SPRING 2024 SEASON SCHEDULE

Programs begin at 7:00 PM

 

NOTE: Some of our opening short subjects are announced in the listings, but others will be unannounced surprises!

 

3/18 THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES (1941). Cast: Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, Robert Cummings, Spring Byington, Edmund Gwenn, S. Z. Sakall, William Demarest. Director: Sam Wood. We begin our season with this fun comedy classic in which the wealthy owner of a large department store (Coburn) goes undercover and begins working there as a sales clerk to investigate disgruntled employee complaints. A real treat with an excellent cast!

PLUS Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly in their 1934 comedy short BABES IN THE GOODS.

 

3/25 THE BLUE DAHLIA (1946). Cast: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix, Howard da Silva, Hugh Beaumont, Doris Dowling, Frank Faylen, Will Wright. Director: George Marshall. Raymond Chandler’s exciting Film Noir mystery of a returning serviceman (Ladd) who finds himself on the run when his unfaithful wife (Dowling) is suddenly murdered. A clever plot filled with twists, turns and suspects really keeps this one moving.

PLUS The 1940 “Crime Does Not Pay” short POUND FOOLISH.

 

4/1 A STAR IS BORN (1937). In TECHNICOLOR. Cast: Janet Gaynor, Fredric March, Adolphe Menjou, May Robson, Andy Devine, Lionel Stander, Edgar Kennedy. Director: William Wellman. An amazing restoration of this classic: The original version of this often-remade drama of a young rising Hollywood star (Gaynor) who marries a self-destructive movie actor (March). Fine performances and the new restoration has this movie looking and sounding better than it has in years.

 

4/8 THE GHOST BREAKERS (1940). Cast: Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Richard Carlson, Willie Best, Anthony Quinn, Paul Lukas, Noble Johnson, Tom Dugan, Lloyd Corrigan. A great combination of laughs and chills as a radio commentator (Hope) helps a young lady (Goddard) investigate a spooky old Cuban castle that she has just inherited. An atmospheric Hope favorite!

4/15 “OLD MEETS NEW” WESTERN DOUBLE FEATURE. Two fun and offbeat western features from Republic in which Old West settings encounter more modern inventions like automobiles, radios, phonographs, airplanes and more:

THE OLD BARN DANCE (1938). Cast: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Joan Valerie, Sammy McKim, Ivan Miller, the Maple City Four. Director: Joseph Kane. Gene and Smiley are horse sellers who are forced to tangle with some slick characters trying to convince the local townspeople to buy and use tractors instead. This musical western is an unusual but entertaining mix of cowboys, radio broadcasting and a few surprises.

OVERLAND STAGE RAIDERS (1938). Cast: The Three Mesquiteers (John Wayne, Ray “Crash” Corrigan, Max Terhune), Louise Brooks, Anthony Marsh, John Archer, Gordon Hart. Director: George Sherman. To prevent gold shipments from being hijacked by stage bandits, the Mesquiteers buy an airplane to safely fly the gold to its destination…but the crooks don’t give up so easily! An exciting entry in this popular series.

 

4/22 THAT NIGHT IN RIO (1941). In TECHNICOLOR. Cast: Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Carmen Miranda, S.Z. Sakall, J. Carroll Naish, Leonid Kinskey, Curt Bois. Director: Irving Cummings. Lavish, colorful and very entertaining musical-comedy about a nightclub performer (Ameche) who must pose as a look-alike Baron in order to salvage a shaky business deal. Great comedy, musical numbers and all-around fun from 20^th Century-Fox.

4/29 TARZAN AND HIS MATE (1934). Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O’Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Paul Cavanaugh. Directors: Cedric Gibbons, Jack Conway. Jane’s jilted fiancée (Hamilton) returns to the jungle for an ivory-hunting expedition…and to bring his ex-girlfriend back to civilization and get her away from Tarzan! Considered to be the very best “Tarzan” movie in the series, this Pre-Code entry is also the sexiest with some restored scenes with Tarzan and Jane that were cut after its initial 1934 release and not seen for decades. We will be screening the complete and uncut 1934 release version. Plenty of exciting jungle action too!

PLUS Charley Chase in his 1933 comedy short NATURE IN THE WRONG.

