The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson, an Administrative Assistant at the Packard Campus.
Thursday, March 5 (7:30 p.m.)
The Charge of the Light Brigade (Warner Bros., 1936)
Errol Flynn stars as Major Geoffrey Vickers, an officer in the 27th Lancers stationed in India. When his regiment is drawn out on maneuvers, Indian potentate Surat Khan–who is angry that the British government has cut off his subsidies–attacks the barracks, killing women and children. Vickers and his fellow Light Brigade lancers seek revenge by battling Khan, now ensconced with the Russians, at Balaclava. Olivia de Havilland co-stars as Flynn’s longtime fiancée with Patric Knowles as his brother and fellow officer. Michael Curtiz directed this epic adventure tale based on Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s narrative poem.
Friday, March 6 (7:30 p.m.)
Leap Year (Paramount, 1921)
Silent film comedian Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle stars as Stanley Piper, a stammering young man who is heir to his crotchety old Uncle Jeremiah’s millions. Stanley has fallen in in love with Phyllis, his uncle’s nurse, but Jeremiah fears that she is only after his impending fortune. Determined to keep his nephew away from all such opportunistic women, the old coot sends Stanley off on a fishing trip to Catalina Island where he finds finds more flirtatious females than he can juggle. Leap Year was the last film Roscoe Arbuckle completed before being accused of the rape and murder of actress Virginia Rappe. Although he was later cleared of all charges, the scandal ended his on-screen career because film companies were reluctant to give him any major roles. The film was not released in the U.S. until 1981. This 35 mm film print was produced by the Library of Congress Film Lab in 1976. Ben Model will provide live musical accompaniment for the program, which will include two comedy shorts.
Saturday, March 7 (7:30 p.m.)
The Patent Leather Kid (First National, 1927)
A cocky New York prizefighter (Richard Barthelmess), nicknamed “The Patent Leather Kid” for his slicked-down hair style, isn’t at all interested when America enters the Great War in Europe. His contempt for the subject only deepens when his girlfriend (Molly O’Day) leaves him to entertain the troops overseas. When the Kid is drafted and fighting on the battlefields of France, his attitude changes and he begins to pull together with his buddies, eventually performing a conspicuous act of bravery. Made at the height of his popularity, Barthelmess was nominated for an Oscar in the first year of the Academy Awards for this silent film. This 35 mm film print was produced by the Library of Congress Film Lab in 1975.
For more information on our programs, please visit the web site at www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/.