Beginning this Friday, May 25, New York’s renowned art house QUAD Cinema launches a new program: a special cinematic treat for silent film lovers!

When Elliott Kanbar, the President of QUAD Cinema, first approached me about helping him launch a new film series highlighting classic films, I jumped at the opportunity. As an independent film producer, publicist and distributor, it was a natural progression for me to want to move into programming the kinds of iconic films that I grew up watching and admiring as a kid, and later as a film student.

Based on the success of this year’s Academy Award-winning film THE ARTIST, we felt it was fitting to start off the first QUAD Classics series with a theme: THE GREAT ERA OF SILENT FILMS.

Beginning this Friday, May 25, and running thru May 31, the QUAD Cinema is proud to present the first QUAD Classics series, which will feature the three masterpieces of the Silent Era: the 2010 restoration of Fritz Lang’s sci-fi epic METROPOLIS (1927), Sergei Eisenstein’s unforgettable 1905 Russian Revolution drama BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN (1925), and Buster Keaton’s Civil War comedy THE GENERAL (1926).

Discussions with New York-based film critics and scholars will follow select screenings on the opening weekend. Our hope is to re-introduce New Yorkers to these great classic works of art, which have now all been immaculately restored by Kino Lorber. We are pleased to announce that all films will be projected in full High Definition Blu Ray using a high-end Eiki LC-X85 projector and OPPO BDP-93 player. And the post-screening conversations are meant to create a film class atmosphere where audiences, along with filmmakers, film professors, critics, distributors, and other industry professionals can discuss these legendary films and their impact on world cinema today. 

It’s been an exciting process for us to put this series together, and we have great plans for additional programs that we will announce later this year.

The New York film community has been fortunate to have Elliott Kanbar, a true champion of independent filmmakers, who has passionately been exhibiting the best in independent, foreign and documentary films at the QUAD Cinema since 1972. It’s Elliott’s vision that QUAD Cinema continues to be a vibrant film center and destination art house by offering New Yorkers groundbreaking and innovative programming.

QUAD Cinema will celebrate its 40th anniversary this October, so stay tuned for some wonderful new programs, including more classic film screenings to mark this special anniversary.

In the meantime, if you want to get your silent film fix on, come join us at the first QUAD Classics program this weekend! Advance Tickets can be purchased by calling 212-255-2243. Regular admission for Adults is $11.00 and $8.00 for Senior Citizens (62+) and IFP & NYWIFT members.

Film descriptions, Q&A / speaker info, and showtimes for QUAD Classics from May 25 thru 31 are as follows:

Metropolis (1927)
Directed by Fritz Lang
Running time: 2:28
Showtimes (May 25-31): 7:00pm

From Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide: “Classic silent-film fantasy of futuristic city and its mechanized society, with upper-class young man abandoning his life of luxury to join oppressed workers in revolt... Startling set design and special effects command attention throughout.”

Incorporates more than 25 minutes of newly discovered footage. (2010 restoration)

Post-screening discussion with New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri and NYU professor & film critic William Wolf after the 7pm screening of METROPOLIS on Friday, May 25. Moderated by Isil Bagdadi from CAVU Pictures.

Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Directed by Sergei Eisenstein
Running time: 1:09
Showtimes (May 25-31): 3:00 & 9:45

From Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide: “Landmark film about 1905 Revolution. Unlike many staples of film history classes, this one has the power to grip any audience. Odessa Steps sequence is possibly the most famous movie scene of all time.” 

Post-screening discussion with NYU film professor Nick Tanis and Wall Street Journal Greater New York arts reporter Bruce Bennett after the 3pm screening of Battleship Potemkin on Saturday, May 26. Moderated by Isil Bagdadi from CAVU Pictures.

The General (1926)
Directed by Buster Keaton
Running Time: 1:18
Showtimes (May 25-31): 1:00 & 5:00

From Time Out New York Film Guide: “Keaton's best, and arguably the greatest screen comedy ever made. Against a meticulously evoked Civil War background, Buster risks life, limb and love as he pursues his beloved railway engine, hijacked by Northern spies up to no good for the Southern cause. The result is everything one could wish for: witty, dramatic, visually stunning, full of subtle, delightful insights, and constantly hilarious.”

Post-screening discussion with New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri, and Wall Street Journal Greater New York arts reporter Bruce Bennett after the 5pm screening of The General on Saturday, May 26. Moderated by Isil Bagdadi from CAVU Pictures.

Isil Bagdadi is an independent film producer, publicist, distributor, and the co-founder of NY-based CAVU Pictures, an independent film production and distribution company that specializes in cutting-edge, critically acclaimed and award-winning films.

METROPOLIS, BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN and THE GENERAL are being screened courtesy of Kino Lorber. We hope to see you at Quad Classics!