As America’s longest-running classic film series enters its 39th year, the Ohio Theatre observes its 80th birthday. Celebrate one of Columbus’ greatest historic treasures with CAPA’s 2008 Summer Movie Series at the Ohio Theatre, from June 6 through July 27.
This year's highlights include 12 series premieres, one double feature, one silent film, two Saturday morning features, and one late night showing. With 22 movies, there’s something for everyone—action (Thunderball, 1965, and Back to the Future, 1985), suspense (Notorious, 1946), film noir (The Third Man, 1949), romance (Sabrina, 1954), comedy (His Girl Friday, 1940), drama (The Color Purple, 1985), sci-fi (Planet of the Apes, 1968), and musicals (Oklahoma!, 1955, and Shall We Dance, 1937).
This year’s double feature pairs the Marx Brothers’ Duck Soup (1933) with the series premiere of W.C. Fields’ It’s a Gift (1934) on Friday, June 27. CAPA will hold an Ice Cream Social that evening, offering free ice cream to the first 500 people in celebration of the Ohio Theatre’s 80th birthday.
Also premiering this year is a restored version of 1776 on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6. Just prior to its release in 1972, a few select scenes were cut from the film at the suggestion of, according to rumor, then-President Richard Nixon. This year’s Summer Movie Series features the full-length version prior to the last-minute edits.
The silent film Sparrows (1926), will be accompanied live on the Ohio Theatre’s “Mighty Morton” theatre organ on Wednesday and Thursday, July 9 and 10.
The Series also boasts two special Fridays in 2008: July 11, is Chick Flick Friday featuring the series premiere of When Harry Met Sally (1989). July 25 is Late Night Friday featuring a special one night only 11 pm showing of the Monty Python classic, Life of Brian (1979).
Saturday morning offerings include the popular Cartoon Capers at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, featuring a dozen Warner Brothers classic cartoons, and The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 19. Also on July 19 and 20, White Christmas will be featured at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. as part of CAPA’s “Christmas in July” weekend.
Clark Wilson, official organist for the CAPA Summer Movie Series, will once again provide pre-show and intermission entertainment at the keys of the Ohio Theatre’s “Mighty Morton” theatre organ.
CAPA Summer Movie Series Ticket Strips can be ordered now through July 6 at the Ohio Theatre ticket office, 39 E. State St. or www.ticketmaster.com. Strips of 10 tickets are $21.50, a savings of $1.35 per ticket off day-of-show prices. Phone orders for strip tickets can be placed by calling 614-469-0939. For more information or to download an order form, visit www.capa.com. Strip tickets are good for any film in any combination.
Day-of-show tickets to individual films are $3.50 and go on sale one hour prior to show time at the Ohio Theatre kiosk. Senior citizen tickets are available for $3.
All tickets are general admission and seating is on a first come, first served basis.
The complete breakdown for the 2008 CAPA Summer Movie Series is listed as follows:
Thunderball (1965)
Friday, June 6, 7:30pm & Sunday, June 8, 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi
This Oscar-winning James Bond film finds our favorite super spy in Nassau tangling with an underworld (and frequently underwater) organization which is holding the world hostage with two hijacked nuclear devices.
Sabrina (1954)
Wednesday-Friday, June 11-13, 7:30 pm daily
Audry Hepburn, William Holden, Humphrey Bogart
As a chauffeur’s daughter among the Long Island rich, Hepburn is the perfect “Cinderella” for Billy Wilder’s stylish romantic comedy. But who is her true Prince Charming—the playboy (Holden) or the tycoon with no time for romance (Bogart)?
Victor Victoria (1984)
Saturday & Sunday, June 14 &15, 2 pm & 7:30 pm daily
Julie Andrews, James Fox, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing, John Gavin, Beatrice Lillie
She’s not in Kansas anymore! In this Oscar-winning musical spoof of the 1920s, Millie moves to New York to experience life and test out all those “modern” ideas she’s been reading about.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Wednesday-Friday, June 18-20, 7:30 pm daily
Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of this sci-fi classic! Astronaut Taylor wakes post-crash to discover a planet ruled by a society of apes. Hunted, restrained, and caged, Taylor refuses to be the beast and defiantly plans his escape.
Cartoon Capers
Saturday, June 21, 10 am
Enjoy a dozen classic cartoons from the ‘40s and ‘50s featuring many of the Warner Brothers superstars including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Pepe LePew, and Yosemite Sam!
Back to the Future (1985)
Saturday & Sunday, June 21 & 22, 2 pm & 7:30 pm daily
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
When Marty McFly time travels from 1985 back to 1955 aboard a plutonium-powered DeLorean, he accidentally sets a life-altering chain reaction in motion. Time-sensitive action and laughs abound as he must find a way to set things straight and get himself Back to the Future!
His Girl Friday (1940)
Wednesday & Thursday, June 25 & 26, 7:30 pm daily
Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy
A brilliant cast and rapid-fire dialogue spell “war-between-the-sexes” fun when a conniving newspaper editor tries to prevent his star reporter (and ex-wife) from resigning to marry someone new. Russell, at the height of her film career, is perfect as the career woman competing with men on their own turf—and winning!
DOUBLE FEATURE!
