This site is devoted to the love of classic movies. What qualifies as a classic film or movie is somewhat subjective. There are certain films which endure because they strike an emotional chord long after their initial release. For example, a movie like "Casablanca" (1942) would qualify as a classic under that definition.
Sorry, Wrong Number(1948) Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Room 102 When: January 19, 2018 Time: 6:45 p.m Hosted by Stephen Reginald Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) is based on a popular radio play—one of the most popular radio plays of all time—that stars Barbara Stanwyck as Leona Stevenson, a spoiled, rich, bedridden woman who accidentally overhears a plot to murder an unidentified woman. In her attempt to report the incident to the police, Stanwyck begins to suspect that it is her husband (Burt Lancaster) who wants her murdered. The role of Leona was a tour-de-force for Stanwyck, earning her an Academy Award nomination—her fourth—for Best Actress.
General Admission: $5, Students and Senior Citizens: $3
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 room 102.
Join the Chicago Film club; join the discussion
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Room 102
When: October 29, 2018
Time: 6:45 p.m
Hosted by Stephen Reginald
Pursued (1947) is considered the first noir western, starring Teresa Wright and Robert Mitchum. Mitchum is Jeb, a man haunted by traumatic events from his past that left him an orphan. Mrs. Callum (Judith Anderson) adopts him and raises him as her son with her natural children Adam (John Rodney) and Thorley (Wright). But there is tension in these relationships, and a man he doesn’t even know torments Jeb for reasons he doesn’t understand.
Robert Mitchum and Teresa Wright
Directed by Raoul Walsh (White Heat), with photography by the legendary James Wong Howe and music by the equally legendary Max Steiner. Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese counts "Pursued" as one of his favorite films and is responsible for its restoration.
General Admission: $5, Students and Senior Citizens: $3
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 room 102. Join the Chicago Film club; join the discussion
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
To Be or Not To Be (1942) Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street When: March 10, 2018 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald To Be or Not to Be (1942) During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe bands together to outwit their occupiers. Carole Lombard and Jack Benny are the Turas, the husband and wife theatrical team and two of Poland's most famous celebrities. Directed by the legendary Ernst Lubitsch who successfully combines zany comedy with poignant dramatic moments. The supporting cast includes, Robert Stack, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, and Sig Ruman. This was Lombard's last film.
Carole Lombard
Have some Joe and Enjoy the Show!
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
“Halloween” Series: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street When: October 28, 2017 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) is the screen adaptation of the dark comedy play written by Joseph Kesselring. Director Frank Capra filmed the movie in 1941, but the film’s release was delayed until the play finished its Broadway run. The role of Mortimer Brewster was offered to Bob Hope, but his home studio (Paramount) wouldn’t release him from his contract. When Cary Grant accepted the role, it was off to the races.
Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane on the Warner Bros. lot
Mortimer Brewster is a critic and writer who has written books about marriage being old-fashioned and based on superstition. In spite of these “beliefs,” Mortimer marries Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane), his childhood sweetheart, who lived next door to him in Brooklyn, on Halloween. After the wedding, Mortimer visits his old family home occupied by his two elderly aunts Abby (Josephine Hull) and Martha (Jean Adair) and his brother Teddy (John Alexander) who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt. When Mortimer finds a corpse in a window seat, he discovers that his kindly aunts are killing old bachelors that they presume are suffering and lonely. To complicate things further, the home is visited by Mortimer’s older brother Jonathan (Raymond Massey), a murderer looking for a place to hide the body of his latest victim.
Josephine Hull, Jean Adair and John Alexander recreated their Broadway roles, getting an eight-week leave of absence while the stage production was still running. Capra keeps the action moving at a brisk, hilarious pace that never lets up. The movie is filled with familiar character actors, including Jack Carson, Edward Everett Horton, James Gleason, and Peter Lorre.
Arsenic and Old Lace is listed at number 30 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Laughs list, making it one of the funniest movies in American cinema.
Have some Joe and Enjoy the Show!
