Classical Hollywood (1933-1954)
Celebrate the golden years of the Hollywood studio system. Americans went to the movies in record numbers across these two decades. The fourteen films in this series capture key genres (westerns, musicals, dramas, noir, adventure) and signature stars (Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, Gene Kelly, Marlon Brando) beloved of studio-era audiences. Todd Decker, Professor of Film and Music History at Washington University, will introduce all screenings, with an emphasis on the great symphonic scores heard in these films and the experience of moviegoing in studio-era St. Louis.
King Kong (35MM)
Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper Run Time: 100 min. Format: 35mm Film Release Year: 1933
Starring: Bruce Cabot, Fay Wray, Frank Reicher, Robert Armstrong, Victor Wong
The original movie monster spectacle returns! Experience the groundbreaking adventure that forever changed visual effects and introduced one of cinema's most enduring icons.
Captain Blood
Director: Michael Curtiz Run Time: 119 min. Format: DCP Release Year: 1935
Starring: Basil Rathbone, Errol Flynn, Lionel Atwill, Olivia de Havilland, Ross Alexander
The swashbuckler that made Errol Flynn a star! Packed with thrilling sword fights, high-seas adventure, and unforgettable romance.
Bride of Frankenstein (4K Restoration)
Director: James Whale Run Time: 75 min. Format: 4K DCP Release Year: 1935
Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Elsa Lanchester, Ernest Thesiger, Valerie Hobson
Universal's greatest horror classic! James Whale's ingenious blend of Gothic chills, dark humor, and heartbreaking emotion makes Bride of Frankenstein one of the finest, and most influential horror films ever made.
Stagecoach
Director: John Ford Run Time: 96 min. Format: DCP Release Year: 1939
Starring: Andy Devine, Claire Trevor, George Bancroft, John Wayne, Thomas Mitchell
The film that reinvented the Western. John Ford's thrilling masterpiece launched John Wayne to stardom and remains one of the greatest adventure films ever made.
The Wizard of Oz (4K Restoration)
Director: Victor Fleming Run Time: 102 min. Format: 4K DCP Release Year: 1939
Starring: Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Jack Haley, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger
One of the most beloved films ever made, The Wizard of Oz dazzles with unforgettable songs, groundbreaking Technicolor, and timeless storytelling.
Now, Voyager (4K Restoration)
Director: Irving Rapper Run Time: 117 min. Format: 4K DCP Release Year: 1942
Starring: Bette Davis, Bonita Granville, Claude Rains, Gladys Cooper, Paul Henreid
Bette Davis shines in one of Hollywood's most cherished romances. A moving story of transformation, sacrifice, and enduring love, featuring one of the most famous closing lines in movie history.
Bataan
Director: Tay Garnett Run Time: 114 min. Format: DCP Release Year: 1943
Starring: George Murphy, Lee Bowman, Lloyd Nolan, Robert Taylor, Thomas Mitchell
A tense, hard-hitting World War II classic that helped define the American combat film.
Laura (4K Restoration)
Director: Otto Preminger Run Time: 88 min. Format: 4K DCP Release Year: 1944
Starring: Clifton Webb, Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney, Judith Anderson, Vincent Price
One of the definitive film noirs. A mesmerizing mystery of obsession, romance, and murder, featuring Gene Tierney in her signature role and one of cinema's most unforgettable musical themes.
The Lost Weekend (4K Restoration)
Director: Billy Wilder Run Time: 101 min. Format: 4K DCP Release Year: 1945
Starring: Doris Dowling, Howard Da Silva, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry, Ray Milland
The film that changed Hollywood forever. Billy Wilder's Oscar-winning masterpiece is a gripping and compassionate portrait of addiction, anchored by Ray Milland's unforgettable Academy Award-winning performance.
Anchors Aweigh
Director: George Sidney Run Time: 143 min. Format: DCP Release Year: 1945
Starring: Dean Stockwell, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, José Iturbi, Kathryn Grayson
Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra set sail in one of MGM's most beloved musicals, featuring spectacular dance numbers including Kelly's groundbreaking duet with Jerry Mouse that remains one of cinema's most magical moments.
The Best Years of Our Lives (4K Restoration)
Director: William Wyler Run Time: 171 min. Format: 4K DCP Release Year: 1946
Starring: Dana Andrews, Fredric March, Harold Russell, Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright
Winner of seven Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, William Wyler's landmark drama remains one of Hollywood's most moving and compassionate films.
A Streetcar Named Desire (35MM)
Director: Elia Kazan Run Time: 125 min. Format: 35mm Film Release Year: 1951
Starring: Karl Malden, Kim Hunter, Marlon Brando, Rudy Bond, Vivien Leigh
Winner of four Academy Awards®, A Streetcar Named Desire pairs Vivien Leigh's unforgettable Blanche DuBois with Marlon Brando's career-defining Stanley Kowalski in one of the most influential performances—and films—in Hollywood history.
The Band Wagon (35MM)
Director: Vincente Minnelli Run Time: 112 min. Format: 35mm Film Release Year: 1953
Starring: Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant
Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse light up the screen in one of MGM's greatest musicals.
On the Waterfront (35MM)
Director: Elia Kazan Run Time: 108 min. Format: 35mm Film Release Year: 1954
Starring: Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger
Winner of eight Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, On the Waterfront features Marlon Brando's legendary 'I coulda been a contender' performance in one of the most influential films ever made.