 

5/6 BLESSED EVENT (1932). Cast: Lee Tracy, Mary Brian, Dick Powell, Allen Jenkins, Ned Sparks, Ruth Donnelly, Frank McHugh, Emma Dunn. Director: Roy Del Ruth. A great comedy-drama where Tracy plays a fast-talking Walter Winchell-type gossip columnist. Some of his scandalous stories end up having troublesome consequences for him and other people. This was Dick Powell’s film debut and the movie is a fast-moving and well-written gem from Warner Brothers.

PLUS Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in their 1931 comedy short CHICKENS COME HOME.

5/13 MYSTERY DOUBLE FEATURE. An interesting pairing of a smooth, sophisticated detective (Tom Lawrence, aka The Falcon) and a tough, hardboiled one (Michael Shayne):

THE FALCON STRIKES BACK (1943). Cast: Tom Conway, Jane Randolph, Cliff Edwards, Harriet Hilliard (Nelson), Edgar Kennedy, Rita Corday, Wynne Gibson, Cliff Clark, Ed Gargan. Director: Edward Dmytryk. Conway’s first starring “Falcon” feature after taking over from his real-life brother George Sanders and he’s joined by a terrific cast. The Falcon is framed for murder and naturally he must solve the case to clear himself. A great start to Conway’s version of the series with lots of action and fun.

SLEEPERS WEST (1941). Cast: Lloyd Nolan, Lynn Bari, Mary Beth Hughes, Louis Jean Heydt, Edward Brophy, Don Costello, Ben Carter. Director: Eugene Forde. Private detective Michael Shayne (Nolan) is hired to protect a murder witness (who is also something of a wild party girl) on a train trip to San Francisco. The trip becomes quite a challenge when Shayne encounters a wide variety of interesting characters, including his ex-girlfriend (Bari). 20^th Century-Fox’s “Michael Shayne” features are always entertaining with excellent supporting casts and this one is no exception.

 

5/20 THE GAY DIVORCEE (1934). Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton, Alice Brady, Erik Rhodes, Eric Blore, Betty Grable. Director: Mark Sandrich. A recent restoration of the first musical in which Fred and Ginger were teamed as the leading stars. It’s interesting and entertaining to watch the famous Astaire-Rogers format quickly come together in this inventive musical-comedy. Lots of funny situations, sparkling art deco sets and of course first-class dance numbers including “Night and Day” and “The Continental” (the first song to win an Academy Award for “Best Song”). A true classic from RKO in its prime.

PLUS George O’Hanlon as Joe McDoakes in his 1953 comedy short SO YOU WANT TO LEARN TO DANCE.

5/27 NO SHOW (Memorial Day).

 

6/3 MA AND PA KETTLE GO TO TOWN (1950). Cast: Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Richard Long, Meg Randall, Charles McGraw, Jim Backus, Hal March, Elliott Lewis, Peter Leeds. Director: Charles Lamont. Pa’s still entering radio contests and this time he’s won a trip for two to New York City…but who will babysit the large and wild bunch of Kettle offspring? Once they settle that problem it’s Ma and Pa on the loose in Manhattan…and encountering a gang of tough crooks! Definitely one of the best entries in Universal’s popular “Ma and Pa Kettle” series.

PLUS The Three Stooges (Curly, Larry and Moe) in their 1938 comedy short HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND DUMB.

 

6/10 ROAD HOUSE (1948). Cast: Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde, Richard Widmark, Celeste Holm. Director: Jean Negulesco. A tough and gritty Film Noir-ish drama in which the owner of a seedy road house bar/bowling alley (Widmark) falls head over heels for the bar’s new singer (Lupino)…but she’s more interested in the owner’s buddy (Wilde). When the owner finds out he does NOT take it well! This one’s loaded with powerful tension and suspense…Don’t miss it!

 

6/17 HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN (1944). Cast: Bette Davis, John Garfield, Joan Leslie, Robert Hutton, Dane Clark, Janis Paige and NUMEROUS guest stars including Barbara Stanwyck, Jack Benny, Roy Rogers, the Andrews Sisters, Eddie Cantor, Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Jane Wyman, Joe E. Brown and many, many others. Director: Delmer Davis. We end our season with this entertaining star-filled combination variety show and salute to Hollywood’s real-life haven for servicepeople during WWII. A big package filled with talent, music, comedy, heart and fun. There’s something for everyone in this great Warner Brothers production.

Please join us for dinner before the show.

It is suggested you arrive for dinner no later than 6:00 PM so you can complete your meal prior to showtime at 7:00 PM.