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
“Stanwyck on State Street” Series: Golden Boy (1939) Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street When: September 23, 2017 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald Golden Boy (1939) is the movie adaptation of the hit play by Clifford Odets, directed on film by Rouben Mamoulian. Barbara Stanwyck plays Lorna Moon, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who tries to raise her station in life by being the mistress of Tom Moody (Adolphe Menjou), an older boxing promoter. Things get complicated when Joe Bonaparte (William Holden), a new young boxer, signs on with Moody. Joe’s first love is music—he plays the violin—but he gets caught up in the excitement and big money a prize fighter can earn. William Holden became a star, in, this, his film debut, but it almost didn’t happen. The producers didn’t think Holden was right in the role, but Barbara Stanwyck came to Holden’s defense and helped coach him to a successful performance.
William Holden, Adolph Menjou, and Barbara Stanwyck
This is part of the “Stanwyck on State Street” series.
Backstory: William Holden plays the Golden Boy, but the producers weren’t sure they made the right decision. When the rushed came in, many thought Holden’s acting was lacking and were ready to replace him. Barbara Stanwcyk came to Holden’s defense, helping the young actor with his line readings and basically boosting his confidence. Stanwyck basically saved Holden’s movie career, a fact that Holden acknowledged at the 1973 Academy Award ceremony. You can see that clip below.
Have some Joe and Enjoy the Show!
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
“Stanwyck on State Street” Series: Union Pacific Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street When: May 12, 2017 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald
Union Pacific (1939) is a rousing epic about the construction of the first intercontinental railroad. Directed by the master showman, Cecil B. DeMille, the movie is filled with plenty of action.
Jeff Butler (Joel McCrea) is hired by the Union Pacific to root out saboteurs who’ve been trying to destroy the railroad’s progress. Barbara Stanwyck plays Mollie Monahan, the railroad’s feisty postmistress who is courted by Dick Allen (Robert Preston). Dick is working with the corrupt Sid Campeau (Brian Donlevy) who is bent on destroying the railroad and eliminating Butler’s railroad oversight. Although Mollie is betrothed to Dick, Jeff finds himself falling in love with her.
Every movie star needs to make a big-budget blockbuster epic at some point in their career and Union Pacific more than fills the bill for Stanwyck and McCrea. The large cast includes an early glimpse of Anthony Quinn as Jack Cordray, a henchman of Campeau.
This film is part of the “Stanwyck on State Street” series.
Joel McCrea, Barbara Stanwyck, and Robert Preston
Have some Joe and Enjoy the Show!
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Classic Movie Man Favorites Series: The More the Merrier Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street When: April 4, 2017 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald The More the Merrier (1943) is one of the great romantic comedies released during the height of World War II.
Due to the housing shortage in Washington, D.C., retired millionaire Benjamin Dingle rents a room from the ultra patriotic Connie Milligan (Jean Arthur). After spending some time with Connie, Dingle decides that she needs to be married to a “clean-cut” young man in the person of Joe Carter (Joel McCrea), so Dingle rents half of his room to Joe. This causes all kinds of problems. Problem number one, Connie is engaged to a Washington bureaucrat Charles J. Pendergast (Richard Gaines). Problem number two, she’s living with two single men!
When the press uncovers their “scandalous” habitation, it’s up to Mr. Dingle to set things straight. The trio of Arthur, McCrea, and Coburn are a real treat. Not only do they handle the dialogue with great skill, but they delight us with their amazing physical comedy as well.
The More the Merrier was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actress (Jean Arthur), Best Director (George Stevens), and Best Supporting Actor (Charles Coburn). Coburn was the only winner for his engagingly comic performance.
Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, and Joel McCrea in close quarters in The More the Merrier
This film is part of the “Classic Movie Man's Favorite” series.
Have some Joe and Enjoy the Show!
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Annual Holiday Film: My Reputation Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: December 10, 2016 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald My Reputation (1946) stars Barbara Stanwyck as Jessica Drummond, a widow with two young sons who falls in love with an army officer (George Brent). This romance comes too soon, according to her domineering mother (Lucile Watson) and Jessica’s upper-class Chicago friends. Fortunately for Jessica she has a supportive best friend in Ginna Abbot (Eve Arden) who helps her navigate this new chapter in her life. With major action set during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, My Reputation is a worthy choice as this year's holiday movie.
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.
October Film Series: The Innocents Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: October 15, 2016 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald The Innocents (1961) Deborah Kerr stars as Miss Giddens, a governess in nineteenth-century England. She is solely responsible for the education and well being of two small children (Miles and Flora) in a remote Victorian mansion. When strange things start happening, which includes the childrens’ personalities changing, Miss Giddens begins to think the departed spirits of the former governess and her lover are haunting them. Are they really being haunted or has the governess given in to hysterics due to an overactive imagination?
