Silent Film Fest lands in Orinda: What you need to know

The annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival continues to be a mainstay in the annual Bay Area film landscape and attracts throngs from around the world and showcases silent film classics. It’s always the talk of the town when it rolls around.

But for East Bay and South Bay fans, this year’s event is all that more special since the Orinda Theatre will be hosting all of its 22 programs, Nov. 12-Nov. 16. Seems like an appropriate spot given that the East Bay community of Niles in Fremont was the site of Essanay Studios where silent star icon Charlie Chaplin filmed some of his classics, including 1915’s “The Tramp.”

Speaking of Chaplin, his 1925 comedy “The Gold Rush” opens the fest at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. The timeless gem celebrates its centennial and is filled with one iconic scene after another. It’ll be presented with musical accompaniment by Timothy Brock who will be conducting the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Orchestra. (All programs feature live music accompaniment).

You can’t go wrong with any films in this lineup, which include restorations, three of which are part of the fest’s new preservation initiative.

Here are two goodies we recommend:

“Beau Geste” (1926): Director Herbert Brenon’s take on novelist P.C. Wren’s adventure classic is epic in every way – scope, scale and emotion. In it,  three brothers from England join the French Foreign Legion and eventually square off with other legionnaires in the Sahara. It screens at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 13 and has been restored and looks spectacular.

“Go West” (1925): In addition to Chaplin, Buster Keaton was one of the most influential silent film era comedians/filmmakers, a master at physical comedy.  His “Go West” closes out the festival at 7:15 p.m. Nov. 16  and is an absolute delight as a guy named “Friendless” (Keaton) does find a chum in the form of a cow that’s facing an uncertain fate.

For tickets and a full lineup, visit  silentfilm.org.