May 29, 2013 Romance, Vintage Films & TV Headline Library’s June Theater Schedule

The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation will kick off June’s film schedule with a tribute to the late Deanna Durbin, featuring the rarely screened 1940 musical “Spring Parade.” The Library’s Film Preservation Lab produced the new screening print.

The Packard Campus theater in Culpeper, Va., also will feature a series, “Another Bride, Another June,” to celebrate the traditional month for weddings. Films include Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor in “Father of the Bride,” Rob Reiner’s enchanting fairytale “The Princess Bride,” the ABBA musical “Mamma Mia!,” and James Cagney and Bette Davis in the comedy “The Bride Came C.O.D.”

The focus of the continuing year-long series highlighting films from 1933 will be double features, marketed by theaters to attract audiences during the Depression. The Saturday night double feature for the month will be Universal titles—the mystery “The Kiss Before the Mirror” and the comedy “Her First Mate.”

A silent film week, with three of the country’s top accompanists, will include two evenings devoted to rare films at the Packard Theater and a special ticketed screening of the Buster Keaton comedy classic, “Sherlock Jr.,” at Culpeper’s historic State Theatre.

Special events include a program of early Wright Brothers aviation footage, presented by historian Paul Glenshaw, and an evening of “TV Women of the 1950s and 60s,” hosted by author Cary O’Dell. The June schedule also includes the 1983 French romantic drama “Pauline at the Beach” and a Saturday matinee of the comic-book feature, “The Rocketeer.”

Screenings are preceded by an informative slide presentation about each 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

Saturday, June 1 (7:30 p.m.)
“Spring Parade” (Universal, 1940)
Soprano-actress Deanna Durbin stars in this Oscar-nominated musical as a Hungarian peasant woman who finds romance with a handsome army drummer (played by Robert Cummings) who secretly dreams of becoming a famous composer. Directed by Henry Koster, this new print is being shown as a tribute to Durbin, who passed away in April at the age of 91.

Thursday, June 6 (7:30 p.m.)
“Accidentally and Intentionally Preserved: A Showcase of Newly Preserved Silent Shorts From Archives Around The World” (Various, 1920s)
The program will include a short film featuring the famous French singer Mistinguett, who starred at the Moulin Rouge and was at one time the highest-paid female entertainer in the world. In addition to prints from contributing archives, other rare movies will be screened that exist as a result of collectors’ passion for films. Andrew Simpson, Ben Model and Phil Carli will provide live musical accompaniment.

Friday, June 7 (7:30 p.m.)
“The Family Secret” (Universal, 1924)
“Baby Peggy,” one of the leading child actors of the silent film era, stars in this heartwarming family melodrama, directed by William Seiter. A working-class man, secretly married to a rich man's daughter, is disliked by his father-in-law, who has him arrested as a burglar. While in prison, his wife, who has been told he is dead, gives birth to his daughter. Four years later, it is discovered that the charming young daughter (Baby Peggy, aka Diana Serra Cary) has problems of her own. Andrew Simpson, Ben Model and Phil Carli will provide live musical accompaniment.

Saturday, June 8 (7:30 p.m.)
“Pauline At The Beach” (Orion, 1983, R-rated*)
Teenager Pauline (Amanda Langlet) and her older divorced cousin Marion (Arielle Dombasle ) become involved in amorous escapades while vacationing at the beach. In this beautifully realized character study, directed by Eric Rohmer, Pauline grows to maturity from her summertime experiences. The film is produced in French with English subtitles.
* No one under the age of 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.

Saturday, June 8 (7:30 p.m.) -- Special Screening at the State Theatre
“Sherlock Jr.” (Metro, 1924)
Buster Keaton plays a hapless projectionist who walks right into the screen and takes part in the imaginary detective drama unfolding in this imaginative and hilarious comedy. This screening will be held at Culpeper’s historic State Theatre with a $10 admission charge. Tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling the State Theatre at (540) 829-0292.