Friday, June 27, 7:30 pm
Duck Soup (1933)
The Marx Brothers
Experience the Marx Brothers at their best! This satiric masterpiece finds Groucho as Rufus T. Firefly, dictator of the tiny kingdom of Freedonia, who declares war on its neighbor just for the fun of it.
It’s a Gift (1934)
W.C. Fields, Kathleen Howard
A henpecked grocer must contend with a variety of obnoxious characters, including an overbearing wife, as he pursues his dream of running an orange grove. Considered by many to be the funniest Fields film ever!
Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious (1946)
Sunday, June 29, 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains
Bergman must marry the head of a Brazilian spy ring to help the US and secret agent Grant. This top-notch, post-WWII tale of espionage perfectly combines mystery, romance, suspense and plenty of action!
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)
Wednesday, July 2, 7:30 pm
Betty Hutton, Eddie Bracken
In Preston Surges’ wartime farce, Trudy Kockenlocker wakes up one morning, after a late-night sendoff party for the troops, to find she’s married someone she can't remember. When the local boy who's had a crush on her for years steps up to help, things get complicated!
1776 (1972)
Saturday & Sunday, July 5 & 6, 2 pm & 7:30 pm daily
William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard, John Cullum, Blythe Danner
This film version of the award-winning Broadway hit expertly combines music, comedy, and drama in depicting the story and historical characters behind the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Trimmed to appease the Nixon White House, which reportedly disapproved of material it deemed critical of its administration, an official “Director’s Cut” has now restored the missing material more than 25 years after its original release!
The Color Purple (1985)
Wednesday-Friday, July 9-11, 7:30 pm daily
Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover
Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including best picture and best actress, this Spielberg film depicts the life struggles of African-American women in the early 1900s as seen through the eyes of Celie Johnson, a resilient young woman battling to find her voice amid horrendous circumstances.
Oklahoma! (1955)
Saturday & Sunday, July 12 &13, 2 pm & 7:30 pm daily
Gordon McRae, Shirley Jones, Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson
Beautiful voices, glorious choreography, and expansive vistas make Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oscar-winning landmark Broadway musical a joyous film. A great evening of music and memories—"Surrey with the Fringe on Top," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," and "People Will Say We're in Love."
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SILENT FILM
Sparrows (1926)
Wednesday & Thursday, July 16 &17, 7:30 pm daily
Mary Pickford, Roy Stewart, Gustave von Seyffertitz
One of the best films starring “America’s Sweetheart,” this stunning restoration by The Library of Congress is an expert blend of comedy, sentiment, and thrills. Accompanied live on the Ohio Theatre’s historic “Mighty Morton” theatre organ!
CHICK FLICK FRIDAY
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Rated R
Friday, July 18, 7:30 pm
Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan
When Harry and Sally share a ride to New York after graduating college, they agree on only one thing—men and women can never be “just friends.” As the years go by, they surprise themselves by proving their theory wrong—or do they?
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Saturday, July 19, 10 am
Michael Caine, Frank Oz, Kermit the Frog, The Great Gonzo, Miss Piggy
Enjoy the classic Dickens holiday tale through the vision of Brian Henson in the first Muppets screen appearance after his father’s death. The comical antics of the Muppet characters coupled with Caine’s brilliant Scrooge makes for a delightful and sentimental film. “Light the lamp, not the rat! Light the lamp, not the rat!”
White Christmas (1954)
Saturday & Sunday, July 19 & 20, 2 pm & 7:30 pm daily
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen
Crosby and Kaye are Army buddies who become a post-war song-and-dance team. When their former general (turned Vermont inn-keeper) faces financial ruin, the boys vow to save the day! Beloved Irving Berlin songs include "Sisters," "Snow," "We'll Follow the Old Man," "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," and more!
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Wednesday & Thursday, July 23-24, 7:30 pm daily
Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards, Charles Bronson
This frontier epic has nearly 3 hours of everything you could ever want from a western—spectacular vistas, gunslinging shoot outs, a shadowy stranger, an infamous desperado, a beautiful widow, and a ruthless villain.
The Third Man (1949)
Friday, July 25, 7:30 pm
Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Orson Welles
In this Oscar-winning Carol Reed film noir thriller, an American writer steps off the train in post-WWII Vienna to learn that the friend who invited him has mysteriously died. As he begins to question the inconsistencies of his friend’s accident, he becomes unwittingly caught up in a plot much larger and dangerous than he realized.
LATE NITE FRIDAY!
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
Rated R
Friday, July 25, 11 pm
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
As a Jew born on Christmas Day in a Bethlehem stable, Brian Cohen becomes the first case of mistaken identity as he is assumed to be the long-awaited messiah. Features classic Python tunes including “Brian Song,” “Look on the Bright Side of Life,” and many, many more!
Shall We Dance (1937)
Saturday, July 26, 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, July 27, 2 pm only
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
When smitten celebrity ballet dancer Astaire intentionally books passage on the same ship as celebrity tap dancer Rogers, romance blooms and so do the rumors once the ship docks! Unforgettable musical moments include the Oscar-nominated "Just the Way You Look Tonight" and illustrious Gershwin songs "They Can't Take That Away from Me" and "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" performed on roller skates!
Movies are subject to change without notice.