Based on Henry James’s novella, The Turn of the Screw, The Innocents is one of the scariest films ever made. French director Francois Truffant thought The Innocents was “the best British film since Hitchcock left for America.”
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.
Preston Sturges series: Hail The Conquering Hero Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: September 13, 2016 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) is a satirical comedy/drama about Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith (Eddie Bracken). Woodrow who wants to be a Marine like his father “Hinky Dinky” Truesmith who died a hero in World War I. After only a month, Woodrow is discharged from the Marines due to his chronic hay fever. Disappointed and embarrassed, Woodrow pretends to be fighting overseas while secretly working at a shipyard in San Diego.
Eddie Hodges, Ella Raines, William Demarest
By chance, Woodrow meets six Marines who just returned from the Battle of Guadalcanal in a local tavern. He buys them a round of drinks and discovers that Master Gunnery Sergeant Heffelfinger (William Demarest) served with Woodrow’s father in the 6th Marines in World War I. The Marines concoct a scheme to save Woodrow from embarrassment by telling his mother that he has received a medical discharge. The seemingly harmless deception gets completely out of control when Woodrow is given a hero’s welcome in his hometown.
Woodrow, never comfortable with the deception, is at the breaking point when his girlfriend Libby (Ella Raines), who he told not to wait for him, is engaged to the mayor’s son. Will Woodrow be able to tell the truth without destroying his family’s reputation? Will his hometown reject their “hero?”
This was Sturges’s last movie for Paramount. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay. You’ll be happy to discover folks from the Preston Sturges stock company including Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, and Esther Howard.
In 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
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.
Great films of 1939: Wuthering Heights Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: September 3, 2016 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald Wuthering Heights (1939) is the tale of Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier) and Cathy’s (Merle Oberon) tortured love affair, based on the novel by Emily Bronte. As a young boy, Heathcliff was rescued from poverty by Cathy's benevolent father. After his death, Cathy's brother Hindley treats Heathcliff like a hired hand. Heathcliff is filled with rage and bitterness, but he stays because of his love for Cathy, who longs for life of comfort and ease. Cathy eventually marries a wealthy neighbor, which makes Heathcliff burn with jealousy and makes him move embittered.
Nominated for 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director (William Wyler) Wuthering Heights is “one of the most romantic films Hollywood ever made,” this according to the Los Angeles Times.
Part of the “Great movies of 1939” series. Discover some of the greatest movies from Hollywood’s most famous year.
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.
Preston Sturges series: The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: August 16, 2016 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) stars Betty Hutton as Trudy Kockenlocker, a small-town girl who goes a little bit wild at party for soldiers going overseas. After dancing the night away and drinking too much “victory lemonade,” Trudy finds herself with a headache and a wedding ring on her finger. She has no recollection of getting married so she sets out to marry childhood friend Norval Jones (Eddie Bracken) who has adored her his entire life. This classic screwball comedy was nominated for a 1944 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
The film features a standout performances from Diana Lynn who plays Trudy’s younger sister and Sturges stock company regulars William Demarest and Porter Hall.
Backstory: Preston Sturges was so impressed with Eddie Bracken’s performance in The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek that he wrote Hail The Conquering Hero for him. Both films were released in 1944.
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 Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.
Preston Sturges series: Sullivan’s Travels Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: June 28, 2016 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald
Veronica Lake and Joel McCrea
Sullivan’s Travels (1942) is a satirical look at life in Hollywood as only Preston Sturges could tell it. It centers around successful movie director John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea) and his quest to learn more about life so he can film the deadly serious novel O Brother Where Art Thou?
Sullivan’s previous films were profitable comedies, but the director yearns for something more. He wants to be taken seriously like Frank Capra.
To learn about life, Sullivan disguises himself as a hobo. Along the way he meets a disillusioned young actress (Veronica Lake) who convinces him to take her along on his quest. Together they experience many adventures where they discover that a little laughter goes a long way in tough times.
But then the movie world is suddenly turned upside down when Sullivan goes missing. Sullivan’s Travels features the great Sturges stock company featuring William Demarest, Robert Greig, Eric Blore, Esther Howard, and Franklin Pangborn.
