2026 St John’s Silent Film Series

Welcome to St John’s Silent Film Night, now in its fifth year! What began as an experiment has become a beloved tradition, expanding from our original Holy Week screening to include a Christmas program.

Each event features a selection of carefully curated films from the golden age of silent cinema, including both religious and secular classics.

These films are accompanied by live, improvised organ scores performed by Kevin Monteith. Using our 2004 Allen AP-40 organ, which has three manuals and 54 speaking stops, Kevin creates an original soundtrack in real-time, making each screening a unique artistic experience.

While not a traditional theater organ, the instrument’s capabilities influence our programming, and Kevin selects films that highlight its dramatic range and tonal depth.

St John’s Silent Film Night 2026 Series

You can sit and enjoy these films in our sanctuary. Visit the church located at 216 E Chandler Blvd, Burlington, WI 53105.

Spring

• Films:
  • The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ, 1907
  • Spring Fever, 1919
    • Learn more about each film below
• Date: March 28, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM

Winter

• Film: The Star of Bethlehem, 1912, and a special holiday short!
• Date: Dec 19, 2026 (tentative)
• Time: 6:00 PM

Everyone is welcome to attend—no church membership is needed!

About the Films

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Silent Night at St. John’s, which started with the 1907 film “The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ.” To celebrate this milestone, we are reintroducing the film and adding a comedy short to open the program, showcasing a lighter side of the event.

The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1907)

Our Lenten program features Ferdinand Zecca’s 1907 version of this landmark religious film, produced by France’s Pathé Frères. This film was a remake and expansion of Zecca’s earlier productions from 1902 to 1905, created in response to the success of Alice Guy-Blaché’s 1906 passion film for Gaumont. Released in four parts throughout 1907: “Birth of Jesus,” “The Childhood of Jesus,” “Miracles and Public Life,” and “Passion and Death of Jesus.” The film comprises 31 scenes and runs approximately 45 minutes.

The film presents the Gospel story, depicting events from the Annunciation to the Resurrection through a series of carefully staged tableaux. Many scenes are inspired by Gustave Doré’s famous Biblical woodcuts, and the film showcases Pathé’s innovative hand-tinted stencil coloring process. At a time when most films lasted only a few minutes, this ambitious production was a remarkable achievement. With no dialogue or intertitles, the film assumes that viewers are familiar with the stories, making it a visual meditation on well-known sacred events, much like traditional religious art.

Spring Fever (1919)

Following the seriousness of the Passion narrative, we will lighten the mood with this delightful comedy featuring Harold Lloyd. In “Spring Fever,” directed by Hal Roach, Lloyd portrays a bookkeeper who cannot resist the allure of a beautiful spring day. He abandons his dull office work to escape to the park, where he encounters a series of playful misadventures involving an irate boss, an unwanted suitor, romantic possibilities, and the small issue of an unpaid ice cream bill.

This 10-minute short film showcases Lloyd’s early slapstick style and captures the universal longing to break free when spring arrives.

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What to Expect

A truly unique experience. Kevin’s completely improvised score is tailored to each scene in real time—no two performances are alike.

A welcoming atmosphere. Join us as you are, bring a friend and a snack, and enjoy the magic of silent cinema in our community. Whether you’re a film buff, an organ music lover, or simply curious, you are warmly invited.