July 28, 2011 (REVISED August 17, 2011) Flash Gordon & Indiana Jones Headline Library's August Film Series

From a comic strip hero and a fedora-wearing adventurer to the littlest rebel and a flying elephant, the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation is showing a smorgasbord of film selections in August at its plush Art Deco theater in Culpeper, Va. This month’s screenings will include such cinematic stars as Rudolph Valentino, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Temple, Humphrey Bogart and Harrison Ford.

In addition, the film series will feature movies from the Library of Congress National Film Registry. 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.

Programs during the month are preceded by an informative slide presentation about the film, with music selected by the Library’s Recorded Sound Section. Some screenings will also include short subjects before the main feature. Titles are subject to change without notice.

All Packard Campus programs are free and open to the public, but children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For reservation information, call (540) 827-1079 ext. 79994 or (202) 707-9994 during business hours, beginning one week before any given screening. Reservations will be held until 10 minutes before showtime. In case of inclement weather, call the theater reservation line no more than three hours before showtime to confirm cancellations. 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 funded as a gift to the nation by the Packard Humanities Institute. The Packard Campus is the site where the nation’s library acquires, preserves and provides access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of motion pictures, television programs, radio broadcasts and sound recordings (www.loc.gov/avconservation/). The Packard Campus is home to more than 6 million collection items, including nearly 3 million sound recordings. It provides staff support for the Library of Congress National Film Preservation Board, the National Recording Preservation Board, and the national registries for film and recorded sound.

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 personalized website at myLOC.gov.

Series Schedule

Thursday, Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m.
“TV Spies”
Episodes of popular television series “Secret Agent,” aka “Danger Man” (ITC-TV, 1964), “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” (NBC-TV, 1964-68) and “The Persuaders!” (ITC-ABC-TV, 1971) will be shown.

Friday, Aug. 5, 7:30 p.m.
“Swing Time” (RKO Radio, 1936)
Fred Astaire stars as gambler-dancer Lucky Garnett, who needs to raise $25,000 so his fiancée’s father will allow the couple to get married. His plans change, however, when he meets a beautiful dance instructor (played by Ginger Rogers). Named to the National Film Registry in 2004, this musical romance was directed by George Stevens.

Saturday, Aug. 6, 2 p.m.
“The Littlest Rebel” (20th Century-Fox, 1935)
The Library’s “Civil War @150” August selection stars Shirley Temple as the daughter of a Confederate officer who risks everything to go home and see his family. Directed by David Butler, this comedy-drama stars John Boles and Karen Morley.

Thursday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m.
“Moonwalk One” (Francis Thompson, 1970)
This rarely seen documentary is an in-depth look at the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Directed by Theo Kamecke, “Moonwalk One” features NASA footage and astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

Friday, Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m.
“Flash Gordon” (Universal, 1980)
Mike Hodges directed this campy adaptation of the famous sci-fi comic strip. It stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson and Max von Sydow.

Saturday, Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m.
“The Man Who Fell to Earth” (British Lion, 1976, R-rated)
David Bowie stars as a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet. Nicholas Roeg directed this science-fiction drama. This film is R-rated.

Thursday, Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m.
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DOUBLE FEATURE
“Rock Around the Clock” (Columbia, 1956)
Bill Haley & the Comets play themselves in this story of a big-band promoter who decides to get into the new world of rock ‘n’ roll when he hears the group perform at a small-town dance. Fred F. Sears directed this groundbreaking rock ‘n’ roll musical.

“Ring-a-Ding Rhythm,” aka “It’s Trad Dad!” (Columbia, 1962)
Richard Lester’s directorial debut capitalizes on Trad jazz (known as Dixieland in the U.S.), which was sweeping England in the early 1960s. American acts are also featured, including Chubby Checker, Del Shannon, Gene Vincent and Gary U.S. Bonds.

Friday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m.
“Clue” (Paramount, 1985)
Based on the popular board game, a group of oddball characters assemble at an old Victorian mansion to play a game of “whodunit.” Jonathan Lynn directed this comedy-mystery, starring Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Martin Mull and Christopher Lloyd. The screening will feature all three endings.

Saturday, Aug. 20, 2 p.m.
“Dumbo” (Walt Disney, 1941)
This animated film is Walt Disney’s beloved tale of a young circus elephant ridiculed because of his enormous ears. He befriends a mouse who helps him achieve his full potential. The film features the voices of Ed Brophy, Sterling Holloway and Herman Bing.

Thursday, Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m.
“Monsieur Beaucaire” (Paramount, 1924)
Rudolph Valentino stars as a duke who goes undercover as Monsieur Beaucaire, a barber to the French ambassador, to avoid marriage to a princess. Sidney Olcott directed this silent historic romance, which also features Bebe Daniels and Lois Wilson. Andrew Simpson will provide musical accompaniment on the theater organ.

Friday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (Paramount, 1981)
The first in the Indiana Jones series finds the archaeologist-adventurer being hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do. Steven Spielberg directed this action film, starring Harrison Ford and Karen Allen. It was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1999.

Saturday, Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m.
“In a Lonely Place” (Columbia, 1950)
Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame play the leads in this film-noir mystery about an aspiring actress who begins to suspect that her temperamental boyfriend is a murderer. Nicholas Ray directed the movie, which was named to the National Film Registry in 2007.