Curated from the best of classic Hollywood from the 1930s to 1960s, you screen and discuss films that represent multiple genres, including film noir, thrillers, musicals, comedies, Westerns, and war movies. Each genre has its own unique charm and has contributed significantly to Hollywood’s legacy. Discuss each film’s rich tapestry of storytelling and cinematic artistry. Your active participation is invited in this entertaining monthly gathering!
Jan. 15: Shadow of a Doubt (1943) Thriller. Starring Joseph Cotton and Teresa Wright. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Young Charlie is thrilled when her Uncle Charlie comes to visit her small town. But could he be the “Merry Widow Murderer”?
Feb. 19: Now, Voyager (1942) Romance-melodrama. Starring Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid. Directed by Irving Rapper. Insecure ugly duckling Davis, suppressed by her cruel mother, becomes a swan. Criterion called the film “a melodrama for the ages, both a rapturous Hollywood romance and a poignant saga of self-discovery".
March 19: City Lights (1931) Comedy-drama. Starring Charlie Chaplin. Directed by Charlie Chaplin. The Little Tramp falls in love with a blind girl and helps a wealthy millionaire. Film historian Frank Scheide stated that Chaplin’s character “has become the best-known and most-beloved" figure of silent film era.
April 16: White Heat (1949) Crime. Starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo. Directed by Raoul Walsh. Cagney is astonishing as a psychotic gangster with a serious mother complex. Roger Ebert described it as “a ruthless tale, ruthlessly told.”
