BRATTLEBORO — Beginning next Wednesday and continuing through Nov. 12, the Brattleboro Film Festival and Brooks Memorial Library will present free afternoon screenings of nine Hollywood classic screwball comedies from Tinseltown's Golden Era.
A film by renowned Director Preston Sturges, whose comedies (according to film critic Todd McCarthy) mix the sensibilities of “a lowbrow aristocrat” with a that of a “melancholy wiseguy,” will kick off the five-month-long series on July 9 at 2 p.m. in the library's Meeting Room on the 2nd Floor. Eight other comedies will screen on select Wednesdays through mid-November.
Brattleboro Film Festival Advisory Board member Tim Metcalfe and journalist Tom Bedell will host post-screening discussions in the library's Meeting Room. The two will cover a wide range of topics related to the screwball comedy era, filmmaking, and Hollywood trivia in general.
Brooks Memorial Library Director Jerry Carbone conceived of the series after reviewing feedback forms submitted by attendees of the library's successful Film Noir series that concluded in April.
The screwball comedy genre came to life during the Great Depression, when Americans needed escape and class warfare was at an all-time high.
The finest writers, directors, and actors of the 20th century created these iconic films that present the issues of the day in a farcical manner while, for the first time in filmmaking history, they showcase women as extraordinary comedians who are smart, sexy, and in charge. The films chosen for the series have topics that seem as timely today - given recent headlines - as they were in the pre-World War II era in which they were made, the organizers note.
Due to licensing restrictions, the library is prohibited from advertising or publicizing the names of the films to be shown. Movie buffs may call the library at 802-254-5290 to get the titles or register for the library's eNews at brookslibraryvt.org to receive a PDF file of the flyer for the series. Flyers will also be posted on the bulletin boards for library's events.