‘The Last Laugh’ coming to Town Hall Theatre in Wilton

Wilton‘The Last Laugh’ coming to Town Hall Theatre

“The Last Laugh,” a 1924 German silent film drama about a hotel doorman demoted to washroom attendant, will be screened with live music on Sunday, April 28, at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St, in Wilton.

The screening, the latest in the Town Hall Theatre's silent film series, will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films.

In “The Last Laugh,” German director F.W. Murnau tells the story entirely in visual terms, without the use of title cards. The film, a character study that chronicles the mental breakdown of an aging man who loses his position of authority, is also noted for its revolutionary use of camera movement.

Playing the lead role is Swiss/German actor Emil Jannings, recognized as one of the most versatile actors of early cinema. Jannings would later move to Hollywood, where he earned the first Best Actor Oscar at the inaugural Academy Awards for his performances in “The Last Command” and “The Patriot.”

Admission is free, but donations are accepted, with $10 per person suggested to defray expenses.

For information, call 603-654-3456.