Hall
Tickets: $35 general seating; $80 priority seating; and $350 for gala (includes post-film dinner)