The Colonial Theatre » Classic Films

From Here to Eternity

Kirsten — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:16:30 +0000

Yes, this is the film that saved Frank Sinatra�s career (though, to our knowledge, no horse�s heads actually found their way into the producer�s bed.) And yes, this is the film with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr wrestling on the beach as the waves roll in. But it is also one of the finest films made during the 1950s, garnering Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor (Sinatra, of course, as a feisty little scrapper who won�t give up), and Best Supporting Actress (Donna Reed, as a dance-hall �hostess� no less!) The story, based on James Jones� best-selling novel, circulates around Montgomery Clift (also Oscar nominated), as a young bugler and prize-fighter dealing with immense pressures from Army higher-ups, set in Hawaii on the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Filled with powerful scenes of compelling emotion and action (films of the actual bombing of Pearl Harbor are used to excellent effect), this is truly one of the best American films of its time, or any other. (Bill Roth)

Silent Film! Tillie’s Punctured Romance

Kirsten — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:57:39 +0000

Mack Sennett directs this museum piece slapstick comedy with the Keystone Kops and Charlie Chaplin that spoofs a gold-digger. It’s the first feature-length comedy film ever made.

Marie Dressler stars as Tillie Banks, the ungainly farm girl that city slicker con man Charlie Chaplin woos on his trek to the country to find some easy money. He gets Tillie to take her father’s farm money savings to the city, where at a dancehall Charlie meets his crime partner city girlfriend Mabel (Mabel Normand) and they steal her dough while the tipsy Tillie dances up a storm. When arrested for not paying her tab, the matron gets wind that her uncle is Douglas Banks (Charles Bennett), the millionaire, and she’s released. Tillie gets a waitress job in town to pay back her dad, and when Charlie and Mabel dine there she chases Charlie out. When Charlie reads in the papers her uncle is missing on a mountain climbing expedition and presumed dead and that Tillie will inherit three million dollars, he dumps Mabel and woos Tillie again. They quickly marry, but the uncle turns up alive. At a society party where the guests do the tango, Mabel wants revenge on Charlie and gets a job as a maid at Charlie and Tillie’s new mansion. When Tillie sees them kissing, she starts wildly shooting at them with a pistol. Her uncle gives them all the boot and calls the Keystone Kops. The city guy goes with Mabel, and Tillie pursues them wildly shooting with the Keystone Kops right behind them. When the Kops knock Tillie into the sea, Charlie and Mabel call the water police. Tillie is rescued, and then gives Charlie back his ring as the police drag him away. The ending has the two gals embracing and saying good riddance to Charlie.

In addition to “Tillie”, a surprise comedy short will also be shown. Wayne Zimmerman will accompany the films on the Rodgers Trio Deluxe Theatre Organ.

Benefits the TOSDV Theatre Pipe Organ Restoration Fund. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 years-old� and under.

On the Waterfront

Kirsten — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:31:13 +0000

Director Elia Kazan and star Marlon Brando received well-deserved Academy Awards for this no-holds-barred drama about corruption, brutality and justice on the docks of New York City. In addition, the film received Oscars for Cinematography, Editing, Art Direction, Screenplay, and Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint). Many feel that this was Brando�s ultimate role, as a washed-up fighter who �coulda been a contender,� but who ultimately finds his conscience and his salvation. He is more than ably supported by �method� stars Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, and Karl Malden (all of whom received Best Supporting Actor nominations for their roles in this seminal film of the 50s.) Though at times almost excruciatingly brutal and suspenseful, the film is also filled with moments of great sensitivity and insight, making powerful statements about issues of the time. This is one movie that gets better and better with each viewing. Don�t miss it! (Bill Roth)

Bull Durham

Kirsten — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:46:07 +0000

“The best movie ever made about baseball, and it’s not even really that close… Major League was funny, but Bull Durham is funny, literate, romantic, and overwhelmingly adherent to the idiosyncrasies of the game.” (Brad Laidman, Film Threat)A romantic love story set in the dirt and grit of minor league baseball. Susan Sarandan is a groupie for the Carolina Durham Bulls who chooses a protege each season to school in the art of love. This season she picks the team’s untameable pitcher (Tim Robbins) but eventually abides her true passion, the team’s catcher, Kevin Costner.

