FILM

Discovery Green and Houston Public Radio present Houston Public Radio Silent Film Concerts. At the Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space. Houston Public Radio presents a series of silent film screenings accompanied by live music. Back by popular demand, classic silent films get a new twist thanks to Texas’ best indie classical musicians.

Friday, September 30, October 14 at 7:30pm:  Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights

Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights begins with an uproarious skewering of pomp and formality, ends with one of the most famous last shots in movie history and, from start to finish, so completely touches the heart and tickles the funny bone that in 1998 it was named one of the American Film Institute's Top-100 American Films. Talkies were well entrenched when Charles Chaplin swam against the filmmaking tide in 1931 with this classic that is silent except for music and sound effects. The story, involving the Tramp's attempts to get money for an operation that will restore sight to a blind flower girl, provides the star with an ideal framework for sentiment and laughs.

The film’s score, originally composed by Charlie Chaplin, will be performed live by local pianist, singer, Loreta Kovacic. Known for her virtuoso performances from the Boom Boom room to Carnegie Hall, Kovacic’s style is inspired by music from around the world, a unique, international mixture of influences. This “International Immigrant”, also known as “Texas Slav”, calls her own style “Slavic & Western”. With a Doctorate degree in piano performance from Rice University, she composes, teaches, directs, produces and plays in her studio in Houston Heights.