Writer and Director, Joey Lauren Adams, smiles to the Virginia Theatre Audience before the screening of Come Early Morning. Media Credit: Blake Stubbs.

Joey Lauren Adams, who most of you will know from Chasing Amy and Dazed and Confused, received a well deserved round of applause for her directorial debut in Come Early Morning. Adams also wrote the screenplay for the film, which was another first attempt.

The film follows Lucy Fowler (Ashley Judd) as she learns to deal with all the issues surrounding her life. Her struggle to find love and acceptance from those in her life drives the narrative of the film.

The movie is definitely worth seeing, and jumps out as a festival hit right from the start, as opposed to a big wide release type film. Ebertfest proved to be the best possible venue. Adams herself was even surprised. She mentioned during the Q&A afterward that this was the largest audience this film has ever received, and she was glad we enjoyed it.

Joined by actor, and festival favorite, Scott Wilson, the Q&A covered topics from Adams learning how to direct, to how her faith influenced her writing, and finally to working with the actors and teamsters during production. She also announced she recently finished a second script and is in the preproduction stages of getting it made.

Since this is her first film, I have to say there is a great deal of potential in Adams as both a writer and director. Which is important considering that there are not a great deal of female directors in the industry today.

Up next is the Fellini classic, La Dolce Vita.

Coductor Steven Larson and Composer discuss creating a new score for a classic silent film following the screening of Sadie Thompson . Media Credit: Blake Stubbs.

So the thing that struck me about Friday’s first film, Sadie Thompson, is the performance by Gloria Swanson. Now for those of you that don’t know (which I guess counts me as well because I haven’t seen many of her movies) Gloria Swanson was one of the biggest Hollywood actresses of the silent era. After seeing her on the big screen, I now know why.

There is something about her that is absolutely captivating. She has a presence, a way that subtly draws your attention to her in every scene she’s in; and when she’s not there, you wish she was.

The movie follows Sadie Thompson’s confrontations with a Christian missionary, a man bent on “reforming” Sadie and her flapper-esque ways. Meanwhile she falls in love with a sergeant who would do anything for her. The movie moves from comedy, (with some great vaudevillian moments) to a drama. The social issues the film brings up are interesting not only within the context of the time period, but also how it may work today.

Although, I didn’t find the movie as great as some did, I have to admit I am now a huge Gloria Swanson fan. There is another famous movie she was in which you might be more familiar with, Sunset Boulevard, and I must say that I now have a better appreciation for her performance and the film.

It’s worth noting that the film was accompanied by live music from the Champaign Symphony Orchestra. They did a superb job and composer Joseph Turrin wrote the music specifically for this film. An added bonus was that the film is the most complete version available, after deteriorating a bit from poor archival conditions and after the last reel was lost. The ending was reconstructed from production stills, the original script and a lot of hard work by some really dedicated people.

For those of you that love silent era films, or know Sunset Boulevard, this is definitely a movie to catch.