Do the Doktor Doolittle

Jan 23 - Feb 01, 2014

(50 min)

World premiere live performance!
Free treats from KIND Healthy Snacks!

Long before Eddie Murphy or even Rex Harrison appeared in the role on the big screen, Lotte Reiniger, a 29-year-old German animator, created the first feature film about Doctor Dolittle and his thrilling journey to Africa. Reiniger’s film, made near the end of the silent film era, is a masterpiece of intricate silhouette-animation techniques that weaves a magical tale of talking animals and the benevolent doctor who understands what they say.

Northwest Film Forum has commissioned Seattle musicians and composers Miles & Karina (Dave Keenan and Nova Devonie) to compose and perform a new score for the film, feature guitar, violin, accordion, banjo, and other instruments. To sweeten the deal, they’ve also scored three more short films created by Reiniger—her haunting 1922 version of Sleeping Beauty, and two other exquisite short films created to promote, of all things, Nivea Creme and the British postal service. Special thanks to Allison Das, translator.

Films include:

Dornröschen (Sleeping Beauty, 1922, 9 min)
Das Geheimnis der Marquise (1920, 2 min)
Doktor Dolittle (Reels 1 & 3, 1928, 22 min)
The Tocher (1937, 5 min)

All ages. Special ticket pricing: $10 Film Forum members/ $12 general admission/ $38 per family of four

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