For the Fall 2011 Saturday Matinee Film Series at the Mercer Island Library, Lance Rhoades, instructor at the University of Washington and a faculty member at the Seattle Film Institute, has developed a two-part film series on how the newspaper industry has been depicted on the silver screen.
“Our Saturday Movie Matinee fall series looks at the central role once played by newspapers in American life—and at cinema’s portrayal of the people behind the story, from wisecracking beat reporters to ruthless tycoons. The series features films by some of the greatest directors of Hollywood’s golden age,” says Rhoades.
The first part of the series—“Extra! Extra!: Movies in the Glory Days of Newspapers”—begins this Saturday, September 24th. A complete list of the films is below.
The second part of the series—“Stop the Presses!: New Media and the Changing Face of Journalism”—will begin early next year.
All films are free and screened at the Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Avenue, Mercer Island Library.
The Saturday Matinee Series is proudly sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.
Libeled Lady (Jack Conway, 1936)
Saturday, September 24, 2011, 1 p.m.
When a newspaper is sued for libel, the editor postpones his wedding and convinces his fiancée to enter a sham marriage with a former reporter, all in a comically complicated attempt to discredit the newspaper’s accuser. A star-studded cast featuring Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy, William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Walter Connolly.
Nothing Sacred (William Wellman, 1937)
Saturday, October 1, 2011, 1 p.m.
A disgraced reporter desperate for a hot story profiles a woman from small town who is believed to have a fatal disease. When they discover that she has been misdiagnosed, it is too late to stop the worldwide repercussions. This film inspired the
first use of the term “screwball comedy”.
His Girl Friday (Howard Hawks, 1940)
Saturday, October 8, 2011, 1 p.m.
In this famous remake of The Front Page, Cary Grant plays an editor who tries to win back his ex-wife and ex-reporter (Rosalind Russell) by assigning her a breaking news story she can’t resist—even though she is engaged and has sworn to give up the
newspaper life.
The Philadelphia Story (George Cukor, 1940)
Saturday, October 15, 2011, 1 p.m.
A chaotic relationship between C.K. Dexter (Cary Grant) and Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) is apparently over when she throws him out and gets engaged to the respectable George Kitridge (John Howard). However, things take a surprising turn when Dexter sneaks Spy Magazine reporter Macauley Connor (James Stewart) into the wedding.
Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941)
Saturday, October 29, 2011, 1 p.m.
Soon after shocking the world with a Halloween radio broadcast of War of the Words, Orson Welles took Hollywood by storm with this ambitious, audacious—and thinly veiled—portrayal of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. Widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.
Woman of the Year (George Stevens, 1942)
Saturday, November 12, 2011, 1 p.m.
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy return to our series for this comic battle of wits and wills, as they spar over ideas about career, marriage, and journalistic integrity.
Ace in the Hole (a.k.a. The Big Carnival) (Billy Wilder, 1951)
Saturday, November 19, 2011, 1 p.m.
Kirk Douglas plays an unscrupulous reporter who takes advantage of a mine catastrophe by delaying rescue efforts and securing exclusive access in order to drive up the price for his story.
While the City Sleeps (Fritz Lang, 1956)
Saturday, December 3, 2011, 1 p.m.
A reckless heir to a multi-media empire decides to promote the head of whichever division solves the mystery of “The Lipstick Killer”. This noirish film’s stellar ensemble includes Vincent Price, Dana Andrews, George Sanders, Rhonda Fleming, and Timothy Mitchell.
