The Knoxville Museum of Art will be hosting a classic film series on Jan. 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 24, March 10 and March 24 at 7 p.m.
Different celluloid classics will play each night of the series. Jan. 27 promises a screening of Elvis’ “Jail House Rock” and “Gerald McBoing-Boing.”
The movie selection for Feb. 3 is “Stormy Weather,” a swing-musical set in wartime coupled with a set of shorts dubbed “Blues and Jazz Soundies.”
Feb. 24 brings the romantic drama “Hold Back the Dawn,” and on March 10, the museum is presenting “An Evening of Orphan Films.” Orphan films are a sect of cinema now in danger of disappearing. Also on March 10, “A Man Called Peter” will premiere as the culminating event of the series with guest speaker Ina Hughs, columnist for the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
This film series could serve as a crash course on film legends. “Sun Valley Serenade,” directed by Bruce Humberstone, features Sonja Henie, John Payne, the Glen Miller band, Milton Berle, Lynn Bari, the Nicholas Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge. It was one of only two movies that Glen Miller made.
“Gerald McBoing-Boing” is a Dr. Seuss story, which won the 1950 Oscar for Best Animated Short. It is listed by the National Film Registry as one of the most important films of all time.
“Stormy Weather,” directed by Andrew L. Stone, showcases Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Fats Waller and the Nicholas Brothers. The set of shorts scheduled to follow it include performances by Lena Horne, Teddy Wilson and a slew of other African-American jazz artists.
There is also a chance to see acting greats Olivia de Havilland and Charles Boyer with Paulette Johnson in “Hold Back the Dawn,” directed by Mitchell Leisen.
All of the movies are valuable and worthy of watching, curator of education Sherry Spires said. She said she is glad for the opportunity this film series is presenting to celebrate “this particular visual art form.”
She also said she hopes Bradley Reeves and Jeff A. Gordon, the two film experts coordinating the event, will enrich the event by offering overview remarks and helping turn the program into “a film study opportunity for the audience members to gain the tools with which to better appreciate film.”
Tickets are $5 for adults and seniors and free for members and children under 17.
The museum is located at 1050 World’s Fair Park.
