Unterwelt (1927)

Unterwelt: Directed by Josef von Sternberg, Arthur Rosson. With George Bancroft, Evelyn Brent, Clive Brook, Fred Kohler. Boisterous gangster kingpin Bull Weed rehabilitates his former lawyer from his alcoholic haze, but complications arise when he falls for Weed’s girlfriend.

“I just saw a re-issue of this film tonight as part of the 26th annual Three Rivers Film Festival in Pittsburgh and I was highly satisfied. The Alloy Orchestra were on-hand to provide an all-new live score, which created a near-perfect match for this underrated classic.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe acting was spot-on (although admittedly a much different style than modern audiences are used to), the set design and lighting were pitch-perfect (check out the copious amounts of confetti at the Underworld Ball), and the complexities of the characters and plot line far exceeded anything I was expecting from an 80 year-old film. Suffice it to say that modern cinema has not cornered the market on engaging, surprising and provocative storytelling.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf you have a chance to see Underworld, particularly when accompanied by the Alloy Orchestra, take the opportunity. Itu0026#39;s a rarefied experience thatu0026#39;s well worth your 90 minutes.”