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Scott Library offering silver screen 'golden oldies'

If you go

What: Scott Library's Notable Film Series, featuring such movies as "Casablanca" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"

When: Monday through May on the second Monday of each month at 2 p.m.

On the Web: Web site; click on "Calendar of Events" on the left.

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By Becky Shetler
TRIBUNE-REVIEW NEWS SERVICE
Thursday, January 8, 2009


Scott Library is offering patrons a glimpse at the Golden Age of Hollywood.

The library's Notable Film Series rewinds to the classics -- featuring movies made at a time when husky voices and sultry looks bordered on the risque.

Old Hollywood film stars such as Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall will be resurrected for the program, which begins Monday with "Casablanca."

The 1942 black-and-white film starring Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid "is a tale of intrigue and deception."

The storyline focuses on a man's conflict between his forbidden love for a married woman and doing the right thing by helping his love and her resistance-leader husband escape from Casablanca to continue his fight against the Nazis.

"I'm hoping that the series draws some interest. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon in the winter," said Pat Maxwell, who oversees the movie program.

"Some of the people I expect to come probably saw the movie when it was originally out and haven't seen it since. Some of these movies were quite shocking in their day."

Maxwell has done her best to choose particularly well-made films.

"'Casablanca' was made during war time. Money was tight. Materials were tight to build any kind of screen sets. It also limited casting. They were working with a number of limitations at that time. They focused on the story as opposed to the technical aspect," she said.

"We had somebody close out a video store that they owned, and they gave us so many videos. I went through them and thought, 'There are so many good movies.' I pulled them out of that collection."

On Feb. 9, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is the movie of choice, just in time for Valentine's Day.

A 1953 adaptation of the 1949 stage musical, the film stars Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell and Charles Coburn.

The plot showcases two night club singers looking for marriage. The pair run into complications when the men they encounter have other plans.

Monroe's rendition of the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" is considered an iconic performance that has been copied by various celebrities, including Madonna.

"We will offer some light refreshments. Some of these films are two hours in length," Maxwell said.

Another Monroe flick, "Some Like It Hot" -- starring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon -- is in the March lineup. The 1950 film "Born Yesterday" highlights the April screenings.

Directed by George Cukor, it tells the story of a corrupt tycoon who brings his showgirl mistress with him to Washington, where he tries to pay off a congressman.

The final movie in the series is the 1953 film "From Here To Eternity," which features an all-star cast including Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr and Frank Sinatra. Set in 1941 Hawaii, the main character is an Army private who is cruelly punished for not boxing on his unit's team. At the same time, his captain's wife and second-in-command are falling in love.

"'From Here To Eternity' was somewhat daring in its day," Maxwell said.

"We may pick the movies up again in the fall after we see how they do."


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