Forbidden Paradise
Live music by Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
Ernst Lubitsch and Pola Negri, the star of some of the director’s best German films, were reunited for this sterling comedy inspired by the erotic intrigues of Catherine the Great. Negri plays the Queen with haughty majesty and deductive wit, barely registering the bearded opposition who proclaim, “We don’t want to be ruled by a woman—especially such a woman.” Adolphe Menjou, her worldly chamberlain, saves the day.
Restored by The Museum of Modern Art and The Film Foundation with funding provided by George Lucas Family Foundation
Free admittance for children under 12
Live Music by Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
A chamber ensemble that revives the tradition of silent-film orchestras, Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra culls historic libraries of music for its live musical accompaniments. Together, musicians Rodney Sauer, Britt Swenson, David Short, Brian Collins, and Dawn Kramer have recorded and toured widely, creating vibrant, emotional, and historically appropriate scores for more than 125 films. Officially formed in 1994 after discovering the music collection of a 1920s-era theater music director, the ensemble combines precision playing with expert selections to bring silent cinema to life.
Image credit: Pamela Gentile
Details
Director
Ernst Lubitsch
Country
United States
Year
1924
Cast
Pola Negri, Rod LaRoque, Adolphe Menjou
Runtime
73 min
Print Source
The Museum of Modern Art
Format
DCP