The 1931 Frankenstein film was eerily silent, with no music beyond the titles. Early sound technology just wasn’t up to the task, and many theaters weren’t equipped to handle full scores. As a result, it was released with dialogue-only tracks. However, Perth musician and composer Mark Bailey decided to write a music score to accompany the movie. Mark is a professional musician and a published composer, and his creation of this music is a major accomplishment! He captures all the excitement and foreshadowing of the movie but also sheds a fresh and sympathetic light on the character of the Frankenstein “monster”. Mark explains: “I’ve always been a fan of this film, ever since I was a kid, and it seems like a natural transition for me to complete this task.”
On February 21 at 7:30pm, a live orchestra will perform the new score as the film screens, with Ottawa composer and jazz trumpet player Rick Rangno conducting. In 1931 the film encountered censorship challenges. It was banned in Kansas and faced censorship in other states. But rest assured, it will be screened as the director James Whale intended — without any cuts.
Come out and enjoy this premiere on the large screen at St. Paul’s United Church in Perth, located at 25 Gore St W. Tickets are $25 from Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434).