Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren star in Samuel Bronston's "El Cid", a 1961 roadshow presentation at the Orinda Theatre on July 12 at 11 a.m.
Young King Arthur pulls his sword from a stone, the Spanish legend of El Cid is brought to life by producer Samuel Bronston, 101 animated dogs, and an idealist architect that will not compromise, hewn on the screen by Gary Cooper – are all featured this July in classic films at the Orinda Theatre.
The ongoing Disney Restorations Series continues with the Oscar nominated 1963 animated classic “The Sword in the Stone” on July 4. Fun for children of all ages, it is the story of young Arthur who would be king and his friends Merlin and the bird Archimedes. The beloved voices of Sebastian Cabot, Alan Napier, Jack Albertson and Thurl Ravenscroft are featured in the cast. Two show times are offered, 1 and 7 p.m.
Samuel Bronston, known for his spectacular bigger-than-life epics, may have made his best with “El Cid,” nominated for three Oscars and starring Charlton Heston (as Rodrigo de Vivar, “El Cid”), Sophia Loren, Hurd Hatfield, Frank Thring and Herbert Lom.
It’s July’s Wide-Screen Roadshow Series presentation at the Orinda, all seats are $15 and the program starts at 11 a.m. on July 12. The roadshow presentation features Mikós Rózsa’s original musical overture, intermission, entr’acte music and walk-out music after the feature.
A special added feature of the July 12 “El Cid” presentation is the appearance, in person, of Dr. William Bronston, the film producer’s son, who will co-introduce the film at 11 a.m. and share memories of growing up around the production of the film, the location shooting in Spain and his impressions of his father as a film producer of great epic movies.
Actress Mimi Gibson will appear in person at the Orinda Theatre on the afternoon of July 18. Gibson voiced “Lucky” the Dalmatian in the Disney animated classic “101 Dalmatians” of 1961, which will be shown at 1 p.m.
She will appear on stage following the screening to share her memories of working with Walt Disney and making the film. This will be followed at 2:30 p.m. by a screening, for separate admission, of the classic 1958 movie “Houseboat,” in which Gibson plays one of Cary Grant’s children, Elizabeth. Sophia Loren stars opposite Cary Grant in this film.
Tuesday, July 28, offers the monthly Orinda Classic Movie Matinee, presented with selected short subjects, exactly how locals saw “The Fountainhead” when it was a new movie in 1949 at the Orinda Theatre, in all of its intense drama with a memorable musical score by Max Steiner.
Gary Cooper stars as Howard Roark, an architect who will not compromise and Patricia Neal as the woman that loves him while engaged to another, with excellent performances from Raymond Massey as the publisher of a newspaper, Henry Hull, Robert Douglas and Ray Collins.
Ayn Rand adapted her own novel and wrote the screenplay. “The Fountainhead” was directed by King Vidor. The screen program starts at 1 p.m., the feature approximately at 1:40 p.m. after the vintage short subjects.
The Orinda Theatre now has a weekly email newsletter with reminders and descriptions of each week’s shows and movies. You may enter your email to sign-up on the first page of the theater’s website, orindamovies.com.
As ticket prices vary with so many different types of movie events and shows, it is best to visit orindamovies.com for more information and to purchase tickets in advance.