Backstory: Veronica Lake was six months pregnant when she signed on for this film, which made Preston Sturges furious. Fortunately, Sturges was able to film Lake in such a way that it is almost impossible detect.
Veronica Lake getting last minute makeup attention on the set
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 Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.
Great films of 1939: The Four Feathers Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: May 14, 2016 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald The Four Feathers (1939) was the third movie version of the A. E. W. Mason novel and considered the best of the bunch. Produced by Alexander Korda and directed by brother Zoltan, The Four Feathers is an epic production, filmed in Technicolor when the process was still a bit of a novelty. Like Gunga Din (1939), it portrays the British Empire, during the late 19th century. As an adventure and melodrama, The Four Feathers is hard to beat.
In an attempt at redemption, he disguises himself as an Arab to rescue his friends, who are imprisoned by Egyptian rebels, and prove that he isn’t a coward. A good story supported by a superior production, The Four Feathers holds up remarkably well. The on-location color cinematography is remarkable. The spectacle of the battle scenes, combined with the dazzling red uniforms of the British soldiers, make for a powerful epic. The New York Times was impressed with the film, calling it “explosively cinematic” and overwhelmed by the “sheer weight of size and width of camera field.”
C. Aubrey Smith, John Clements, and June Duprez
The all-British cast includes John Clements, Ralph Richardson, C. Aubrey Smith, and June Duprez.
Part of the “Great movies of 1939” series. Discover some of the greatest movies from Hollywood’s most famous year.
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.
Preston Sturges series: Christmas in July Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: April 26, 2016 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald Christmas in July (1940) was Preston Sturges’s second film as writer/director, based on his play, A Cup of Coffee (1931). The movie stars Dick Powell, Ellen Drew, and the growing Sturges stock company of supporting players.
Dr. Maxford, the head of Maxford House Coffee is anxious to announce the winner of a slogan contest for his popular brew. Unfortunately for Maxford, the jury is deadlocked by the bull-headed Mr. Bildocker (William Demarest). The contest winner was supposed to be announced on national radio, but because of the deadlock, no winner is announced.
Jimmy MacDonald (Powell) dreams of winning the contest to prove to himself and his girlfriend Betty Casey (Drew) that he has the talent to make it big in the advertising business. He also wants to provide for his mother (Georgia Caine). No one gets Jimmy’s slogan: “If you can’t sleep at night, it’s not the coffee, it’s the bunk.”
As a joke, three of Jimmy’s coworkers create a fake telegram announcing him as the winner. The joke gets completely out of hand. Jimmy’s boss gives him a promotion, a raise, his own office, and a private secretary (Betty). It isn’t long before the jig is up, but not before Jimmy has bought gifts for his mother, girlfriend, and just about everyone in his neighborhood. When the manager of Shindel’s department store comes to repossess his merchandise, it is revealed that Jimmy didn’t win the contest after all.
Will all of Jimmy’s career dreams be dashed? Will he still be able to win Betty’s heart? Will their Christmas in July have a happy ending?
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.
Preston Sturges series: The Great McGinty Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: March 22, 2016 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald The Great McGinty (1940) is the movie that began Preston Sturges’s writer/director career. Supposedly Sturges sold his script to Paramount for $10 in a deal so he could direct his first film. The Great McGinty won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and stars Brian Donlevy as a tramp who rises to political power with the help of a corrupt political boss (Akim Tamiroff). The cast also includes Muriel Angelus, Allyn Joslyn, Thurston Hall, and Sturges stock company player, William Demarest.
The suits at Paramount gave Sturges a B-picture budget of $350,000 and a three-week shooting schedule, as well as cheap talent under contract to the studio. Donlevy, a staple in films for almost a decade, was perfect for the role of McGinty, a man who goes from bum to city mayor and then state governor. It’s a wild ride, along with boss Tamiroff, who plans every step of McGinty’s political career. Eventually, the corruption and deal making catches up with both The Boss and McGinty. Will they both go down for the count?
The Great McGinty was a hit when it premiered on August 15, 1940 in New York City. Popular with both moviegoers and film critics, it was named on of the 10 best films of 1940 by the New York Times.
For a preview of the film, check out the clip below. Could McGinty be from Chicago?
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
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.
Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.
Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.
