Peace Lutheran Church hosted a special showing of the classic 1923 silent movie Martin Luther on Aug. 25. As attendees entered the fellowship hall, the smell of freshly popped popcorn greeted them, setting the tone for a relaxed and engaging evening. A collection of varied percussion instruments, an electronic keyboard and a large movie screen hinted at what was to come.
Live music performed by William Ricketts on percussion and Jennifer Bradley on piano accompanied the film. Ricketts formerly directed a school band, but now teaches music and percussion at several colleges. He resides in Rockport but frequently visits Milam County, where his wife is the new Lutheran pastor in Cameron. Bradley is from Portland where she is in numerous music groups.
Ricketts introduced the event by explaining his discovery of the original score and shared insights into the history of silent movie music, while Bradley highlighted the hymns and classical pieces—such as works by Bach, Mozart, and Schubert— that she found in the score.
The performance lasted for just under one hour. The 1923 silent film Martin Luther is a notable early depiction of the Reformer’s life. This film was made for German audiences during a time of heightened national interest in Luther, particularly in connection with the 400th anniversary of the Reformation. The film also found interest abroad and its captions were translated into English.
The audience received the presentation enthusiastically, enjoying the film and praising the music. Following the performance, Pastor Welton answered a wide variety of questions about Martin Luther’s life, demonstrating his deep love of Reformation history and knowledge of Luther’s contributions to the church.
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