Who is ready to hit the road!? Yes, it’s summer. So, we many of us get ready to travel the highways, the Packard Campus hosts a variety of films about all the fun you can have–and all the dangers you can encounter–while traveling these highways and byways.
And best of all? The Packard is back to WEEKEND SHOWINGS and this includes some Thursday nights AND Saturday matinees! Be sure to pay attention to the dates below….
Friday May 3, 2024 7:30pm
“Ramona” (UA, 1928)
Delores Del Rio stars as Ramona a woman who runs away from an arranged marriage only to find her happiness, then meet tragedy. She marries but her husband and child die, causing her to return home and willingly accepting the marriage originally intended. Silent, black & white, 80 minutes (digital). Plus select short subject. Live musical accompaniment by Ben Model.
Saturday, May 4, 2024 2pm
“The Wizard of Oz” (MGM, 1939)
We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz! Meet Dorothy (Judy Garland), a Kansas farm girl, as she’s transported somewhere over the rainbow to the fantastical land of Oz. There she befriends a talking scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion who help her make the journey to the Emerald City where she hopes the Wizard will grant her only wish – to go home. But first, Dorothy will have to defeat the Wicked Witch and her army of flying monkeys. B/W and Color, 101 minutes. Digital.
Saturday May 4, 2024 7:30pm
“The Grapes of Wrath” (20th Century-Fox, 1940)
John Ford’s towering adaptation of Steinbeck’s classic depression-era novel. Tom Joad, (Henry Fonda in a timeless performance) returns to his family after being released from prison. After losing the family farm to the Dust Bowl and the bank, the Joads flee Oklahoma, the only home they’ve ever known, for the promise land of California. As hope gives way to crushing reality, Tom learns the true meaning of strength. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning two. Black and White, 129 minutes 35mm.
Thursday, May 9, 2024 7:30pm
“Bonnie & Clyde” (WB, 1967)
Bored waitress Bonnie Parker is looking for a change in her life and finds it in small-time crook, Clyde Barrow. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway sizzle in Arthur Penn’s neo-noir thriller as they ruthlessly blast their way across the most notorious crime spree in American history. Featuring one of the most shocking ending sequences ever filmed. Color, 111 minutes, 35mm.
Friday, May 10, 2024 7:30pm
“The Hitch-Hiker” (RKO, 1953)
Ida Lupino directed and co-wrote this nail-biting thriller based on a true-to-life 1950 crime spree. Two friends on a fishing trip are taken hostage by an escaped convict and forced to endure a harrowing drive across the Baja California Desert. Edmond O’Brien and Frank Lovejoy star. Black & White, 71 minutes, 35mm.
Saturday, May 11, 2024 2pm
“Jumanji” (TriStar, 1995)
“Jumanji: a game for those who seek to find / a way to leave their world behind. Adventurers beware: do not begin unless you intend to finish. The exciting consequences of the game / will vanish only when a player has reached Jumanji and called out its name.”
If only Alan (Robin Williams) had read the instructions more clearly, he would have known the board game Jumanji was for keeps! One bad roll trapped him in a magical jungle for 26 years! When Jenny (Kristen Dunst) finds the game in the attic, her world and Jumanji collide, and she and her brother can finally give Alan the chance to get back home. From director Joe Johnston (“The Rocketeer”) and costarring David Allen Grier and Bonnie Hunt in a comedy adventure for every age! Color, 104 minutes, 35mm
Saturday May 11, 2024 7:30pm
“Mad Max: Fury Road” (WB, 2015)
Before the release of “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” on May 24th, return to the world of The Road Warrior, director George Miller’s fourth installment of the post-apocalyptic action series.
Witness me! After freeing the wives of a merciless warlord, Max and Furiosa battle across a hostile wasteland in a bleak and violent future. Pursued by an unstoppable army, Max and Furiosa are forced to make terrible choices to get themselves to safety. This high-octane action-fueled adventure was nominated for an incredible ten Academy Awards, taking home six. A film that absolutely demands to be seen on the big screen. Color, 120 minutes.
Thursday, May 16, 2024 7:30pm
“Sullivan’s Travels” (WB, 1941)
Tired of making lightweight comedies, successful Hollywood director John Sullivan (Joel McCrea) yearns to create a serious film capturing the hardships of poverty. The problem? His privileged background taught him nothing about the struggles of the common man. To gain some experience he takes to the road, only a dime in his pocket and dressed as a drifter. Along the way, he takes up with a struggling actress (Veronica Lake), spends time in prison, and learns the true value of laughter in the lives of the downtrodden. A perfect blend of satire, drama, and slapstick comedy, with a splash of romance. Black and White, 91 minutes, 35mm.
