Silent Films in South Pasadena

Nosferatu (Photo – J.-H. Janßen)

In celebration of the cinematic city, the South Pasadena Public Library is hosting a special silent film series this fall.

By News Desk

South Pasadena has served as a filming location for many famous features. From Paul Powell’s Pollyanna (1920) to John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), South Pasadena is entrenched in Hollywood history. All screenings will take place in the Library Community Room. No registration is required.

Movie Lineup

• November 15: Andy Gump’s Stump Speech (1924) and Upstream (1927)
• December 13: Peter Pan (1924)

All films will be accompanied by live piano by Michael D. Mortilla. Michael D. Mortilla is well known in the silent film world as a composer and accompanist. Michael has composed silent film scores for the Chicago Symphony, the Academy of Motion Pictures, the Library of Congress, the Olympics, National Film Preservation Foundation, and many others. He was the last composer to collaborate on a produced work with legendary choreographer Martha Graham. Mr. Mortilla was a faculty member at UC Santa Barbara for fourteen years, serving as resident composer and sound designer in theater and dance. Since 2000 he has resided in Burbank, working as a free-lance journeyman composer and sound designer in theater, film, silent film, animation, dance, and various other productions.