Based on the horror story by Maurice Renard, “The Hands of Orlac” (1924) is about a concert pianist who loses his hands in an accident and has them replaced with those of an executed murderer. The new hands have murderous tendencies, and the pianist, Paul Orlac (Conrad Veidt), begins to descend into madness. Reuniting the star (Veidt) and director (Robert Wiene) of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," this film is a deliciously twisted thriller that blends grand guignol thrills with the visual and performance styles of German Expressionism. Produced in Vienna, the hotbed of psychoanalysis, the film is writhing with sexual innuendo and Freudian imagery. This event features live musical accompaniment by the Pittsburgh Composers Quartet (Patrick Breiner: tenor saxophone, clarinets; Adam Kantz: drums, electronics; Mark Micchelli: piano, keyboards; Ben Opie: saxophones, clarinets, electronics), which draws on a variety of sources and techniques, ranging from traditional and free jazz to modern classical. Performances are lively, unpredictable and fun! “Celebrating Centennial Films, 1924-2024” is the title of the Pittsburgh Silent Film Society’s 2nd Annual Pittsburgh Silent Film Festival, which takes place September 29 to October 6, 2024, at a number of locations. For this and other special events hosted at the Theater, absolutely no ticket refunds are possible.