Friday, May 17, 2024 7:30pm
“Wild Strawberries” (Svensk, 1957)
Released the same year as “The Seventh Seal,” this introspective masterpiece cemented Ingmar Bergman’s international reputation as a master of cinema. While traveling through the Swedish countryside to accept an honorary degree, aloof and lonely Professor Isak Borg reflects on his life. Through nightmares, memories, and a series of chance meetings, Borg is forced to confront his biggest regrets and deepest fears. The cast includes Bergman’s incredible stable of actors, including Max Von Sydow in a minor role. Black and white, 91 minutes 35mm Swedish language with English Subtitles.
Friday, May 24, 2024 7:30pm
“Vanishing Point” (20th Century-Fox, 1971)
Presented in a brand-new 4K DCP restoration that can only be seen at the Library of Congress! Restoration specialist Andrew Betzger will be in person to talk about his work with this film. Propelled through Nevada at 200 miles-per-hour, Kowalski is an ex-cop, ex-soldier, ex-race car driver, and ex-lover to many a pretty lady (including screen legend Charlotte Rampling). Hired to drive the beast from Colorado to San Francisco in less than 15 hours. Kowalski goes on a speed-filled existential trip with hippies, thieves, nudist bikers, snake handlers, and so many cop cars to wreck. Color, 99 minutes.
Saturday, May 25, 2024 2pm
“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (MGM, 1963)
Hop into a seat and join the crowd on this zany, cameo-crazy treasure hunt through Southern California! The race is on when a dying convict reveals the location of his hidden fortune to a group of madcap motorists who decide their impromptu expedition to find the loot is “every man for himself!” Director Stanley Kramer’s biggest box office hit is complete with overture, entr’acte, and exit music, plus a star-studded cast led by Spencer Tracy as (it must be mentioned) Captain T. G. Culpeper! Color, 205 minutes.
Saturday, May 25, 2024 7:30pm
“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (WB, 1983)
The best two weeks of vacation ever! That’s what Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) promises his family when he plans their visit to Walley World, “America’s Favorite Family Fun Park.” Should they fly out? Absolutely not! The cross-country drive from Chicago to L.A. is the perfect opportunity for Clark, his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and their two teens (Dana Barron, Anthony Michael Hall) to bond. What could possibly go wrong? Buckle in and hold on tight as the Griswolds make family memories that will last a lifetime of therapist bills. Color, 98 minutes, 35mm.
Friday, May 31, 2024 7:30pm
“The Vanishing” (“Spoorloos”) (Tara Releasing, 1988)
Have you seen Saskia? She’s missing. In this unsettling Dutch thriller, a young couple’s holiday in France comes to a tragic end when she disappears without a trace. Her boyfriend, Rex, embarks on a years-long search driven by an obsession worthy of a Hitchcock film. Uncover the truth about Saskia’s fate and the disturbing forces behind it. You will not soon forget the haunting conclusion. Director George Sluizer is best known for directing this film and, five years later, its equally chilling English-language remake starring Jeff Bridges, Kiefer Sutherland, and Sandra Bullock. Color, 107 min; Dutch and French language with English subtitles.
PLEASE NOTE:
Programs are free and the matinee show will be family friendly. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Seating at the screenings is on a first-come, first-served basis unless otherwise noted.
Patrons must go through an “airport style” security check upon entering and no large parcels, purses or backpacks are permitted.
Federal law (18 U.S.C. 930) prohibits the possession of any firearm or other dangerous weapons on this Federal facility. This includes in the parking lot, on all roads, trails, and grounds as well as inside the building. This also applies to off-duty law enforcement officers (LEO) and concealed-carry permit holders.
The Packard Campus is located at 19053 Mount Pony Road in Culpeper, Virginia. Access to the campus parking lot begins one hour before show time, entrance into the building begins 45 minutes before the show, and the theater opens for seating 30 minutes before the curtain. Please do not arrive early and queue at the Packard Campus gate.
The Library of Congress Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center oversees one of the largest collections of motion pictures in the world. Acquired primarily through copyright deposit, exchange, gift and purchase, the collection spans the entire history of the cinema. Since 2008, the art deco theater located at the Packard Campus has shown films each week and screened more than 2,500 titles. The programs highlight the best in cinema, including silent films, Hollywood classics, kids’ cartoons and foreign films.
For more information on LC screenings, see this link.