MOVIE TIME:
Classic Movies in a Classic Mansion
Film Series Shown Every Other Wednesday at the Charles Allis Art Museum.
Doors open at 6:30 to view the house and current exhibits.
Movie begins at 7:30 p.m.
Don't miss the Movie Time film series shown every other Wednesday at the Charles Allis Art Museum. These films are presented by leading Milwaukee film historian Dale E. Kuntz. Special choices from his collection of classic films from the 30s and 40s are shown on 16mm, reel-to-reel film, not video. Most of his films are not available on video, so it gives the audience a rare opportunity to see these films in their original glory.
Prior to each screening, Dale fascinates the audience with his vast knowledge of film history and gives the inside scoop on each movie, including bizarre details about the stars and clues to help the audience spot little oddities that ended up in the film instead of on the cutting room floor.
As a bonus, on any Wednesday when a film is scheduled, general admission to the Museum doubles as a movie ticket. Guests may choose to arrive early for a short Museum visit and then stay for the film. Bring a friend, check out our permanent collection and current exhibition, then grab a seat in the Great Hall, and munch on free popcorn while the movie is rolling.
FREE with General Admission to the Museum: $5 Adults/$3 Seniors and Students. FREE/Members& Children 12 and under. Information: 414-278-8295.
Contact: Ashley Kolata, 414-278-8295, ext. 16 or akolata@cavtmuseums.org
TITLED LADIES
A very interesting – and much overlooked – fact in motion picture history is the vast amount of film titles bearing women’s names. Conversely, film titles with men’s names are far less frequent. Even in today’s male-star dominated films, few film titles bear the name of the leading male character. Many classic film stars had their greatest successes portraying Titled Ladies, such as Greta Garbo as Camille and Anna Karenina or Barbara Stanwyck as Stella Dallas and The Lady Eve. In many cases, it would ensure the female star top-billing when the credits would read “Star’s Name as Film’s Title.” For some unknown reason, a woman’s Titled Lady (be she naughty or nice) would be far more successful at the box office than a title with a man’s name, unless it was based on a popular novel such as Anthony Adverse. So to all those Titled Ladies throughout film history - some nice and some not so nice - we dedicate this series.
Wednesday, June 4
IVY – 1947, 99 min. With Joan Fontaine, Herbert Marshall, Patric Knowles, Richard Ney, Cedric Hardwicke
An unusual role for Fontaine, in that she plays a woman who is evil personified! Married to a weak man, she uses other men to gain money and social position. When she meets a wealthy suitor, she poisons her husband and lets one of her other suitors take the blame. Caught in her own trap, Ivy leaves a surprise ending! In beautiful gowns designed by Orry-Kelly, Fontaine becomes the perfect Gibson Girl.
Wednesday, June 18
ROBERTA – 1935, 106 min. With Irene Dunne, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Randolph Scott, Helen Westley
Based on the famed operetta by Jerome Kern. Scott, an American football player, inherits his Aunt’s dress shop in Paris – of which he knows nothing about! He lets her assistant, a Russian Princess (Dunne), run the shop until complications arise when he falls in love with her. The third of ten films starring Rogers and Astaire, the last in which they play supporting characters. In addition to Kern’s original score, including “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” Kern wrote two new songs for this film version, “Lovely to Look At,” for Dunne and “I Won’t Dance,” for Rogers and Astaire. Academy Award Nomination.
Wednesday, July 9
REBECCA – 1940, 130 min. With Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, Judith Anderson, George Sanders, Nigel Bruce, Gladys Cooper, Reginald Denny
Truly one of the greatest classic films of all time! The first American film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Based on the famed novel by Daphne de Maurier, produced by David O. Selznick (his first film after Gone With The Wind). Rebecca has been dead for six months when the story opens and we meet the second Mrs. DeWinter (the first name of this main character is never revealed!). When she arrives at the great estate “Manderley,” which is almost a character itself in the story, she finds it possessed by everything that was Rebecca’s. Mrs. Danvers (the housekeeper and Rebecca’s personal maid) tries to destroy the young bride’s marriage until Rebecca’s body is found inside her sunken boat, which climaxes with the questions, who really was Rebecca and how did she die? Romance, mystery and suspense at its best!
Wednesday, July 23
LAURA – 1944, 85 min. With Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson, Clifton Webb
Another film that deserves the title “classic.” One of the first American films to be classified as Film Noir (Black Film). Based on the popular novel by Vera Caspary. Laura, who was presumed dead, shows up alive in her apartment – now occupied by the detective who is investigating her murder, which leads to the questions: Who was the girl murdered in Laura’s apartment and who, among Laura’s friends, is the murderer? Outstanding performances by the entire cast with Webb, in his sound film debut, as a standout cynical columnist. David Raksin’s haunting theme for the film became the popular song “Laura” after the film’s release. Academy Award Winner for Best Black/White Cinematography.
Wednesday, July 30
KITTY – 1945, 104 min. With Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Patric Knowles, Reginald Owen, Cecil Kellaway
Based on the scandalous novel (for its time) by Rosamond Marshall. It is the old Pygmalion story with a little bit of saucy sex thrown in! Kitty, a London guttersnipe in the 18th century, is taken in by an impoverished nobleman and taught how to be a lady. Married first to a rich merchant, she keeps moving up the social ladder until she becomes engaged to the Prince of Wales and her title is greater than the nobleman himself! Outstanding sets and decorations, as well as fantastic costuming all contribute to Goddard’s best-remembered role. Plus, the closing line is one of the wittiest ever written for the screen.
Wednesday, August 20
GIGI – 1958, COLOR, 116 min. With Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor
One of the last original musicals written for the screen and one of the most charming! After their great success on Broadway, Lerner and Loewe were asked to turn Colette’s delightful story into a musical for MGM. Gigi, a young girl, is being taught the profession of being a courtesan – a fact the film never mentions! She falls in love with the nobleman who wants her for his mistress. When he realizes how charming and innocent Gigi is, he falls in love with her and decides that only marriage will do. Chevalier’s first American film since 1934 opened a whole new career for him. Winner of nine Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Song (“Gigi”), Best Director, Best Costume Design, among others.
The Charles Allis Art Museum
A vibrant, urban center for Wisconsin artists, the Charles Allis Art Museum continually strengthens and supports the Milwaukee community by elevating the visibility and prestige of local talent through its sponsorship of exhibitions featuring Wisconsin artists in changing exhibitions. At the Allis there is an emphasis on fine art - drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Charles and Sarah Allis generously bequeathed the home and its collection to the public to "delight, inspire and educate." The Tudor-style mansion is intact with original furnishings and an art collection spanning more than 2,000 years. The Museum also hosts a variety of events and programs that not only entertain our patrons, but educates as well. Located at 1801 N. Prospect Ave., the Museum is part of the Milwaukee County War Memorial complex and a partner of the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Ave.
Museum Hours: Wednesday through Sunday from 1-5 p.m. General admission is $5 for Adults, $3 for Seniors, Military and Students with a valid ID, and FREE for Museum Members and children 12 and under.