September 26, 2012 Fright Nights in October at the Packard Campus Theater

The free screenings at the Library of Congress Packard Campus theater in October will feature a host of scary horror films and the first offerings in a three-month series of spy films—“007@50”—celebrating the 50th anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise. In addition, movie classics on the National Film Registry will be highlighted throughout the month at the state-of-the-art theater in Culpeper, Va.

Sean Connery kicks off the “007@50” series in “Thunderball” and George Lazenby’s only venture as James Bond in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” A rare Tuesday-evening screening on Oct. 9 will showcase a roster of avant-garde short films selected for the National Film Registry (www.loc.gov/film/filmnfr.html).

Halloween treats include a double bill of registry titles “Frankenstein” and “Dracula”; the Oscar-nominated Japanese horror-fantasy “Kwaidan”; and “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Pianist Ben Model will accompany Lon Chaney’s 1925 silent version of “The Phantom of the Opera,” also on the National Film Registry. The kids’ matinee showing of “The Canterville Ghost,” starring Charles Laughton and child star Margaret O’Brien, will provide a not-so-scary movie experience for younger trick-or-treaters on Oct. 27.

Screenings are preceded by an informative slide presentation about the film, with music selected by the Library’s Recorded Sound Section. 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, 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.

Series Schedule

Thursday, Oct. 4 (7:30 p.m.)
“Thunderball” (United Artists, 1965)
Sean Connery, the original James Bond, stars in the fourth installment of the film franchise based on Ian Fleming’s secret agent 007. Terence Young directed this spy thriller in which Bond heads to the Bahamas to recover nuclear warheads stolen by an agent of the international criminal organization SPECTRE.

Tuesday, Oct. 9 (7:30 p.m.)
“Camera Obscura: An Evening of Avant-Garde Works From The National Film Registry” (Independent, 1940-1978)
Titles include “Tarantella,” abstract animation directed by Mary Ellen Bute and Ted Nemeth (1940); “Meshes of the Afternoon,” directed by Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid (1943); “Motion Painting No. 1,” directed by Oskar Fischinger (1947); “Eaux d’Artifice,” directed by Kenneth Anger (1953); “Allures,” directed by Jordan Belson (1961); "Our Lady of the Sphere,” animation directed by Larry Jordan (1969); “Quasi at the Quackadero,” directed by Sally Cruikshank (1975) and “Powers of Ten,” documentary directed by Charles and Ray Eames (1978)

Thursday, Oct. 11 (7:30 p.m.)
“The Spy Who Came In From the Cold” (Paramount, 1965)
Richard Burton stars in this adaptation of John le Carré’s novel as a British agent who refuses to come in from the Cold War during the 1960s, choosing to infiltrate the enemy in a mission that might be his last. Martin Ritt directed the spy thriller, which also features Claire Bloom and Oskar Werner.

Friday, Oct. 12 (7:30 p.m.)
“Too Many Girls” (RKO, 1940)
In this musical comedy directed by George Abbott, Lucille Ball stars as a reckless heiress who is escorted to a Wild West school by four college football stars who were hired to be her chaperones. Lucy’s future husband, Desi Arnaz, is featured in the cast that includes Richard Carlson, Ann Miller and Eddie Bracken.

Saturday, Oct. 13 (7:30 p.m.)
“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (United Artists, 1969)
Australian actor George Lazenby made his only appearance as 007 in this outing in which James Bond woos the daughter of Blofeld, the head of a European crime syndicate, and goes undercover to learn the true reason for the mobster’s research in the Swiss Alps. Diana Rigg and Telly Savalas also star in this spy thriller, directed by Peter R. Hunt.

Thursday, Oct. 18 (7:30 p.m.)
Classic Halloween Double Feature
“Frankenstein” (Universal, 1931)
James Whale directed this adaptation of Mary Shelley’s famous horror novel about a crazed scientist who creates a living being from body parts and inadvertently gives it a criminal brain. Colin Clive stars as Dr. Frankenstein and Boris Karloff as the monster. The movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1991.

“Dracula” (Universal, 1931)
Bela Lugosi recreated his Broadway role as the Transylvanian vampire, Count Dracula, in this version of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic novel. Directed by Tod Browning, the atmospheric horror film features Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan in the cast. It was selected for the National Film Registry in 2000.

Friday, Oct. 19 (7:30 p.m.)
“Kwaidan” (“Ghost Story”) (Toho, 1964)
Based on stories from Lafcadio Hearn's collections of Japanese folk tales, this horror-fantasy, directed by Masaki Kobayashi, consists of four separate stories: “The Black Hair,” “The Woman of the Snow,” “Hoichi the Earless” and “In a Cup of Tea.” Produced in Japanese with English subtitles, “Kwaidan” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Saturday, Oct. 20 (7:30 p.m.)
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (New Line Cinema, 1984, R-rated *)
In the first of director Wes Craven’s slasher franchise, several teenagers are stalked and killed in their dreams by the hideously deformed Freddy Krueger. John Saxon, Johnny Depp, Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund are among the cast of the R-rated horror film.

Thursday, Oct. 25 (7:30 p.m.)
“The Phantom of the Opera” (Universal, 1925)
In this silent film adaptation of the Gaston Leroux novel, a vengeful composer living in the catacombs under the Paris Opera House kidnaps a young soprano to become his singing protégée. Lon Chaney stars as the phantom in this horror classic. Directed by Rupert Julian, the film was selected to the National Film Registry in 1998. Ben Model will provide musical accompaniment.

Friday, Oct. 26 (7:30 p.m.)
“The Hunger” (MGM, 1983, R-rated *)
Susan Sarandon stars as a specialist in aging research who becomes entangled with a centuries-old vampire couple. Directed by Tony Scott, this R-rated horror film also stars Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie.

Saturday, Oct. 27 (2 p.m.)
“The Canterville Ghost” (MGM, 1944)
Loosely based on the Oscar Wilde short story, this fantasy-comedy stars Charles Laughton as a 17th-century ghost who died a coward, but can now break his curse if his descendant—a World War II soldier—will perform a heroic deed. Directed by Jules Dassin, the film also features Robert Young and Margaret O’Brien in the cast.

* No one under 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.