The silent film The King of Kings will return to Columbus Holy Family Church on Saturday, April 1 after 11 years.

The classic film tells the story of Jesus Christ’s life, focusing on the weeks leading up to His crucifixion and death.

Doors to the church will open at 7 p.m., and the evening will begin with a brief introduction on the history of silent films. The movie will start at approximately 7:30.

The organ music for the film will be performed by Shawn Kenney, director of music at Holy Family. His last performance with The King of Kings at Holy Family was 11 years ago to the day, April 1, 2012.

Kenney has since accompanied The King of Kings at other venues in the Columbus area, including Greenlawn Park. He last performed at Columbus St. Mary Church in the German Village neighborhood four years ago. 

Kenney said he is bringing the film back to Holy Family to support four Catholic organizations.

“It is a fundraiser to raise awareness of the organizations and to give back and support the parish,” he said.

Kenney is donating the screen, the projector, the movie and his time for the performance. 

A $10 donation is suggested for those who attend.

Kenney said the money raised will support the Confraternity of Christian Mothers at Holy Family, which was founded in 1887, 10 years after the parish was founded, and works to support the parish through prayer and the purchasing of needed items; the Knights of Columbus chapter at the parish; the Bridgettine Sisters; and Holy Family Church.

Four tables will be set up at the back of the church, one for each organization. Upon entering, attendees can donate at one of the tables.

Kenney said the church hopes for $4,000 in donations.

Select seats will be available in the choir loft.

“It is $50 to sit in the choir loft, which people need to register for because there are only 20 seats,” Kenney said. “The best way to RSVP for seats in the loft is to send an email to [email protected].”

The ability to perform the score for silent films is something of a lost art. As few as a dozen organists worldwide can perform music for silent films, Kenney said. 

“My job is to make the audience forget they are watching a silent film and help them be fully immersed in the story,” he said.

The King of Kings, which debuted in 1927, is nearly three hours long. However, Kenney will perform the condensed organ score, which was released the following year in 1928. His performance of the condensed version will last about one hour and 40 minutes and include a 15-minute intermission.

Kenney was given a copy of the score by Clark Wilson, the organ conservator and resident organist at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus.

Kenney will perform the score on Holy Family’s Schantz pipe organ, which was manufactured at The Schantz Organ Company in Orrville, Ohio.

“This is one of the first movies ever to experiment with Technicolor at the end of the film after Jesus’ crucifixion,” he said.

The film features snippets from 36 Christian hymns, including “Be Thou My Vision,” which is played when Jesus cures a blind boy, and “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today,” played when Jesus walks out of the tomb.

“It is a great way to start Holy Week,” Kenney said.

The performance will take place on the eve of Palm Sunday to commence the most sacred week of the liturgical year. 

“It’s a fitting time because many of the events in Jesus’ life that Catholics meditate on during Holy Week are depicted in the film,” he said.

The film might also be more suitable for viewers who are sensitive to graphic content. Unlike other films portraying Jesus’ death, such as Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Kenney said, there is no gore in The King of Kings, and viewers will know graphic acts are taking place only through shadows in the film. 

“Many people have never watched a silent film, especially accompanied by a live pipe organ, so this will be a totally new experience,” he said. “If nothing else, it is educational, and there are very few silent films left. 

“(The audience) will find themselves moved by what they witness on the screen while inspired by the beautiful music they hear. For all, it will be an opportunity to return to the time of Jesus, reflect on the Passion and crucifixion and escape the present moment for a little while.”