Dennis James

The sensationally creepy—and oftentimes comedic—silent film Faust unfolds on the big screen as internationally recognized musicians DENNIS JAMES and Mark Goldstein, jointly known as the FILMHARMONICA DUO, accompany the production with flawless mastery of their unique instruments.

The duo has played for sold-out crowds and received numerous standing ovations across the globe for their unparalleled musical accompaniment to F.W. Murnau’s Faust. James, an Indiana University alumnus, will play the organ and the theremin, an eerie-sounding electronica instrument. Goldstein further enhances the production with Buchla Lightning Wands, an electronic musical device that emphasizes the devilish counterpoint in the film.

Faust is a captivating silent movie that exerts the enticing themes of love and death, good versus evil. When conniving demon Mephisto (Emil Jannings) makes a bet with an Archangel, the devout alchemist Faust (Gösta Ekman) becomes the Devil’s ill-fated victim. Mephisto tempts Faust with promises of youth, love, and power. The price? Faust’s eternal soul. Interspersed with a mass plague, death processions, and even a burning at the stake, this is a spooky film perfect for celebrating Halloween.

James is an internationally in-demand musician who began accompanying silent films when he was a student in Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. In 1969, he provided comic relief for a tense IU campus as a result of the Vietnam War by playing the organ for The Phantom of the Opera. Goldstein, hailing from San Francisco, has played percussion and electronic instruments for many ensembles in addition to specializing in audio technology at Stanford University and UC Berkeley.

From Singapore to Vienna to Salzburg, the compelling organ and the eerie electronic music have fascinated audiences around the world. A critic raved, “I wasn’t sure how I was going to like the electronics, but the score was a mélange of Gounod’s melodies, Bach’s ‘Passacaglia in C minor,’ and wonderfully eerie SciFi effects. I loved it!”

After the silent film The Artist won five Academy Awards—including Best Picture—this past year, Faust is another critically acclaimed production in the genre of silent film that you won’t want to miss!

Dennis James exclaimed, “I can’t emphasize enough how perfect this is for the Halloween show…and IU Auditorium is best suited for the scale of the endeavor!”

Costume Contest Information

IU Auditorium is partnering with B97 again this year to present the annual Halloween costume contest live on stage before the performance. Those wishing to enter the contest should arrive by 7:05 p.m., with the winner announced at 7:15 p.m. All audience members are encouraged to dress in costume and participate in the festivities!