The Signal Tower (1924) *RARE! FEATURED! - Clarence Brown Film Festival

We are proud to present a rare 35-millimeter screening of The Signal Tower (1924) with live musical accompaniment from Roger Miller of the Anvil Orchestra. The restored film has been previously shown at only two other venues: The San Francisco Silent Film Festival in 2019 and the 17^th MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation in 2020.

Following an apprenticeship with Maurice Tourneur, Clarence Brown's fourth feature as a director is a prime example of early American silent cinema and showcases Brown's burgeoning visual storytelling sensibility. The suspenseful film tells the story of a railroad signalman and his family and, as Brown biographer Gwenda Young notes, is the first of his films in which “a complicated woman is put center stage.” For years, only two 16mm prints were known to survive. The San Francisco Silent Film Festival oversaw their restoration to create a new 35mm print.

The Signal Tower solidified Brown's reputation as a director and marked a milestone in his growth as a filmmaker.

Doors open at 7:00. No reserved seating.

Clarence Brown Film Festival

This event is part of the Clarence Brown Film Festival, celebrating the work and legacy of Knoxvillian Clarence Brown (1890–1987). Nominated for eight Oscars, Brown directed the biggest stars of the silver screen including Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, and Elizabeth Taylor. Events are free and open to the public.