RUMFORD – When Anne Wood attended a silent film festival 10 years ago in Columbus, Ohio, she got hooked on this movie genre.
Her love for the medium has carried over to a special cultural event the Friends of Rumford Library is presenting next week.
“The Freshman,” one of silent film star Harold Lloyd’s most well-known films, will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, in the public room of the library. The film is being shown at no cost to the public.
Wood, secretary of the group and a retired teacher from SAD 43 with 38 years experience teaching English and French, said Thursday that the film is aimed at those with a love for silent pictures and is an opportunity for those who have never seen movies presented without spoken words.
“We want to show films that people wouldn’t ordinarily see,” she said.
If enough interest is shown, other films may be presented in the future.
Lloyd, perhaps most known for hanging off the hour-hand of a clock high above a city, is one of the silent film era’s most famous performers, Wood said.
“He is still so powerful today as an actor and a performer. It’s a very funny film but also has the power to evoke sympathy and suspense. He’s an amazing stuntman,” she said.
The film tells the story of a “nave, misguided college freshman who plans to set the world aglow,” Wood said.
The film was honored for preservation in 1990 by being added to the National Film Registry.
Rumford resident Joe Sirois will lead a discussion about the 70-minute film after the showing.
The film will be shown on a 54-inch, wide-screen television that was given to the library by the Friends group.
In keeping with the theme, popcorn and root beer will be served.
Snow date is 7 p.m. Jan. 20.
The Friends of Rumford Library is part of a nationwide group of organizations that support and advocate for their local libraries. The group presents at least one cultural event a year. Last year, the group sponsored a visit by local author Monica Wood.
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