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Posted: 5/01/19

Inaugural Sci-Fi Classic Gets Organ Improv Showing at TAMIU Saturday

 

Metropolis poster
 

A pioneer in the genre of science fiction filmmaking, the German classic, “Metropolis,” will be screened and accompanied by live organ on Saturday, May 4 at 3 p.m. in Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Center for the Fine and Performing Arts’ Recital Hall.

Admission is free of charge and open to all.

Performing a live improvisation on the Sharkey Corrigan Organ to accompany the silent film is University organist Dr. Colin Campbell.

The film, released in 1927 and directed by prominent filmmaker Fritz Lang, is set to the backdrop of a futuristic urban dystopia that tells the story of Freder, the young protagonist who works to bring peace between the dueling working and ruling classes.

Lauded for its elaborate, revolutionary special effects and set designs, “Metropolis” is acclaimed as a premier achievement in the era of silent film, and has ranked as one of the greatest films on various lists by the New York Film Critics Circle Awards and the British Film Institute. The film also boasts a 99% rating on popular film critics website, Rotten Tomatoes.

The film has undergone several restorations. In addition to its original film score, several soundtracks have been created for the film, including a pop soundtrack by famed music producer Giorgio Moroder that featured performances by Pat Benatar, Bonnie Tyler, Freddie Mercury and many more.

The screening is part of a series titled, “Silent Movie Saturdays” initially started by Campbell shortly after joining TAMIU’s faculty in 2013. Previous live improvised accompaniment films include “Que Viva México,” (1932); “Othello” (1922); “The Haunted Castle” (1922); “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Faust,” (1926), “Nosferatu” (1929) and “Birth of a Nation” (1915).

A native of South Africa, Campbell holds his Ph.D. in Church Music from North-West University of Potchefstroom, South Africa. His Master of Music in Performing Arts-Organ was earned cum laude at the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) in South Africa. He received the Post Graduate Award for the Most Outstanding Dissertation in any discipline. 

His Bachelor of Music was also received cum laude at UPE. He also holds the Performer’s Licentiate in Organ UPLM (Unisa) with distinction from the University of South Africa.

For additional information, contact TAMIU’s Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu or click on tamiu.edu

More on the University’s story is available online at tamiu.edu and on the University’s social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.