Two equally special and equally rewarding films are being shown this weekend as pay tribute to the Irish this month and screen one of DeMille’s sadly seldom seen epics.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21 @ 7:30 p.m. ***DOUBLE FEATURE***
The Rising of the Moon (Warner Bros, 1957)
Famed director John Ford (The Searchers, The Quiet Man) helms this unique anthology film of short stories by three of Ireland’s most acclaimed authors: Frank O’Connor, Michael J. McHugh, and Lady Augusta Gregory. The tales include a comedy about a proper man slugging another and being beloved for it, an Irish train station filled with quirky comic set-ups, and a daring escape tale set in 1921. Comedy, excitement, and a wide range of one of a kind characters will keep you constantly entertained at this rare screening. Black & White, 81 minutes.
Broth of a Boy (British Lion, 1959)
Talk about a rare screening! This wacky Irish comedy finds a UK television reporter sent to the Irish countryside to cover the 100th birthday of a local fellow. Once there, the reporter is enchanted and decides to make a film of the place and the man. There’s only one problem: though the setting is beautiful, the man is a curmudgeon! Played with gusto by Barry Fitzgerald (Oscar-winner for Going My Way) as a man at complete odds with the serene surroundings, this film will leave you with a chuckle and a unique film-going experience. Black & White, 77 minutes.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 @ 7:30 p.m.
King of Kings (Pathe Exchange, 1927)
Cecil B. DeMille crafted this retelling of the story of Jesus as only the great director could. Critically acclaimed at the time of release, the film, as with many of DeMille’s other Biblical epics, stands the test of time and remains a classic today. The film shows the last days of Jesus up to and after the Crucifixion. Black & White, 155 minutes. Live musical accompaniment by Andrew Simpson.
For more information on LC screenings, see this link.