“Hitchcock in the 50s” film series to launch March 10 with screening of “Stage Fright”

Alfred Hitchcock directing Marlene Dietrich and Jane Wyman
on the set of Stage Fright

The 2015 Film Club is back at The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State St., Chicago. Hosted by Stephen Reginald, the film club will feature “Hitchcock in the 50s.” Alfred Hitchcock films to be screened, include Rear Window, Vertigo, and North By Northwest. Movies will be screened at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesdays of the month, starting March 11, 2015. Reginald will introduce each film giving background information before screenings, with discussion afterward. Reginald is a freelance writer/editor and popular instructor at Facets Film School in Chicago.


Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most successful directors in the history of film. During the 1950s, Hitchcock, no longer under contract to producer David O. Selznick, was  able to produce and direct properties that he truly believed in. During the 50s, Hitchcock produced some of his most famous and commercially successful movies, including Rear Window and Vertigo. Few directors’ work has be dissected and analyzed the way Hitchcock’s work has. Always focused on entertaining the audience first, “The Master’s” work remains fresh and contemporary and ripe for discussion.

Join us for “Hitchcock in the 50s!”

Stage Fright, one of Hitchcock’s most underrated thrillers features great performances from recent Oscar winner Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding, Richard Todd, and Alastair Sim. Wyman plays Eve Gill, a drama student who becomes a maid to stage star Charlotte Inwood (Dietrich) in an attempt to clear the name of her friend Jonathan Cooper (Todd) who she believes is being framed for murder by Inwood. None of the characters in Stage Fright are what they seem to be, which makes for a very entertaining movie. Filmed in England with a wonderful ensemble cast that also includes Sybil Thorndike, Kay Walsh, and Patricia Hitchcock. Be careful because you may find yourself suffering from stage fright!

Have some Joe and Enjoy the Show!
Before the movie, grab a cup of coffee from Overflow Coffee Bar, located within the Daystar Center. You can bring food and beverages into the auditorium; we even have small tables set up next to some of the seats. General Admission: $5 Students and Senior Citizens: $3.

Join the Chicago Film club; join the discussion
Once a month we screen a classic film and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. To purchase your ticket in advance, click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.


Other dates and films screened

April 14, 2015                Strangers on a Train
May 12, 2015                 I Confess
June 9, 2015                  Dial M for Murder
July 14.2015                  Rear Window
August 11, 2015            To Catch A Thief
September 15, 2015      The Wrong Man
October 13, 2015           Vertigo
November 10, 2015       North By Northwest