The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson, an Administrative Assistant at the Packard Campus.
Friday, September 16 (7:30 p.m.)
Videodrome (Universal, 1983 – R-rated *)
David Cronenberg wrote and directed this science fiction horror thriller starring James Woods as Max Renn, the president of a Toronto UHF television station that specializes in sensationalistic programming. Horrified but perversely intrigued when he stumbles upon a broadcast signal featuring extreme violence and torture, Renn sets out to find the truth behind the program. Sonja Smits and Deborah Harry are also featured in the cast. “Camera” (2000), a six-minute short film written and directed by Cronenberg made for the 25th anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival, will precede the feature. *No one under the age of 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.
Saturday, September 17 (7:30 p.m.)
Going My Way (Paramount, 1944)
Bing Crosby stars as Father Chuck O’Malley, a kindhearted Catholic priest whose upbeat personality, musical gifts, and acts of compassion rejuvenate his parish when he takes it over from an established old veteran played by Barry Fitzgerald. Crosby sings seven songs in the film including the Oscar-winning “Swinging on a Star.” The highest-grossing picture of 1944, “Going My Way” was nominated for a total of ten Academy Awards, winning seven, including Best Picture. Produced, directed and with a story by Leo McCarey, the musical comedy was added to the National Film Registry in 2004. “I Surrender Dear” (1931), a comedy short directed by Mack Sennett and starring Bing Crosby who sings his hit song of the same name, will be shown before the feature.
Sunday, September 18 (2 p.m.)
The Golden Age of Comedy (Distributors Corporation of America, 1957)
Robert Youngson was responsible for reacquainting movie audiences with the work of the great silent comedians with a series of compilation films he made between 1957 and 1970. Youngson had previously produced several award-winning short documentaries, and “The Golden Age of Comedy” was the first compilation of its kind in feature-length form. While many past greats are spotlighted in the film, the true “stars” are Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, shown at their very best. The rest of the film offers choice comic bits from the likes of Ben Turpin, Billy Bevan, Will Rogers, Charley Chase, Harry Langdon, and even Carole Lombard. The feature will be preceded by two of Youngson’s earlier comedy compilations, the 20 minute shorts “When the Talkies Were Young” (1955) and “This Was Yesterday” (1954).
For more information on our programs, please visit the website at: www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/.