A 1923 drama starring one of the most-popular actresses of the era is next up the Town Hall Theatre’s summer-long salute to female stars of the silent screen.
“Within the Law” starring Norma Talmadge will be screened with live music on Sunday, July 24, at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St. in Wilton. Admission is free, but a donation of $10 per person is suggested to help defray expenses.
In “Within the Law,” Talmadge plays Mary Turner, a shop girl working for slave wages who winds up in prison for a theft she did not commit. Mary is bitter over her ruined life and swears vengeance on her former employer, Edward Gilder (Joseph Kilgour). When Mary is released from prison and cannot find work, she teams up with Aggie Lynch (Eileen Percy) to extort money out of elderly men. The scheme takes an unexpected turn, prompting dire consequences. “Within the Law” was partially filmed on location in New York City, providing glimpses of the Big Apple during the Roaring ’20s.
The screening will include live music by accompanist Jeff Rapsis.
Additional screenings are as follows:
— Sunday, July 24, at 2 p.m.: Norma Talmadge in “Within the Law.” Silent screen dramatic star Norma Talmadge plays a shopgirl wrongly imprisoned, and bent on revenge against the man who wronged her in this 1923 release. Filmed on location in New York City.
— Sunday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m.: Marion Davies in “Beverly of Graustark.” Gender-bending 1926 comedy in which Davies stars as an American cousin of a European prince, and with whom she must switch places to keep the kingdom from unraveling.
— Sunday, Aug. 28, at 2 p.m.: Double feature with Gloria Swanson and Mae Marsh. Swanson stars in “Fine Manners” (1926), a comedy about a chorus girl trying to keep up with her high society beau. In “Daddies” (1924), Mae Marsh plays an unlikely orphan adopted by the head of the local Bachelor’s Club.
For information, visit wiltontownhalltheatre.com or call 603- 654-3456. For more about the music, visit jeffrapsis.com.