20th International Festival of Silent Film and Live Music

The Roller Skating Rink

director: Charlie Chaplin, USA 1916, 24 min, short film, comedy

Musical accompaniment: Lily & Co. – Sophie Vardigans (violin), Amy Vardigans (violin), Julia Vardigans (piano) & Lily Vardigans (drums)

Charlie works as a waiter in a restaurant. He makes a real mess of the place – which amuses him greatly. In the middle of the most beautiful mess he goes for his lunch break, roller skating.

On the roller rink Charlie shows what he can do, and as “Sir Cecil Seltzer” tricks a girl’s annoying admirer. And then he is invited to a party at the girl’s parents’ house and wonderfully upsets that party, too.

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Laurel and Hardy: The Thing with Pants

Directed by: Leo McCarey, USA 1929, 30 min, short film, comedy.
Musical accompaniment: Lily & Co: Sophie Vardigans (violin), Julia Vardigans (piano) & Lily Vardigans (drums).

Having just broken out of prison, Stan and Ollie swap their convict suits for civilian clothes -but mix up their pants. On their escape from the police, they repeatedly fail to swap pants because – hidden behind boxes or in a car with their pants down – they are watched suspiciously by a policeman or disturbed by passers-by.

During an attempt in the backyard of a fish store, a crab gets into Stan’s pants. The crab’s pinching claws and Stan’s twitching put James Finlayson’s music store and records in great danger.