The original 1967 Panavision roadshow presentation version of "Camelot" comes to the Orinda Theatre Sept. 13 at 11 a.m.
A train filled with wartime adventure, two musical films from the opposite ends of the golden age of movies and the return of the most popular child screen star of all time are featured this month in classic films at the Orinda Theatre.
The ongoing Disney Restorations Series continues with the return of America’s little sweetheart, Shirley Temple, who sings and stars, in glorious black and white, with Randolph Scott, Jack Haley, Gloria Stuart and that legendary force of dance, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, in the restored 20th Century-Fox feature “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” from 1938.
Two show times are offered, 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5. You’ll want to bring the grandkids to this one.
Initially a financially unsuccessful film for Warner Brothers in 1967, the rarely shown musical epic “Camelot” – which won Oscars for the Learner and Loewe score adaptation, costume design and art direction/set direction – has gradually won public acclaim for the performances of Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Harris and David Hemmings for bringing to life the legend of King Arthur, Guenevere, Sir Lancelot and the Knights of the Round Table.
The lavish settings, the 3,500 costumes and roadshow presentation with overture and entr’acte music make this a great selection for the monthly Wide Screen Roadshow Series at the theater on Sept. 13 at 11 a.m.
John Frankenheimer built a reputation for creating extraordinary films with dark and serious subjects for adults. “The Train” from 1964, in the Cinema Craft Series for this month, combines the elements of a heist film, war movie and spy thriller, which poses a conflict between preserving culture and the realities of war.
Burt Lancaster stars and performs his own stunts, along with Jeanne Moreau, Paul Scofield and Michel Simon. Nominated for a best screenplay Oscar, this will be shown on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 offers the monthly Orinda Classic Movie Matinee, presented with selected short subjects, exactly the way “Footlight Parade” was shown when it was a new movie in 1933.
The screen program starts at 1 p.m., and the feature approximately at 1:40 p.m. after the vintage short subjects.
“Footlight Parade” depicts a fabulous era of show business when the big movie palaces would offer 45-minute musical live shows four times a day between feature movies.
James Cagney plays the hard-boiled producer of these stage prologues, driven to produce three at the same time, offering great songs, the kaleidoscopic patterns of Busby Berkeley’s show-stopping numbers and a great cast in support.
Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Frank McHugh and of course, that old smoothie, Guy Kibbee, who would appear in-person eight years later at the opening night of the Orinda Theatre, enrich the picture.
Other repertory titles to be shown this month include “Frankenweenie” on Sept. 7, “Petey Wheatstraw” Sept. 12, “The Misfits” Sept. 17 and “The Trouble with Angels” on Sept. 24.
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 theatre’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.
