September 29, 2009 October Film Series Announced at the Library's Packard Campus Theater

Gangsters, aliens and Hollywood divas light up the marquee in October when the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation begins its fall series of film screenings in Culpeper, Va., starting Oct. 8. The Packard Campus Theater will be closed the first week of the month.

October’s film series will include movies with such luminaries as Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Lana Turner, Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney. Titles from the Library of Congress National Film Registry are also in the lineup. Films named to the registry have been selected for preservation because they are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. For more information on the National Film Registry, visit www.loc.gov/film/filmnfr.html.

Short subjects will be presented before select programs. Titles are subject to change without notice. All Packard Campus programs are free and open to the public. For reservation information, call (540) 827-1079 extension 79994 or (202) 707-9994 during business hours, beginning one week before any given screening. For further information on the theater and film series, visit www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/.

The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation is a state-of-the-art facility where the nation’s library acquires, preserves and provides access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of films, television programs, radio broadcasts and sound recordings.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. It seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a new, personalized website at myLOC.gov.

Series Schedule

Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.

“Jezebel” (Warner Bros., 1938)
A haughty, headstrong southern belle in antebellum Louisiana loses her fiancé because of her stubborn vanity and pride, but vows to get him back. Starring Bette Davis and Henry Fonda, the film was directed by William Wyler.

Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.

“Ransom!” (MGM, 1956)
A wealthy couple tries to cope with the press and the police when their son is kidnapped. Starring Glenn Ford and Donna Reed, the movie was directed by Alex Segal.

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2:00 p.m.

“Fantasia” (Walt Disney Pictures, 1940)
Disney animators set pictures to classical music as Leopold Stokowski conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra. Segments include “The Nutcracker Suite,” “The Sorcerer's Apprentice” and “The Rite of Spring.” The film was named to the National Film Registry in 1990.

Thursday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.

“Angels with Dirty Faces” (Warner Bros., 1938)
Childhood friends on opposite sides of the law fight over the future of a street gang. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film stars James Cagney, Pat O’Brien and Humphrey Bogart.

Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.

“Lady of Burlesque” (United Artists, 1943)
A star dancer and a comedian team to investigate murders at a burlesque theater. Starring Barbara Stanwyck and Michael O’Shea, the movie was directed by William Wellman. The film was preserved by the Library of Congress.

Saturday, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m.

“The Petrified Forest” (Warner Bros., 1936)
An escaped convict holds the customers at a remote desert cantina hostage. The film was directed by Archie Mayo and also stars Leslie Howard, Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart.

Thursday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m.

“Sergeant York” (Warner Bros., 1941)
This is a true story of the farm boy who made the transition from religious pacifist to a hero of World War I. Directed by Howard Hawks, the movie was named to the National Film Registry in 2008 and was preserved by the Library of Congress. It stars Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan and Joan Leslie.

Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.

“Johnny Eager” (MGM, 1942)
A racketeer pretending to be an honest man falls for a society girl, but learns that her stepfather is a crime-busting district attorney. Starring Lana Turner and Robert Taylor, the film was directed by Mervyn LeRoy.

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2:00 p.m.

“The Court Jester” (Paramount, 1955)
A hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful king. Named to the National Film Registry in 2004, the film was directed by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama. It stars Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns and Basil Rathbone.

Sunday, Oct. 25, 2:00 p.m.

“Thanhouser 100th Anniversary” (1910s)
A special all-shorts program will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Thanhouser Company, one of the early silent motion-picture studios. Ned Thanhouser, the grandson of the founders of the company, will make a personal appearance. Live musical accompaniment will be performed by Andrew Simpson.

Thursday, Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m.

“The Last Gangster” (Warner Bros., 1937)
When a notorious gangster gets out of prison, he vows revenge on the wife who left him. Directed by Edward Ludwig, the film stars Edward G. Robinson and James Stewart.

Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m. (double feature)

“Black Sunday” (AIP, 1960)
A Bavarian princess, burned at the stake with her lover for being a witch, comes to life after 300 years to exact vengeance on her family. Directed by Mario Bava, this Italian film has English subtitles. It stars Barbara Steele and John Richardson.

“The Wicker Man” (British Lion, 1973)
A police sergeant is called to an island village in search of a missing girl whom the locals claim never existed. Stranger still, however, are the rituals that take place there. Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland star in this film directed by Robin Hardy.

Saturday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.

“Alien” (20th Century Fox, 1979)
A mining ship, investigating a suspected SOS, lands on a distant planet populated by lethal predators. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film was named to the National Film Registry in 2002. It stars Sigourney Weaver and Tom Skerritt.