The Indianapolis Museum of Art has announced the schedule for its fourth annual Winter Nights film series. From Jan. 6 to Feb. 24, 2012, movies will be shown every Friday in The Toby.
This year’s series will feature films in Technicolor. In 1928, two MIT graduates pioneered a dye-transfer film printing system that enabled vivid, glorious color for the young medium of motion pictures, improving upon early attempts at color in 1917. Technicolor’s heyday spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s – with candy-colored films peaking in the ’40s and more subtleties achieved in the ’50s and ’60s.
“Film is a relatively young visual art form, and this series offers a glimpse of the way filmmakers have used color in film,” said Anne Laker, IMA director of public programs. “The Winter Nights series gives moviegoers an enriched experience with knowledgeable speakers, original film trailers, cartoons and even one film accompanied by a live improvised piano soundtrack.”
Here is the schedule:
- Jan. 6: “The Black Pirate” (1926, directed by Albert Parker, 90 minutes.) Presented with a live improvised soundtrack by pianist Roger Lippincott. Guest speaker: Anthony L’Abbate, preservation officer, George Eastman House, Rochester N.Y.
- Jan. 13: “Leave Her to Heaven” (1945, directed by John M. Stahl, 110 minutes.)
- Jan. 20: “A Matter of Life and Death” (1946, directed by Michael Powell, 104 minutes.) Preceded by “The African Queen” trailer and the animated short, “The Rabbit of Seville” (1950).
- Jan. 27: “The African Queen” (1951, directed by John Huston, 105 minutes.) Preceded by the animated short, “Gorilla Hunt” (1938).
- Feb. 3: “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953, directed by Howard Hawks, 91 minutess.) Preceded by “La Cucaracha” (1934, directed by Lloyd Corrigan, 20 minutes.)
- Feb. 10: “The Quiet Man” (1952, directed by John Ford, 129 minutes.) Preceded by the animated short “Giddyap” (1950).
- Feb. 17: “Charade” (1963, directed by Stanley Donen, 113 minutes.) Guest speaker: Sandy McLendon, editor-in-chief of jetsetmodern.com, commenting on the colorful Hubert de Givenchy fashions in the film.
- Feb. 24: “The Godfather: Part II” (1974, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, 200 minutes.)
All films will begin at 7 p.m. except “The Quiet Man” (7:30 p.m.; Feb. 10) and “The Godfather: Part II” (6 p.m., Feb. 24)
On Feb. 10, film historian Eric Grayson will teach a 90-minute course on the history of color in film preceding “The Quiet Man.” The free course will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the film at 7:30 p.m. Registration is required; call (317) 955-2339.
All films are shown in 35 mm or 16mm. Film schedule is subject to change. More information and film synopses will be available online at: www.imamuseum.org/programs/winter-nights.
Winter Nights film series ticket prices are IMA members and students $5 / public $9. Purchase tickets at the door or in advance beginning Nov. 1 at www.imamuseum.org or by calling (317) 955-2339.
