The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson, an Administrative Assistant at the Packard Campus.
Thursday, December 17 (7:30 p.m.)
We’re No Angels (Paramount, 1955)
Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov play three escaped inmates from Devil’s Island who concoct a plan to steal from a shopkeeper on Christmas. Their plans change when they find themselves growing to like their target and his family. Besides, the luckless merchant’s business is failing and he is about to lose his shirt. So the men decide instead to help out by fixing up the place and bringing in more customers. Michael Curtiz directed this comedy that costars Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone and Leo G. Carroll. 106 minutes.
Friday, December 18 (7:30 p.m.)
Miracle on 34th Street (20th Century-Fox, 1947)
This holiday favorite, written and directed by George Seaton, depicts a kindly old man calling himself Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) who is hired as the Macy’s department store Santa. The trouble is he thinks he really is Santa Claus. When he meets the young daughter (Natalie Wood) of the store’s personnel manager (the late Maureen O’Hara), he endeavors to teach the girl to become a normal, imaginative child instead of the miniature adult raised by her no-nonsense mother. To avoid being sent to an asylum for life, Kringle goes on trial to prove he’s Santa and is defended by a sympathetic attorney (John Payne). This delightful comedy-fantasy won Oscars for best original story, best screenplay and best supporting actor for Edmund Gwenn. The film was named to the National Film Registry in 2005. 96 minutes.
Saturday, December 19 (2 p.m.)
The Greatest Story Ever Told (United Artists, 1965)
This epic religious spectacle is a retelling of the story of Jesus Christ, from the Nativity through the Resurrection. Directed by George Stevens, it features an all-star cast with the principal role of Jesus compellingly played by Swedish actor Max von Sydow. Filmed in Death Valley and in Utah, Nevada and Arizona, the production garnered Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Visual Effects. Claude Rains appears as Herod in his final film appearance. Also in the cast are Dorothy McGuire, Charlton Heston, Jose Ferrer, David McCallum, Van Heflin, John Wayne and Roddy McDowall. 225 minutes.
For more information on our programs, please visit the website at: www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/.