Eight Men Out

Kirsten — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:49:51 +0000

“John Sayles’ Eight Men Out is rich in specificity and purpose, sorting through the murky backroom deals, mixed motivations, and emotional tumult behind the blackest mark in pre-Steroids Era baseball history. The White Sox conspiracy to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds is one of those “end of innocence” moments, but Sayles, working from Eliot Asinof’s book, extends sympathy to many of the players, who weren’t getting a living wage from tight-fisted owner Charles Comiskey. Sayles’ expertise in writing for ensembles pays off in an exceptionally fair, nuanced look at everyone involved and not involved, and the toxic mood of a clubhouse where winners are cajoled into losing. The film’s love for baseball isn’t blindness.” (Scott Tobias, The Onion A.V. Club)

Mr. Movie Film Fest: Forbidden Planet

Kirsten — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:15:10 +0000

For 25 years, Steve Friedman a.k.a. Mr. Movie, did the only All-Movie Talk Radio show out of Philadelphia, lectured at colleges, universities and at the Smithsonian Institution, wrote endless articles for newspapers, magazines and websites.

Steve�s almost sci-fi depth of knowledge was legendary. His warm heart and engaging conversational style made him an icon in the world of movie talk and film criticism. Steve�s ability to discuss just about every film ever made was an asset not only for a particular caller�s query, but because his listeners received valuable film education. Steve�s answers to his caller�s questions would involve back end stories, insider secrets, production histories, biographical notes about actors and directors, screen writers, composers and producers, plot structure, analysis, technical information and he would then offer suggestions for other involving narratives that might interest the caller. He was a rare talent, a genius and a gift to his listeners who came weekly to tune into his show from 38 states and most of Canada.

Doors will open at 6:45pm. Film at 7:30pm.

Guest Hosts

Jimmy Murray and Steve Ross of the Remember When Show on CBS Radio, WPHT,1210 AM

Special Guest

Mike Lemon of Mike Lemon Casting

Tickets:

$20 advance / $25 door
Please send Check or Money Order to:
The Family Film Show, LLC
PO Box 42
Devault, PA 19432

For more information please contact:

Michell Muldoon
The Family Film Show LLC
610-316-5206

Field of Dreams

Kirsten — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:55:10 +0000

“Movies are often so timid these days, so afraid to take flights of the imagination, that there is something grand and brave about a movie where a voice tells a farmer to build a baseball diamond so that Shoeless Joe Jackson can materialize out of the cornfield and hit a few fly balls. This is the kind of movie Frank Capra might have directed, and James Stewart might have starred in — a movie about dreams.” (Roger Ebert)

Click here to read Ebert’s full review.

The Wizard of Oz

Kirsten — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:55:04 +0000

Winner of two Academy Awards, The Wizard of Oz is an American classic. Starring Judy Garland, Bert Lahr, Ray Bolger and Jack Haley. A perfect score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, highly imaginative sets and brilliant characterizations make this adaptation of the Frank Baum story a musical fantasy of the highest caliber. Audiences of all ages have been enchanted with The Wizard of Oz since it�s first release and, undoubtedly, always will be!

The Natural

Kirsten — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:58:13 +0000

“Easily one of the finest movies made about baseball, Barry Levinson�s touching tale of a 35-year-old rookie�s redemption is smart, symbolic and eminently entertaining.”

“Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, an aspiring baseball player who is as proficient as a hitter as he is pitching. After bidding farewell to his young love (Glenn Close), Roy hops a train to try out for the big leagues. While on his journey, Roy meets duplicitous sportswriter Max Mercy (Robert Duvall) and a creepy (yet sexy) woman in black (Barbara Hershey), and a tragic twist of fate alters Roy�s life forever. Sixteen years later, Roy re-emerges for a second chance. Why was he away so long? Levinson is an astute enough storyteller to avoid divulging too much too soon. Once Roy gets his chance to play, he becomes an overnight sensation and piques the interest of an eccentric and intimidating bookie (Darren McGavin), a sexy damsel (Kim Basinger), the unquestionably evil team owner (Robert Prosky) and a certain sportswriter� who remembers Hobbs from somewhere.” (Scott Weinberg, Apollo Movie Guide)

Mildred Pierce

Kirsten — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:32:07 +0000

“A masterful weepie adapted from a James M. Cain novel. The inner strength that lets Crawford sacrifice marriage and leisure for her daughter’s security clashes visibly with the pain her daughter’s ingratitude causes. Crawford’s secret was that she was believable both in pain and in charge. Far from fragile in a movie like 1950’s The Damned Don’t Cry, she does everything�including prostitute herself�to climb up from the gutter, yet she still can’t hold it together. The joy of any Crawford performance is her portrayal of women whose worlds crumble around them, which she takes in with a slight tilt of those bizarrely-drawn eyebrows and a trembling in her clenched fists.” (Donna Bowman, The Onion A.V. Club)