There are certain things that enhance a film watching experience.
There’s the popcorn and candy, the visual effects, the music and so on. And this Friday evening, as part of the NHTI Film Society’s Friday Night Film Series, you can add hearing a live original score to that list.
The film society is kicking off its spring portion of the series with a musical accompaniment thanks to an original score written for Fritz Lang’s M.
M was released in 1931, and is a German drama/ thriller about a child serial killer and the manhunt – by both the police and the criminal underworld – to find him. It has been heralded as Lang’s masterpiece.
“It’s rare when you get the opportunity to provide live musicians playing an original score paired with a great film,” said Steve Ambra, the film society advisor.
But at that point in time, the film industry wasn’t too far removed from the silent era, and this was Lang’s first sound film, so there was actually no music and consists of many long stretches of silence within the film. And those (as well as complete silent films) are the ones that really are perfect for live accompaniment.
“Any time you can get music and film combined in a live presentation is great,” Ambra said. “And I think this is an experience people will enjoy.”
This particular original score was created by a group of four musicians around the Boston area: Benjamin Burns, Stephen Ambra, Sam Moss and Daniel Radin. It debuted in Cambridge, Mass., last year and has been performed in Brooklyn, N.Y., and at Fitchburg State.
“They’re great musicians and are also into film,” Ambra said. “They were looking for a film that would lend itself to an original score.”
And you might notice a familiar name within that group of four musicians. Well, it just so happens that Ambra, who is in charge of the whole film society thing, is the father of the aforementioned Stephen Ambra. So, you can see how the connection was made.
“I had an inside track,” Ambra said.
Ambra (the younger one) plays the cello, Radin is a baritone guitartist, Moss is a violin and banjo player and Burns is a percussionist. Ambra (the older one) who saw the debut, said it was quite the performance – and that wasn’t just because his son is in the group and had a hand in writing the original score.
So far this is the only original score the group has put together, but the hope is for more in the future.
“Now, they’re looking to do another film,” Ambra said.
The film will be shown at 7 p.m. on Friday in Sweeney Auditorium. Admission is by donation – $10 suggested – and free for NHTI students. Tickets are only available at the door, and Sweeney Auditorium has more than 200 seats. The film society did show this film a few years back and it was well attended – without live music – so keep that in mind when deciding when to show up.
For more information, contact Ambra at 271-6484, ext. 4101, or sambra@ccsnh.edu.
