The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson, an Administrative Assistant at the Packard Campus.
More entertaining selections from Richard Hincha, this month’s guest programmer.
Thursday, August 13 (7:30 p.m.)
Khartoum (United Artists, 1966)
When the fanatical Sudanese leader Muhammad Ahmad (Laurence Olivier) massacres a British-led force of 8,000 and marches on the strategic city of Khartoum, British Prime Minister Gladstone (Ralph Richardson) assigns as the enigmatic General Sir Charles “Chinese” Gordon (Charlton Heston) to lead the defense of the Sudanese garrison against the Muslim rebellion. This historical epic was filmed by cinematographer Ted Scaife in Technicolor and Ultra Panavision 70 in Egypt. Directed by Basil Dearden, the realistic battle sequences were choreographed by famed stuntman and action director Yakima Canutt who revealed in his autobiography that “there were no injuries to a single horse in our work.” 128 min.
Friday, August 14 (7:30 p.m.)
The Vikings (United Artists, 1958)
Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis star as mortal enemies Einar, a great warrior, and Eric, an ex-slave. Both are sons of Viking leader Ragnar (Ernest Borgnine), though neither knows the true identity of the other. When the throne of Northumbria in Britain becomes free for the taking, the two brothers compete against one another for the prize and for a beautiful captured English princess, played by Janet Leigh. Directed by Richard Fleischer, the film is known for its extravagant budget caused by constant weather delays, the leasing of an entire Norwegian fjord, the construction of a full-scale Viking village, and the production of a fleet of authentic longships copied from reproductions in museums. Wonderful use of the natural locations in Norway was captured on film by renowned cinematographer Jack Cardiff. 116 min.
Saturday, August 15 (7:30 p.m.)
Exodus (United Artists, 1960)
Otto Preminger produced and directed this epic about the birth of Israel after World War II. Paul Newman stars as Ari Ben Canaan, an Israeli resistance leader who helps a group of 600 Jewish immigrants escape British-blocked Cypress for Palestine. Filmed on location, it was adapted from the 1958 historical novel Exodus by Leon Uris, which was inspired by voyages of the 1947 immigration ship Exodus. Composer Ernest Gold won the Academy Award for Best Original Score and the film was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Sal Mineo) and for Best Cinematography (Sam Leavitt). Also featured in the cast are Eva Marie Saint, Ralph Richardson and Peter Lawford. 208 min.
For more information on our programs, please visit the web site at www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/.