Art Beat Q A Ed Hartman brings Richard Lyfords silent films back to life

The Seattle Worldcon Film Festival will present a unique screening of three films by Richard H. Lyford on August 15 at the Seattle Convention Center. Local composer Ed Hartman has scored the films, including the fully restored The Scalpel (1936/2024) and the silent sci-fi film As the Earth Turns (1937/2019). Lyford, who was born in Seattle in 1917, directed nine films and wrote 58 screenplays before turning 20. His works, including The Scalpel, have been recognized with 199 awards across 159 film festivals.

Hartman, who has scored various film and television projects, will participate in a live Q&A following the screenings to discuss his creative process and connection to Lyford. The event is part of the annual Worldcon, which brings together science fiction enthusiasts from around the globe. The screening of As the Earth Turns, which touches on critical themes such as war and climate change, adds depth to the retrospective of Lyford's contributions to cinema. This event not only revives interest in Lyford's work but also highlights the importance of local film history.