Films of the Great Depression

HOLLYWOOD TAKES ON THE ORIGINAL GREAT DEPRESSION
Eighty years ago, a colossal economic downturn, rung in by the infamous market crash of '29, thrust the United States  and thus the rest of the world is now the yardstick by which we measure how badly we're all doing financially.  Cinema was a large part of what sustained people through those dark times, presenting examples of class disparity, out-and-out glamorous escapism or a delicious combination of the two.  With the 'sequel' to these times seemingly upon us  let's take a look at some key films, classic as well as undeservedly less well known ones, chronicling the thirties and how they mirror and inform the pickle we're in today.

Hosted and curated by Bruce Lawton

Series open on May 1, 3009

Fri - May 1st @ 4:00 pm
AMERICAN MADNESS (1932 - 1 hour, 16 minutes - starring Walter Huston & Pat O'Brien; directed by Frank Capra). This early work by celebrated director Frank Capra is a riveting piece of cinema with striking visuals and editing that propels the story like a rocket. A sound community bank falls victim to a vault heist which leads to a rumor that spreads like wildfire and voila! - bank run. Don't miss this compelling film.


Wed - May 6th @ 5:00 pm (double feature)
GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (1933 - running time 1 hour, 38 minutes - starring Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers; directed by Mervyn LeRoy & Busby Berkeley). This is the quintessential depression-era musical comedy, replete with snappy dialogue, risque situations, and bevies of chorus girls in truly jaw-dropping musical numbers. 'Art Deco' never had it so good. Selected to The National Film Registry of The Library of Congress.

7:00 p.m.

MY MAN GODFREY (1936 - 1 hour, 33 minutes - starring William Powell & Carole Lombard; directed by Gregory La Cava). The 'Art Deco' elegance continues in this superb screwball comedy classic about a "forgotten man" who crosses paths with and becomes butler for a family of the "rich but clueless" set.  Selected to The National Film Registry of The Library of Congress.

Sat - May 9th @ 2pm (double feature)

SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941 - 1 hour, 30 minutes - starring Joel McCrea & Veronica Lake; written & directed by Preston Sturges).  A successful producer of popular, entertaining 'low-brow' movies wants to graduate to more serious fare about the societal ills of the day. When his studio bosses balk at the prospect, pointing out that he knows nothing of the subject, coming as he does from a privileged background, he impulsively sets out on a journey to experience hard knocks first hand and gets a lot more then he bargained for. Selected to The National Film Registry of The Library of Congress.

3:30 p.m.
PAPER MOON (1973 - 1 hour, 43 minutes - starring Ryan & Tatum O'Neal; directed by Peter Bogdanovich). This is an entertaining yarn about a traveling con-man bible-salesman and his precocious little charge (who may actually be his daughter) is one of the true joys of all of cinema. It's lovingly composed black and white location photography set in the depression-era dust bowl is a sight to behold and has rarely been equaled since. The on-screen chemistry of real life father and daughter is a delight. Ten-year old Tatum O'Neal deservedly won both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her debut performance.


Tues - May 19th @ 5:30 pm (double feature):
THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1985 - 1 hour, 22 minutes - starring Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels & Danny Aiello; written & directed by Woody Allen).  A forlorn New Jersey waitress, tormented by a loutish, out-of-work husband, finds her only solace in the escape of going to movies  where one fateful day she has an extraordinary visitation that changes her life, and shakes up her local theater and a film studio to boot.  This is Woody Allen's personal favorite and it's not hard to see why. It serves as a period love letter to the magic of the movies and presents a compelling film-within-a film punctuated with sweet, sad moments and Allen's trademark wit.
7:30 p.m.
TWO BITS (1995 - 1 hour, 24 minutes - starring Al Pacino, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio & Jerry Barone; directed by James Foley). Like Allen's "PURPLE ROSE" this film celebrates the magic of movies. On a hot summer day in 1930s Philadelphia, a young boy is hell bent on going to the new plush picture palace set to open that evening. His mission is to somehow garner the required twenty-five cents admission, the 'two bits' of the title. During his day of misadventures he must check on his ailing but nonetheless talkative grandfather who shares with him spurts of old world wisdom.

NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY OF THE LIBRARY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRES                                                                

In late 1996, the United States Congress passed landmark legislation creating the independent, nonprofit National Film Preservation Foundation, a public-private partnership to benefit the film preservation efforts of American film archives, historical societies and similar institutions.
http://www.loc.gov/film/filmnfr.html

http://www.loc.gov/film/titles.html

All films are screened in the library's Community Room on the first floor. Free admission.

Opinions expressed during programming at Princeton Public Library do not necessarily reflect the views of the library, its staff, trustees or supporters.