09/06/2026
THIS SATURDAY @ SILENT CINEMA | Galway's Westend | 🎟 www.silentcinema.ie
💥THE CAVE OF THE SILKEN WEB (1927)
This special effects-intensive silent fantasy/horror film by the husband-wife team director Dan Duyu and actor Pearl Ing premiered 99 years ago in Shanghai. Come and watch it this Saturday with live piano accompaniment by
For decades, this film was considered completely lost—a common fate for early Chinese cinema. But in 2011, a dusty, forgotten nitrate print was discovered in the archives of the National Library of Norway! It turned out to be the only surviving copy in the world. It was meticulously restored and officially returned to China.
Cinema's First "Spider-Women": Based on the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, the plot follows a Buddhist monk who stumbles into a trap set by seven beautiful demons. These women can transform into bloodthirsty spiders and want to eat the monk to achieve immortality. Visually, it’s a wild 1920s mix of dark fantasy, horror, and erotica.
Scandalous Outfits and Censorship:
For 1927, this movie was incredibly provocative. The actresses playing the spider-demons wore midriff-baring costumes that caused a massive stir in conservative China. Rumor has it that the original cut even featured a n**e underwater swimming scene. Because of this bold sexuality, the movie was eventually banned by the government.
Special Effects Using... Food Dye:
Even though it was a silent, black-and-white film, director Dan Duyu used cutting-edge film-tinting techniques. During the chaotic climax where the cave catches fire, the film stock was dyed in brilliant hues of magenta and red, giving the 1920s audience a bloody, psychedelic visual experience.
A must see! 🎟 www.silentcinema.ie (link in bio)
Doors and Wine Bar from 19:30. Show at 20:00.
