Yesterday I took a train ride to Amsterdam to see Nosferatu at the Tuschinski Theater, a 96 year old theater that's been kept in its original state (with the addition of a newer more modern wing). The main hall, where the movie was screened, had balconies, a curtain over the screen, and the original organ that was built into the stage when the theater was built. It was an amazing experience.
The music was provided live by a Londoner who's been playing the organ for classic films professionally for almost 30 years. He did it entirely without sheet music, improvising it as the film went along, and it sounded great. Just like you'd expect it to have sounded like back when the film was released.
The opening of the event was actually pretty hilarious. The lights dimmed, everyone hushed, and the organist, who was still hidden under the stage with the organ, started to play that
classic spooky piece as the organ rose up from underneath the stage. I mean it couldn't have been more dramatic.
I knew that Nosferatu was a vampire movie, but I had no idea that it was Dracula... To be accurate,
a blatant rip-off of Dracula. I mean it wasn't even credited anywhere but it just WAS the story of Dracula. I've read the book countless times and there's no mistaking it.
Here's an interesting article about how it happened and how the Stoker estate actually filed a lawsuit against the film.
It was pretty entertaining though. The organist came into the hall sometime after and I managed to shake his hand and thank him for his performance, so that was cool too.
Would recommend going to see something like this if anyone here gets the chance to.