January 17, 2017 Library’s Packard Campus Theater Screens Tribute to Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher

The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Va. will pay tribute to Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds and her daughter, actress and author Carrie Fisher, with a group of films highlighting their careers.  Both died recently- within one day of each other. Debbie will be seen in “Singin’ in the Rain” and “A Bundle of Joy” (which also features her ex-husband and Carrie’s father Eddie Fisher).  “When Harry Met Sally” and the cult favorite “Under the Rainbow” will highlight Carrie’s work.

The Western Flyers, known as “the biggest little band in the all the land,” will bring their Western Swing show to the Packard Campus on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m.  Legendary fiddle player Bobby Hicks will be featured as a special guest artist.  Free tickets for this event can be reserved at westernflyers.eventbrite.com.

The remainder of the Packard February schedule will feature a number of programs highlighting music and the regularly featured silent film and family-friendly matinee.

All Packard Campus programs are free and open to the public, but children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Seating at the screenings is on a first-come, first-served basis. For general Packard Campus Theater information, call (540) 827-1079 ext. 79994 or (202) 707-9994. For further information on the theater and film series, visit www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/. In case of inclement weather, call the theater information line no more than three hours before showtime to confirm cancellations.  

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 7 million collection items. It provides staff support for the Library of Congress National Film Preservation Board (www.loc.gov/film), the National Recording Preservation Board (www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb) and the national registries for film and recorded sound.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.  Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

Library of Congress Packard Campus Theater Schedule

 Thursday, Feb. 2 (7:30 p.m.)
“Beatlemania on American Bandstand” (1964)
Formatted as a firsthand account, this program dives into the effects that the Beatles had upon the youth of America in 1964 after their appearance on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.”  The film is a compilation of Beatles-related segments, as well as performances by The Beach Boys, Sam Cooke and Little Richard. Also on the program is a segment from the Maysles Brothers’, “The Beatles First U.S. Visit.”

Friday, Feb. 3 (7:30 p.m.)
“Let It Be” (United Artists, 1970)
Back by popular demand, this documentary directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg features the Beatles rehearsing and recording songs for the album “Let It Be.”  The film won the Academy Award for Best Music Score.

Saturday, Feb. 4 (2 p.m.)
“The NeverEnding Story” (Warner Bros, 1984)
Bastian Balthazar Bux, a dreamy young boy bullied at school, dodges his tormentors one day in an old book shop, where he discovers a mysterious book: “The NeverEnding Story.” Bastian is drawn into the book’s magical world of Fantasia which is being engulfed by a dark force called “The Nothing” and needs a hero to save it from destruction. This film is the first in the The NeverEnding Story film series, adapted from the German fantasy novel of the same name by Michael Ende (published originally in 1979 and in English in 1983).

Saturday, Feb. 4 (7:30 p.m.)
“Singin’ In The Rain” (MGM, 1952)
This rollicking musical satire of Hollywood in the 1920s when film transitioned from silent to sound features outstanding performances by Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen, and Gene Kelly, who co-directed the film with Stanley Donen. Now considered one of the greatest musicals ever filmed, it’s filled with memorable songs, lavish routines and Kelly's fabulous song-and-dance number performed in the rain.  Although Debbie Reynolds had made a few movies prior to her role as Kathy Selden, this is the film that made her a star and one of the films for which she is best remembered. The film was one of the first to ever be selected for the National Film Registry in 1989.  

Thursday, Feb. 9 (7:30 p.m.)
“American Blues Masters” (1945-2005)
Sixty years of rare and classic Blues performances from 1945 to 2005, pulled from the Library’s vast collection of historic blues films & television programs including “Soundstage” and “Austin City Limits.”  Performers include Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Son House and Skip James. 

Friday, Feb. 10 (7:30 p.m.)
“The Round Up” (Paramount, 1920)
Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was one of the greatest comedians of the silent film era.  Beginning at Keystone, where his frequent co-stars were Charlie Chaplin and Mabel Normand, through his films made for Comique, with Buster Keaton and Al St. John, Arbuckle was at the top of his game in short subjects.  “The Round Up” was Arbuckle’s first feature film and he made the transition to the longer form easily.  Selected short subjects will also be shown. Andrew Simpson will provide musical accompaniment.

Thursday, Feb. 16 (7:30 p.m.)
“When Harry Met Sally…” (Columbia, 1989, *R-rated)
Rob Reiner, fresh from his successful direction of “The Princess Bride,” made this comedy about a couple of New Yorkers (Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan) who try to move their relationship from friends to lovers.  Carrie Fisher plays the couple’s close friend and has some of the best moments in the film. *No one under the age of 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.

Thursday, Feb. 23 (7:30 p.m.)
“Under the Rainbow” (Orion, 1981)
The almost completely (or at least somewhat) fictional account of the off-the-lot hijinks that went on during the filming of “The Wizard of Oz.” Chevy Chase plays a spy in the film, and Carrie Fisher has a plum role as the much-put-upon studio employee.  This family-friendly cult classic film is rarely seen.

Friday, Feb. 24 (7:30 p.m.)
“Bundle of Joy” (RKO, 1956)
After her success in “Singin’ In the Rain” there were great, successful efforts to make Debbie Reynolds a major movie star.  In this comedy farce about a recently fired employee and an abandon baby, Reynolds works alongside her then-husband Eddie Fisher.

Saturday, Feb. 25 (7 p.m.)
“The Western Flyers” with special guest Bobby Hicks
Joey McKenzie, Gavin Kelso and Katie Glassman return to the Packard Campus for another great evening of Western Swing music.  The trio recently released their debut album “Wild Blue Yonder” and played a number of dates in Europe.  Bobby Hicks, who played fiddle for bluegrass legend Bill Monoe, will be a featured special guest at the concert.