We close out the month of March at the Packard Campus with a St. Patrick’s Day classic and a one-in-a-lifetime gathering of 1940’s talent. Come and see them both!
THURSDAY, MARCH 28 @ 7:30 p.m.
Stormy Weather (20th Century-Fox, 1943)
No not a documentary about California in recent days, but rather a great musical released during the Golden Age of Hollywood featuring some of the best African American actors and musicians of the era. Like many musicals, the story is just there to help provide a segue between songs. Lena Horne heads the cast that also features Bill Robinson (“Mr. Bojangles” himself in his last film role), Cab Calloway, Fats Waller and the incredible dancing team, The Nicholas Brothers. Fred Astaire (he should know) cites the Nicholas Brothers’ “Jumping Jive” dance sequence as ”the greatest movie musical number he had ever seen.” Black & White, 77 minutes. Added to the National Film Registry in 2001. Plus short subject.
FRIDAY, MARCH 29 @ 7:30 p.m.
The Quiet Man (Republic, 1952)
John Wayne, John Ford, Technicolor and Ireland… what could go wrong? Absolutely nothing. Wayne plays a retired boxer who returns to his homeland to buy back the family farm. He falls in love with the sister of his competitor for the farm. All leads to fisticuffs but then ends up with true love prevailing. Maureen O’Hara (in one of five films she made with John Wayne) plays the feisty Mary Kate. Victor McLaglen and Barry Fitzgerald are also in the cast. Ford won the Best Director Academy Award for the film. Color, 129 minutes. Added to the National Film Registry in 2013.
To learn more about this film, see this link.
For more information on LC screenings, see this link.