Bryn Mawr Film Institute: August at a Glance

Several film series begin and end this month, including “Unforgettable Romances” and “Thrills, Chills and Spills,” bringing classics to the big screen. Among the programming highlights are Gone with the Wind, a first at the , and The Music Man musical sing-along.

Public Relations Coordinator Devin Wachs tells us what to expect at BMFI this month:

The Great Dictator (7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3) 

The last in “The Great Charlie Chaplin” film series, The Great Dictator is a satire about a Jewish barber who resembles Hitler. This tale of mistaken identity earned Chaplin Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Actor in 1940. The film series also featured City Lights and Modern Times.

Umbrellas of Cherbourg (7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9)

New this month is an “Unforgettable Romance” film series, with three screenings. The first is the French film Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which is an atypical musical with music throughout the movie. This sad love story, which will be shown on 35mm film, stars Catherine Deneuve in her breakout role.

Creature from the Black Lagoon (7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10)

This is part of BMFI’s “3D: What’s All the Fuss” series and is an old-school creature feature from the 1950s. The first film in this series last month, It Came From Outer Space, was a hit with audiences. There is also a members-only event in association with this movie beginning at 6 p.m., with free popcorn, wine and soda.

Jaws (7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16)

This screening of Stephen Spielberg’s classic thriller with the unmistakable soundtrack is part of the “Thrills, Chills and Spills” film series. There is also a one-night classic seminar about Jaws that begins at 6:30 p.m. The seminar includes a lecture, discussion, readings, and the movie ticket, popcorn and drink are also included in the cost of the seminar. The seminar will be taught by BMFI’s Director of Education, Andrew J. Douglas, PhD. To register, call 610-527-4008 ext. 106.

Imitation of Life (7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17)

This screening is of the 1959 version of the movie about a white actress teaming up with an African American woman to co-raise their daughters. While one seeks out acting jobs, the other keeps the house. While it’s about the mothers and daughters and how their relationships play out, it’s also about the relationship between the two women. With a great cast, the film addresses race and class issues. A seminar, taught by Alice Bullitt, around this movie also begins at 6:30 p.m. The seminar includes a lecture, discussion, readings, and the movie ticket, popcorn and drink are also included in the cost of the seminar. To register, call 610-527-4008 ext. 106.

Airplane! (7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23)

This comedy classic concludes the “Thrills, Chills and Spills” film series. Shown on 35mm film, the film parodies disaster movies of the 1970s.

The Music Man Sing-along (7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24)

The sing-alongs conclude this summer with this fun movie about a man cons a small town in Iowa into starting a boys’ band. As always with BMFI's sing-alongs, those who come in costume get free popcorn, so wearing costumes is highly encouraged. Some ideas include band uniforms or a librarian.

Casablanca (7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30)

BMFI shows Casablanca every other year at the end of the summer. This WWII classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman is the second film in the “Unforgettable Romance” series.

Gone with the Wind (7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31)

In the first-ever screening at BMFI of Gone with the Wind, this film epic is especially timely since this year marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. This sweeping story is also the third and final film in the “Unforgettable Romance” series.