Friends,
Yesterday, Paramount Pictures brought TV crews and journalists from a dozen countries to Traverse City to talk to me about my film, which is opening soon overseas. While they were here, I insisted that they come over to the State to see just what a movie theater should look like. They couldn’t believe their eyes! They got their cameras out and started filming. So there was the #1 TV network from France and Spain and Denmark and a bunch of others standing on Front St. and admiring what a town can do. One of them said to me, “We usually interview filmmakers in Hollywood or New York and I was wondering why we had to fly here. Now I can see why — and I’m sure glad we did!”
This Tuesday marks the second anniversary since we re-opened our incredible movie palace known as the State Theatre of Traverse City. 325,000 people have now walked through these doors! “Just Great Movies!” was our promise, but the State has become so much, much more to the community. All of you had a hand in this and have proven that when people come together for the greater good, anything is possible. (I just wrote a piece for this Sunday’s Record-Eagle on what else I think we can do here in the area to improve our quality of life, so check it out if you can.)
To celebrate this Year Two milestone, we’ve got a jam-packed week of incredible movies and events at the theater. We’ve chosen as our theme “The Great Movies of 1939.” On their 70th anniversary we’ve chosen to show an incredible group of movies that were all made, amazingly, in that one year.
We are especially excited about showing, for the first time, “Gone with the Wind.” It’s been newly restored and you won’t believe how great it looks and sounds. We’ve got it for one day only, Thursday the 19th, for only two shows: 1 pm and 6 pm. Tickets are only $5 for individuals, or $10 for the family.
We are also presenting a newly-restored “The Wizard of Oz” beamed into us by the same people who send us the Metropolitan Opera. The one time event will include a special introduction by Robert Osborne of TCM, followed by a behind-the-scenes making of short film with archival footage and rare musical outtakes. Showtime is 6:30 pm and tickets are $10, or $5 for children and students.
Our other 1939 films are all 25 cents or free, and include:
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” — a Mark Twain classic kids matinee with Mickey Rooney as Huck Finn, Saturday at 10 am for 25 cents
“Dark Victory” — our student film club night stars Bette Davis & Humphrey Bogart in a classic of the genre, followed by a one hour film school class by Rich Brauer & Michael Mittelstaedt, Monday at 6:30 pm for FREE
“Of Mice and Men” — Burgess Meredith & Lon Chaney Jr. dream of owning their own ranch in John Steinbeck’s classic story, Wednesday, at 11 am for 25 cents
“Wuthering Heights” — Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon burn as Emily Bronte’s star-crossed lovers, winner of the Oscar for Best Cinematography in the amazing year of 1939, Wednesday at 1:30 pm for 25 cents
“Goodbye, Mr. Chips” — Best Actor Robert Donat remembers his teaching career, Greer Garson, and his many children, Wednesday at 3:45 pm for 25 cents
“Gunga Din” — George Stevens directs Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Joan Fontaine as Rudyard Kipling’s Brits in India, Wednesday at 6:15 pm for 25 cents
“The Hound of the Baskervilles” — the first of 14 films pairing Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce as the definitive Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson, Wednesday at 8:45 pm for 25 cents
On top of all this, we are going to try something for the first time: showing THREE first run films during the same week at the State! Take a look at the brand new films you can see this week at the State:
“Paris“ — they’re all here in one movie, the biggest actors in French cinema, gathered to make a love story about the great city of lights. Critics are saying that Juliette Binoche is more beautiful now than she was 20 years ago. Isn’t that nice? A funny, sad tapestry of a film, showing today through Thursday.
“The September Issue” – 20-year editor and fashion queen Anna Wintour is something to behold in this beautifully filmed documentary about the making of the record-breaking 2007 September Vogue. But some think going behind the scenes and to Paris with Creative Director Grace Coddington is even better. You don’t have to accessorize to enjoy this one. Showing today through Tuesday.
“Seraphine“ — the winner of seven Cesar Awards (the French Oscars), including Best Picture, this beautiful film about the discovery of a great artist and the relationship between art and madness was shown just once at the TCFF this year to a standing room only theater. If you missed it, you have just three chances to see it, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm.
It’s been stunning 104 weeks for the State Theatre and Traverse City. Be sure to thank our wonderful volunteers when you see them. And thanks to all of you who are members and donors, to all of you who help sustain this theater during difficult economic times. This is a community project and it thrives because it is not set up to make a profit — it exists for the common good.
Thanks again, everybody, for two great years! Let’s hit a half-million admissions in 2010!
Michael Moore
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