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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:icalendar-ruby
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
X-WR-CALNAME:VTIFF Musical Silents: The Wildcat (1921)
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Eastern Time (US & Canada)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260517T001433Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_52320257615798
DTSTART:20260415T230000Z
DTEND:20260416T003000Z
DESCRIPTION:Live improvised score by Matt Hagen + Mike Fried\n\nErnst Lubit
 sch directed some of Hollywood’s greatest comedies—Trouble in Paradise
  (1932)\, Ninotchka (1939)\, and To Be or Not to Be (1942) among them—bu
 t made some of his best films early in his career in his native Germany. T
 ake\, for instance\, The Wildcat (Die Bergkatze)\, a madcap farce about a 
 charming lieutenant (Paul Heidemann) who is captured in the mountains by b
 andits\, including our title character (silent superstar Pola Negri). Pete
 r Bogdanovich said it was one of the five funniest films ever made\, descr
 ibing it as “an uproarious\, hard-edged antimilitary spoof.” \n\nVisua
 lly\, the film is a feast\, particularly in its 21st-century restoration. 
 The set of Fort Tossenstein was built on location in the Bavarian Alps\, w
 hile the décor is something out of a German fairy tale. Both exteriors an
 d interiors look as if they’re made out of vanilla frosting. Many shots 
 are framed by all manner of mattes to alter the image size: slashing diago
 nals\, ovals\, keyholes\, scalloped edges\, and more.  \n\nAmazingly\, the
  film bombed in Germany and was never distributed in the U.S.\, despite th
 e filmmaker’s high regard for it: “This picture had more inventiveness
  and satirical pictorial wit than many of my other pictures\,” Lubitsch 
 said. “But I found the German audiences in no mood to accept a picture w
 hich satirized militarism and war.”\n\nMatt Hagen is a Burlington\, Verm
 ont-based musician whose sound is as layered and unhurried as the Green Mo
 untain seasons. His music varies from instrumental\, genre bending guitar 
 to intimate storytelling\, with a voice that feels lived-in and genuine. A
  fixture in Vermont’s independent music scene\, Matt has earned recognit
 ion\, trust\, and respect as a standout voice in Burlington’s vibrant cr
 eative community. Whether performing at premier clubs\, intimate local ven
 ues\, headlining events\, supporting main stage acts\, or tucked into a qu
 iet corner of the city\, he brings a rare authenticity that resonates long
  after the last chord fades. A seasoned songwriter\, bandleader\, and ecle
 ctic collaborator\, Hagen writes and performs in a palatable fashion while
  unafraid to wander into strange sonic territory. It’s music made for pe
 ople who listen closely.
GEO:44.477511;-73.219658
LOCATION:Screening Room @VTIFF
SUMMARY:VTIFF Musical Silents: The Wildcat (1921)
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.uvm.edu/event/vtiff-musical-silents-the-wildca
 t-1921
CATEGORIES:Film and movies
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