News Release — May 28, 2009

Harry Ransom Center Presents "Orientalist Silents" Film Series

EVENT: The Harry Ransom Center hosts the "Orientalist Silents" film series

WHEN: 7 p.m. on June 11, June 25 and July 23

WHERE: Harry Ransom Center, 21st and Guadalupe streets

BACKGROUND: In conjunction with the exhibition "The Persian Sensation: 'The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám' in the West," the Harry Ransom Center presents the "Orientalist Silents" film series throughout the summer.

The following films will be screened in the series:

June 11: George Melford's film "The Sheik" (1921), starring Rudolph Valentino.

June 25: Raoul Walsh's film "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924), starring Douglas Fairbanks.

July 23: Lotte Reiniger's film "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926), one of the earliest animated features ever produced.

Seating is free, but limited.

This series is held in conjunction with the Ransom Center's exhibition "The Persian Sensation: 'The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám' in the West." The year 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of Edward FitzGerald's landmark translation of the poetry of the medieval Persian astronomer Omar Khayyám. These gemlike verses about mortality, fate and doubt became an unprecedented popular phenomenon in England and America but have since fallen into obscurity. Featuring 200 items from the Ransom Center's extensive collections, the exhibition narrates "The Rubáiyát's" history through such items as Persian manuscripts, miniature editions and illustrated parodies.