Elizabeth Taylor, photographed by Clarence Sinclair Bull for MGM’s “National Velvet,” starring Mickey Rooney, at the Orinda Theatre on August 27 at 1 p.m.
The Aug. 27 screening of “National Velvet” at the Matías Bombal’s Hollywood Orinda Classic Matinee series will feature a personal appearance by author Matthew Kennedy at the Orinda Theatre.
Kennedy will be on hand to co-introduce the picture and sign copies of his new book, “On Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide” from Oxford University Press.
Author of four other books on Hollywood history, Kennedy unpacks the entirety of Elizabeth Taylor’s career from beginning to end, the classics and the “turkeys,” in the new book about the iconic actress. Taylor’s first major splash, at just 12 years of age, was in MGM’s “National Velvet,” a 1944 Technicolor movie adaptation of the beloved book by Enid Bagnold from 1935.
The Orinda matinee will feature a vintage newsreel promptly at 1 p.m., followed by a color cartoon, previews of coming attractions in classic series and a stage presentation preceding the feature.
“National Velvet” was directed by Clarence Brown and stars Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, Donald Crisp, Anne Revere and Angela Lansbury. The family classic won two Academy Awards and is exemplary of the outstanding quality of the golden era of Hollywood studio filmmaking.
Following the movie, Kennedy will sign copies of his book available for sale in the lobby. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 per person.
Matías Bombal’s Hollywood Orinda Classic Matinee series is presented the last Tuesday afternoon of each month at the Orinda Theatre.