THE MATCH KING (First National, 1932). Directed by Howard Bretherton & William Keighley. Screenplay by Houston Branch, Sidney Sutherland, based on the novel of the same name by Einar Thorvaldson. With Warren William, Lily Damita, Glenda Farrell, Juliette Compton, Claire Dodd. (79 min, black & white, 35mm, preserved by the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center from original picture & track negatives in the United Artists Collection)
An ambitious young man bluffs, cheats, and steals his way to fame and fortune as he establishes a global monopoly on the manufacture and sale of matches. One of Warner Bros.’ most compelling pre-Code dramas, “The Match King” was loosely based on the life of Swedish entrepreneur and industrialist Ivan Kreuger, whose empire collapsed during the Great Depression. “The greatest sustained carnival of larceny in any pre-Code picture” (John Stangeland), appropriately stars Warren William, whose self-confident, cynical and unscrupulous characters were a perfect fit for the era when adherence to the Production Code was almost uniformly ignored.
Seating is on a first-come first-serve basis. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EST
Where: James Madison Building – Pickford Theater (LM302)
101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540
Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].