Silents at the Senate – The Lodger (1927)  

Sat. Mar. 11 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 30min | NR | Thriller/Mystery | United Kingdom 

Live Organ Accompaniment by Dennis Scott

A man, accused. A blonde in distress. A cameo appearance. This might be a Hitchcock film! 

Considered by the master of suspense himself as the first “true” Hitchcock picture, the silent mystery/thriller The Lodger stands as the director’s first fully formed statement of artistic intent. Only his third feature film, it includes nearly all of the visual obsessions and techniques that would become his trademark. Inspired by the German Expressionist films of the 1920s, Hitchcock endeavored to further develop the visual language of cinema using striking and unusual camera angles, high contrast lighting, and placing actors intentionally within the frame to evoke an emotion or guide the viewer towards a conclusion. An influential film, it was an essential steppingstone in the development of the modern thriller genre. 

The action centers on the golden-haired fashion model, Daisy Bunting, her parents, and Jonathan Drew, their mysterious new lodger. An alluring and moody young man, Jonathan soon draws the attention of Daisy. A burgeoning romance begins. But to the dismay of her parents, (and would-be suitor, the local policeman) this captivating new arrival happens to match the description of a murderer on the loose — a serial killer with a taste for blondes! 

And, as if this suspenseful scenario isn’t enticing enough, we’re serving up these vintage Hitchcockian thrills with the period appropriate sounds of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. At the console this time around will be the internationally known silent film accompanist out of Chicago, Dennis Scott. A master of his art, Mr. Scott is sure to show off our instrument’s kaleidoscopic tonal color without ever showing up the images on the screen. Be sure to stick around after the show for a chance to ask the organist a question and take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. This is a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at the inner workings of this marvelous musical machine!  

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts.