The Alloy Orchestra Plays Wild and Weird

Offering a superbly curated sampling of 14 surreal and nonsensical silent shorts made between 1902-1927 (with one ringer from 1965), backed by the distinctive accompaniment of the unconventional musical ensemble The Alloy Orchestra, this compilation includes some famous pieces (George Méliès' 1902 A Trip to the Moon and Buster Keaton's 1921 The Play House), along with such oddities as The Acrobatic Fly (a natural history study from 1908) and Artheme Swallows His Clarinet (a bizarre 1912 slapstick production from France featuring ingeniously cartoonish imagery that borders on the nightmarish). Notable animated shorts (Ladislaw Starewicz's 1912 stop-motion The Cameraman's Revenge and Winsor McCay's hand-drawn 1921 The Pet) turn up among the more familiar “trick films” and comedies, as well as an avant-garde rarity, Hans Richter's 1926 Filmstudie. Collectively providing over two hours worth of entertainment, most of the works here are in excellent condition and will serve as both a rewarding introduction for adventurous viewers new to silent cinema and a treat for movie buffs who enjoy variety. The Alloy Orchestra is a fine match for the material: the resourceful and versatile trio shows its range with propulsive pieces, lyrical interludes, playful and percussive effects, and jazzy swing numbers, among other styles. DVD extras include a short profile of The Alloy Orchestra in a recording session, and a booklet with brief notes on the films. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)