The SeriesSeries offered under the Deep Focus umbrella will use different lenses to examine a variety of film genres while also creating opportunities for sustained conversations built around certain topics and themes. We will offer several thematic series, each consisting of four different events led by expert speakers, ranging from professors, to film critics, to members of the industry.
Hollywood Classics Animation Fashion in FilmTCM writer Hannah Jack will continue leading our Classic Hollywood series this fall, aiming to build on the success of the conversations she has already brought to our community. While all of the talks in this category will be about movies considered “classics”, they will range from those extremely widely known and well-received to hidden gems whose critical reputation has changed over time.
The brilliant and funny Anita Loos was one of Hollywood's foremost early screenwriters. Her biting script for THE WOMEN was adapted from the hit play by Clare Boothe Luce, a comedy of manners about status, gossip, and love. George Cukor directs a fantastic who's who of acting talent in this all-female cast; and not a single man appears in the entire film! Filled with crackling dialogue, snappy comebacks, and fashion by famed costume designer Adrian. Featuring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell.
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The lovely Kay Francis and the ever-debonair William Powell star in this pre-Code comedy heist. A wealthy and bored socialite gets a dose of excitement from a charismatic jewel thief who makes off with her heart as well as her diamond ring during a daring and successful robbery (involving marijuana). JEWEL ROBBERY is a well-oiled romp that features delightful performances.
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This psychological noir places Marilyn Monroe in her first starring role, granting her the chance to show off her dramatic acting chops in a way that would not be possible just a few years later after she was boxed into sexy comedic roles by the studio. A newly single pilot plans to rebound with the alluring stranger across the courtyard of his hotel. She seems like a perfect catch, until he learns that her beautiful exterior only thinly masks her unpredictable psychosis. Featuring an on-brand cool performance from Richard Widmark and the big screen debut of Anne Bancroft.
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Beautiful and successful Laura Hunt has been murdered. As a police detective investigates, he finds that everyone seems to be in love with her and he, too, soon falls under her spell, but things aren’t always as they seem. Featuring marvelous lead performances by Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews, LAURA is a classic noir with great supporting performances and a legendary score by David Raksin.
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This heartwarming screwball comedy tells the story of two homeless men, a drifter and an unemployed veteran, who move into a rich businessman’s New York City mansion while away wintering in the South. When the daughter of the businessman shows up, romantic sparks fly. IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE is an underrated holiday classic that features charming performances from its ensemble cast.
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Last year, in his acceptance speech for Best Animated Film at the BAFTAs, Guillermo Del Toro stated, "animation is not a genre for kids. It's a medium for art, it's a medium for film, and I think animation should stay in the conversation." In this series, animation is the conversation, as we cast an eye toward the history and diversity of animated film, including features and shorts driven by puppetry, stop-motion, hand-drawing, 3D printing, and computer graphics. Embracing films across decades and languages, this series will provide a detailed cross-section of this vital and vibrant storytelling medium.
From Marilyn's iconic white halter dress to Brando's leather jacket, it's no secret that some costumes make a lasting impression both in a viewer’s mind and in their closet. Throughout the year we will delve into cinema’s greatest style hits and explore how clothing and fashion can be woven together to propel a film’s story. Not only will we highlight the work of iconic designers like Edith Head and Coco Chanel, but we will also exhibit films where the costumes are given a starring role.
Renew Theaters operates four Pennsylvania/New Jersey movie theaters: the County Theater in Doylestown, PA, the Ambler Theater in Ambler, PA, the Hiway Theater in Jenkintown, PA, and the Princeton Garden Theatre in Princeton, NJ. Renew manages each theater according to each individual mission to: Exhibit art, independent and world films that offer the community an opportunity to experience a broad range of artistic and alternative expressions; Educate the community about the film and media arts through a diverse program of educational activities that seek to develop a lifelong involvement with the arts; Serve as a community and charitable resource for the arts, and to promote and effect access to the arts for all members of the community; and Preserve the theaters as cultural resources.
Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater at the LeVan Performing Arts Center features an 800-seat theater, two cinemas with stadium seating, an art gallery, café, and a 20,000-square-foot backstage production facility with dressing rooms and rehearsal hall. The theater is open 358 days annually with daily programming including live performances of Broadway shows, classical and popular music, dance, comedy, children’s shows, first-run independent films and cinema classics. The center serves as the rehearsal and performance venue for Gettysburg College’s Sunderman Conservatory of Music.
Deep Focus is supported by a generous grant from the Vesta Fund. The series develops further on earlier Renew Theaters initiatives like “Film 101” and “Prof. Picks." Majestic Theater in Gettysburg is our first regional collaborator Looking forward to the spring and beyond, we plan to make even more offerings available, including a crash-course on film appreciation.