The following is a post by Jenny Paxson of the Packard Campus.
Thursday, March 22 (7:30 p.m.)
Good Will Hunting (Miramax, 1997 – R-rated*)
Oscars went to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for Best Original Screenplay and to Robin Williams for Best Supporting Actor in this drama directed by Gus Van Sant. Damon also stars as the title character, an undisciplined janitor at M.I.T., with an uncanny gift for advanced mathematics. Will reluctantly agrees to study math and participate in therapy sessions to avoid a jail sentence for brawling. 126 min. *No one under the age of 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.
Friday, March 23 (7:30 p.m.)
MGM Double Feature – Directed by John Sturges
Kind Lady (MGM, 1951)
This chilling drama directed by John Sturges stars Ethel Barrymore as Mary Herries, a kindly older British art collector, who is tricked by an artist and his wife (Maurice Evans and Betsy Blair) into allowing them to move in to her house. Mary is soon held prisoner by the couple and their accomplices (Keenan Wynn and Angela Lansbury) posing as a butler and maid, as they start to sell off everything of value she owns. 78 min.
Mystery Street (MGM, 1950)
Shot on location in Boston and the Harvard campus, this crime drama stars Ricardo Montalban as Peter Morales, a blue-collar detective investigating the identity and means of death of a skeleton found half-buried on a beach. Directed by John Sturges, with Bruce Bennett as a Harvard University doctor, this early movie depiction of forensic science is an engrossing, realistic mystery. 78 min.
Saturday, March 24 (2 p.m.)
The Prince of Egypt (Dreamworks, 1998)
This animated adaptation of the Book of Exodus follows Moses’ life from being a prince of Egypt to his ultimate destiny leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. The musical drama features the voice talent of Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes and Michelle Pfeiffer. Stephen Schwartz and Hans Zimmer were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score and Schwartz’s song “When You Believe” won the Academy Award for Best Song. Rated PG. 99 min.
Saturday, March 24 (7:30 p.m.)
Western Double Feature
The Last Horseman (Columbia, 1944)
Lucky Rawlins (Russell Hayden), foreman of the Bar W ranch, finds himself cheated out of a check for $12,000–the proceeds from a cattle drive. The culprit is the local banker, Cash Watson (John Maxwell), who has learned that the railroad is interested in buying up the local ranches and it’s up to Lucky to expose his dastardly deed. Western Swing group Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys appear as musicians and cowboys and perform several songs in the film including Wills’ “Dreamy-Eyes Waltz.” 54 min.
Texas Panhandle (Columbia, 1945)
Steve Buckner (Charles Starrett), suspended from the Secret Service pending investigation of his rumored activities as The Durango Kid, heads west to the Texas Panhandle, where he learns renegades have attacked settler wagon trains and have stolen government gold. As The Durango Kid, Steve uncovers the facts and brings the bad guys to justice. Western Swing group Spade Cooley and His Band along with Carolina Cotton, the Yodeling Blonde Bombshell, perform several tunes in the film. 55 min.
For more information on our programs, please visit the website at: www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/.