Tuesday Nights at the Movies

 

A delightful romantic comedy about two people rediscovering their capacity for love, Moonstruck stars Cher (who won her only Oscar for this role) as Loretta, a superstitious widow who falls for her dull fiancé’s (Danny Aielo) fiery brother (Nicolas Cage). Directed by Norman Jewison (In the Heat of the Night, Fiddler on the Roof), this modern classic features witty dialogue and endearing characters, including Olympia Dukakis who received her only Oscar as Loretta's wise mother.

 

 

A British musical comedy film directed by Richard Lester, featuring The Beatles during the height of Beatlemania. The film presents a fictionalized day in the life of the band as they prepare for a television performance, navigating the chaos of fame and evading hordes of screaming fans. The movie is celebrated for its innovative style, including fast cuts, slapstick humor, and a soundtrack filled with classic Beatles hits. It played a key role in establishing the Beatles' image and has since been regarded as one of the greatest rock-and-roll films of all time.

 

 

A high-society dinner party gone wrong is at the center of this sophisticated comedy-drama. With sharp dialogue and a stellar ensemble cast (Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore, Marie Dressler), this sparkling classic masterfully blends drama and wit in a riveting social satire. Directed by George Cukor (The Philadelphia Story, My Fair Lady), Dinner at Eight has been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

 

 

In this atmospheric ghost story set in the waning days of the Spanish Civil War, Carlos (Fernando Tielve) navigates his new life in an orphanage haunted by the ghost of another child. Guillermo del Toro’s (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water) restrained direction and ghostly palette help create a mounting sense of dread in this evocative film that’s both suspenseful and surprisingly moving. Also starring Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, and Federico Luppi.

 

 

Celebrate Halloween with this eerie and atmospheric horror gem. Starring horror icons Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi facing off in a nightmarish plot involving dark rituals, human sacrifice, and revenge. The Black Cat, directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, is renowned for its striking expressionist visuals and unsettling narrative, set against the backdrop of a sinister Art Deco mansion built over a battlefield. The Black Cat remains a classic of early horror cinema.

 

 

Spend election night with us as we screen Alexander Payne’s (Sideways, The Holdovers) darkly funny satire, Election (winner of Independent Spirit Awards for Best Feature, Director, and Screenplay). The campaign of an ambitious high-schooler (Reese Witherspoon) running for student council president is sabotaged by the schemes of her disillusioned teacher (Matthew Broderick). A hilarious and biting take on ambition, ethics, and the quest for power.

 

 

Hit the open road with this cult classic of the 1970s, a minimalist road movie that captures the spirit of the era. Two-Lane Blacktop follows two drifters (played by musicians James Taylor and Dennis Wilson) as they race across the American Southwest in their souped-up Chevy. Directed by Monte Hellman, the film eschews conventional storytelling in favor of a meditative and existential exploration of freedom, alienation, and the pursuit of the unknown. A must-see for fans of counterculture cinema.

 

The Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

 

 

Chungking Express (1994), directed by Wong Kar-wai, is a masterful exploration of love, loneliness, and fleeting connections in modern Hong Kong. The film is split into two loosely connected stories centered around melancholic police officers played by Rakeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung. With its dreamy cinematography, distinctive direction, and eclectic soundtrack, including covers by the film’s star Faye Wong, Chungking Express is a cinematic ode to the love, loss, and beauty of urban life.

 

 

Join us for a screening of one of the greatest Westerns ever made. Directed by John Ford (Stagecoach, Grapes of Wrath) and starring John Wayne, The Searchers is an epic tale of revenge, obsession, and redemption set against the majestic backdrop of the American frontier. Wayne delivers one of his finest performances as Ethan Edwards, a relentless and complex character driven by a personal mission. The film’s breathtaking cinematography, powerful storytelling, and deep themes have earned it a place in the pantheon of classic American cinema.

 

In 1989, The Searchers was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in its National Film Registry; it was one of the first 25 films selected for the registry.

 

 

In this poignant drama, a down-and-out man (Gary Cooper) is coerced into posing as a fictitious "John Doe" planning to commit suicide on Christmas Eve to protest societal ills. As his story captures the nation's heart, he becomes a symbol of hope and reform. Directed by Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It Happened One Night) and co-starring Barbara Stanwyck, the film explores themes of integrity, media manipulation, and the power of the people working together.

 

 

In this unconventional Holiday charmer, three escaped convicts – Humphry Bogart (in a rare comedy performance), a predictably delightful Peter Ustinov, and Aldo Ray – play unorthodox guardian angels to the family they originally planned to rob. Directed by Michael Curtiz (White Christmas, Casablanca), its blend of witty dialogue, offbeat humor, and heartfelt emotion make it a feel-good seasonal classic.