The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson of the Library of Congress.
Thursday, April 5 (7:30 p.m.)
Mostly Lost: Identifying Unknown Films at the Library of Congress (1911-1927)
Did you ever wonder where those “once-thought-lost, just-rediscovered” films you hear about in the news from time to time were lurking? While some have been waiting patiently to be found in someone’s garage or even squirreled away in film archives, others are problem children that survived in plain sight, but due to the ravages of time, often exist only in fragments or with their opening titles and credits missing. These incomplete and unidentified films are not lost… they are just Mostly Lost. To help them regain their identity, the Library of Congress holds an annual film identification workshop where such films are projected for an audience of scholars, archivists and film enthusiasts who are encouraged to call out anything that they recognize on screen. This evening’s screening, a preview of the program to be presented at this year’s Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival in Hollywood (April 26 – 29), will bring part of that workshop to you with screenings of newly identified films, insights in how to identify a film, and even give you a shot at identifying one live! Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Ben Model. 90 – 120 min.
Friday, April 6 (7:30 p.m.)
The Servant (LRO, 1963)
In this British psychodrama, an aristocratic young man (James Fox) hires a servant (Dirk Bogarde) who seems to be a loyal and competent employee but turns out to have a hidden agenda. Despite its setting in upper class London, “The Servant” has a decadent air, invested with the realism and incisive take on human relationships of the British New Wave. Directed by Joseph Losey and also staring Sarah Miles and Wendy Craig, the film was nominated for eight BAFTA Awards, winning three including Best British Actor for Bogard. The soundtrack by jazz great John Dankworth includes the song “All Gone” sung by Cleo Laine which is used throughout the film. 116 min.
Saturday, April 7 (2 p.m.)
James and the Giant Peach (Disney, 1996)
Young British lad James (Paul Terry) is orphaned and forced to live with two cruel aunts. After he spills a magic bag of crocodile tongues, James finds himself in possession of a giant peach inhabited by large talking insects that flies him away to strange lands. This British-American musical fantasy, a combination of live action and stop-motion animation, is based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. Joanna Lumley and Miriam Margolyes play James’s aunts in the live-action segments, while Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Jane Leeves and David Thewlis are among the voice actors for the insect in the animation sequences. Randy Newman received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score for the film. 89 min.
For more information on our programs, please visit the website at: www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/.