Thursday, June 13 (7:30 p.m.)
“Father of the Bride” (MGM, 1950)
Spencer Tracy stars as the title character Stanley Banks, an established middle-class lawyer, who has his life turned upside down after his pretty young daughter Kay (Elizabeth Taylor) announces her engagement. His wife Ellie (Joan Bennett) wants Kay to have the kind of formal wedding that she and Stanley never had. Vincente Minnelli directed this classic romantic comedy.

Friday, June 14 (7:30 p.m.)
“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (Paramount, 1989)
The eminent archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) searches for his father (played by Sean Connery), a Holy Grail scholar who has been kidnapped by Nazis. Steven Spielberg directed this third installment in the blockbuster action adventure series.

Saturday, June 15 (7:30 p.m.)
“The First Aviation Documentary - The Wright Brothers and the First Military Airplane”
The Wright brothers made history at Fort Myer, Va., in July 1909, by successfully demonstrating the first military airplane in the final requirement for their contract with the U.S. Army. Writer, educator, and filmmaker Paul Glenshaw has gathered all known footage of the event and meticulously re-edited it into the original filming sequence, placing the viewer as an eyewitness to the birth of military aviation. The film will be presented with live narration.

Thursday, June 20 (7:30 p.m.)
“The Princess Bride” (20th Century-Fox, 1987)
A grandfather reads a fairy tale to his sick grandson about stable boy-turned-pirate Westley and his journey to rescue his true love Buttercup from the evil Prince Humperdinck. Directed by Rob Reiner, this family fantasy-adventure stars Peter Falk, Fred Savage, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest and Mandy Patinkin.

Friday, June 21 (7:30 p.m.)
“Mamma Mia!” (Universal, 2008)
Longing to discover the identity of her true father before she exchanges her wedding vows, the daughter of a once-rebellious single mother secretly invites a trio of paternal candidates to her upcoming wedding. Phyllida Lloyd directed this feature adaptation of the stage musical based on songs by ABBA. It stars Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård and Julie Walters.

Saturday, June 22 (2 p.m.)
“The Rocketeer” (Disney/Buena Vista, 1991)
Set in 1938 Los Angeles, “The Rocketeer” tells the story of stunt pilot Cliff Secord (Billy Campbell) who discovers a jet pack that enables him to fly. His heroic deeds attract the attention of Howard Hughes and the FBI, as well as sadistic Nazi operatives. Joe Johnston directed this family action-adventure, which is based on the comic book hero of the same name. The film features Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin and Timothy Dalton.

Thursday, June 27 (7:30 p.m.)
“The Bride Came C.O.D.” (Warner Bros., 1941)
James Cagney stars as a financially strapped charter pilot who agrees to help a bandleader (Jack Carson) and an heiress (Bette Davis) elope. He then contacts the heiress’ father, offering to prevent the marriage and deliver her to him in exchange for enough money to get out of debt. William Keighley directed this romantic comedy.

Friday, June 28 (7:30 p.m.)
“Feminine Visions: TV Women of the 50s and 60s”
Based upon his recently published book, “June Cleaver Was a Feminist!,” Packard Campus specialist Cary O’Dell will discuss the topic of women’s roles on television from the 1950s through the 1980s. Along with his presentation, O’Dell will also screen entire episodes from the vintage TV series “Annie Oakley” (1954) and “The Eve Arden Show” (1958).

Saturday, June 29 (7:30 p.m.)
A 1933 Double Feature
“The Kiss Before the Mirror” (Universal, 1933)
James Whale directed this suspense tale starring Frank Morgan in a rare dramatic role as a famous doctor who kills his adulterous wife. He is defended by his attorney and best friend (Paul Lukas), who begins to suspect that his own wife is having an affair. The film also stars Nancy Carroll and Gloria Stuart.

“Her First Mate” (Universal, 1933)
ZaSu Pitts stars as the secretary wife of a peanut vendor on the Albany night boat (Slim Summerville) who tries to scrimp together enough money to buy his own ferryboat. Along the way, the couple gets mixed up with a comic bootlegger and a pair of doltish lovebirds. William Wyler directed this comedy, which also features Henry Armetta, Una Merkel and Warren Hymer.