A podcast from renowned silent film accompanist/historian Ben Model covering the techniques of creating and performing live scores to silent films, as well as a discussion of the language of silent cinema. Find what goes on in the mind of a silent film accompanist before, during and after playing for a show. Learn about the aesthetics of silent filmmaking and storytelling language.
ep. 67: Scoring Wallace Reid in Kansas, Maurice Tourneur at MoMA, and “Ramona” for Kino Lorber
Ramona (1928) · Apr 24, 2025
ep. 53: underscoring “Frankenstein” (1931), leitmotifs and how often to use them, listener questions, and more.
Frankenstein (1931) · Nov 24, 2022
ep. 08 (re-posted): “A Trip to the Moon” in Tromsø, an Organ in Oslo, live comedy show “Everybody Gets Cake”, Marcel Perez
A Trip to the Moon (1902) · Feb 2, 2022
ep. 44: Exploring the Music of “City Lights”…From Inside the Score
City Lights (1931) · Jan 24, 2022
ep. 02 (re-posted): Unidentified films, DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments”, YouTube ethics, The Crowd, and more
The Ten Commandments (1956) · Jan 5, 2022
ep. 02 (re-posted): Unidentified films, DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments”, YouTube ethics, The Crowd, and more
The Ten Commandments (1923) · Jan 5, 2022
ep. 34: the Silent Comedy Watch Party, scoring Hitchcock, “Intrigue” and Nell Shipman, plus FAQ
Intrigue (1947) · May 13, 2020
ep. 28: scoring Laurel & Hardy, Mostly Lost 7, Lois Weber on organ and more
Hypocrites (1915) · Jul 16, 2018
episode 19: a trip to Egypt?, Keaton and Lloyd in South Korea, prepping for a 1915 Swedish silent
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) · Aug 27, 2016
episode 19: a trip to Egypt?, Keaton and Lloyd in South Korea, prepping for a 1915 Swedish silent
The Freshman (1925) · Aug 27, 2016
episode 16: Norwegian edition – Too Much Johnson, Roald Amundsen, Chaplin’s City Lights
City Lights (1931) · Sep 15, 2015
episode 16: Norwegian edition – Too Much Johnson, Roald Amundsen, Chaplin’s City Lights
Too Much Johnson (1919) · Sep 15, 2015