20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt
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A programming highlight and audience favorite of each year’s International Film Festival is the presentation of an epochal silent film accompanied by the live performance of an original score by a contemporary music artist. For SFIFF53, the remarkably gifted and prolific tunesmith Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields will do the honors at the Castro Theatre in the service of director Stuart Paton’s 1916 epic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Marine biologist Professor Arronax scans the seas from the naval ship Abraham Lincoln. He seeks out a mysterious and dangerous sea creature, but finds much more when the Lincoln is attacked by nothing less than . . . a machine! Arronax and his compatriot, the strapping whale harpoonist Ned Land, are brought aboard the submarine Nautilus, a new type of sea vessel. Built in secret, Nautilus is helmed by the enigmatic Captain Nemo, who roams beneath the waves seeking to evade the tyranny of civilization. Thus begins this wondrous silent-film adaptation of the classic 1869 Jules Verne novel, which in true Hollywood fashion, introduces embellishments to Nemo’s backstory that are both ludicrously campy and revealing of the era's sensibilities. The new 35mm print—struck from a nitrate negative housed at the UCLA Film & Television Archive—promises renewed appreciation for the film, which includes beautiful (and by today's standards, humorous) undersea photography, conspiratorial intrigue and yes, even love.
The film and story are perfectly suited to the notoriously wry singer/songwriter Stephin Merritt, who will perform the world premiere of his original score live at the Castro Theatre. With his unique gift for memorable melodies, lovelorn lyrics and inventive musical stylings that blend classic Tin Pan Alley with postmodern grooves, Merritt has distinguished himself as one of contemporary pop’s most beloved and influential artists. This remarkably gifted and prolific tunesmith records and performs as a solo artist and also leads numerous alternative bands including Future Bible Heroes, the Gothic Archies, the 6ths and, most famously, the Magnetic Fields, whose 1999 three-disc opus 69 Love Songs is widely considered a masterpiece of traditional songcraft and irresistible synthpop. Merritt will be joined by an ensemble including Castro Mighty Wurlitzer organist David Hegarty, frequent Merritt collaborator and author Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events) on the accordion, and others to be announced.
The world premiere of Stephin Merritt and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will be presented with support from Esurance. Esurance is proud to support this year’s SFIFF Animation, Technology and Design programs at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Tickets are $17 for San Francisco Film Society members and $22.50 for general admission.
A programming highlight and audience favorite of each year’s International Film Festival is the presentation of an epochal silent film accompanied by the live performance of an original score by a contemporary music artist. For SFIFF53, the remarkably gifted and prolific tunesmith Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields will do the honors at the Castro Theatre in the service of director Stuart Paton’s 1916 epic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Marine biologist Professor Arronax scans the seas from the naval ship Abraham Lincoln. He seeks out a mysterious and dangerous sea creature, but finds much more when the Lincoln is attacked by nothing less than . . . a machine! Arronax and his compatriot, the strapping whale harpoonist Ned Land, are brought aboard the submarine Nautilus, a new type of sea vessel. Built in secret, Nautilus is helmed by the enigmatic Captain Nemo, who roams beneath the waves seeking to evade the tyranny of civilization. Thus begins this wondrous silent-film adaptation of the classic 1869 Jules Verne novel, which in true Hollywood fashion, introduces embellishments to Nemo’s backstory that are both ludicrously campy and revealing of the era's sensibilities. The new 35mm print—struck from a nitrate negative housed at the UCLA Film & Television Archive—promises renewed appreciation for the film, which includes beautiful (and by today's standards, humorous) undersea photography, conspiratorial intrigue and yes, even love.
The film and story are perfectly suited to the notoriously wry singer/songwriter Stephin Merritt, who will perform the world premiere of his original score live at the Castro Theatre. With his unique gift for memorable melodies, lovelorn lyrics and inventive musical stylings that blend classic Tin Pan Alley with postmodern grooves, Merritt has distinguished himself as one of contemporary pop’s most beloved and influential artists. This remarkably gifted and prolific tunesmith records and performs as a solo artist and also leads numerous alternative bands including Future Bible Heroes, the Gothic Archies, the 6ths and, most famously, the Magnetic Fields, whose 1999 three-disc opus 69 Love Songs is widely considered a masterpiece of traditional songcraft and irresistible synthpop. Merritt will be joined by an ensemble including Castro Mighty Wurlitzer organist David Hegarty, frequent Merritt collaborator and author Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events) on the accordion, and others to be announced.The world premiere of Stephin Merritt and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will be presented with support from Esurance. Esurance is proud to support this year’s SFIFF Animation, Technology and Design programs at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Tickets are $17 for San Francisco Film Society members and $22.50 for general admission.
Tuesday, May 4, 8:30 pm
Castro Theatre
Castro Theatre