“A Place in the Sun” is the February Film Classic in Bigfork

The February Classic movie, “A Place in the Sun” is a Hollywood blockbuster by any standard you wish to use.  It has major stars with Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift and Shelly Winters.  It was critically acclaimed and a financial success.  Plus it won six Oscars and the first ever Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama.  It also was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” To find out what 1951 movie goers and critics liked so much come to Bigfork.  “A Place in the Sun” is the February Classic Movie shown on the big screen of the Edge Theatre in Bigfork by Jack Nachbar. It will be accompanied by Jack’s presentation providing a better understanding of the time period of the movie.  Date: Thursday February 9^th. Time: 6:30PM. Price: free of charge.

This American drama film is based on a 1925 novel titled “An American Tragedy” and is about a working class young man entangled with two women. It has all the elements you’d expect in a real American tragedy, the basic love triangle, people caught in a web of deceit, power hungry people and more. Come and see this extraordinary film, which seems to have a very simple plot on the surface, but yet ends up being very complicated. This movie is recommended for mature audiences due to its content.

In her fainting scene for the movie, Elizabeth is said to have executed the “best” fainting scene ever in films. She was so unconcerned about her health and body that the force of her ribs and face hitting the pavement made audiences of the day wince when it happened. 

You can’t write an in-depth paragraph about this Elizabeth Taylor; you can only scratch the surface.  Starting as a child actress in the 1940s, she was the most popular in the 50s with her acting success carrying over into the 60s.  Then she remained a well-known public figure for the rest of her life. In 1999, the American Film Institute named her the seventh greatest female screen legend of all time.

Montgomery Clift prepared himself for an important scene in the film by spending a night locked in the San Quentin Penitentiary.  He so intimidated Taylor with his acting background that she felt like “…the inadequate teenage puppet that had pretty clothes and hadn’t really acted except with horses and dogs.”

Edward Montgomery Clift (1920- 1966) was one of the original “Method” actors. He often portrayed, according to the NY TIMES, “…moody, sensitive young men…” He started his career at 15 on Broadway, and by 25 was in Hollywood starring opposite John Wayne in the movie “Red River.” About Clift Taylor said, “Monty could have been the biggest star in the world if he did more movies.”  But the ones he picked were special. His role in “A Place in the Sun" is considered one of his signature method acting performances, for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor.  Even with his limited roles in movies, he managed four Oscar nominations for his work and has a star in Hollywod’s Walk of Fame.

Shelley Winters had mixed feeling about her role in this movie because she was made to look so unglamorous for the part of Alice next to the stunning Elizabeth Taylor.  She developed such an inferiority complex  that it is said she drove strictly white Cadillacs for years to compensate.

Shelley Winters (born Shirley Schrift 1920-2006) appeared in dozens of films as well on stage and television.  With a career spanning over 50 years, she won two Oscars and was nominated for two others. Her appearance in “A Place in the Sun” was a departure from the sexpot image Universal was grooming her for at the time. She did very well with the part earning a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

The New York Times movie review from the period said that George Stevens, the director of this movie “…can point with pride to A Place in the Sun…(it) is a work of beauty, tenderness, power and insight…(that) emerges as a credit to both the motion picture craft and, we feel reasonably certain, the author’s major intentions.”

So come and see the great stars in a Hollywood magic film on the big screen for yourself free of charge. An appropriate snack will be served courtesy of Jack and his wife/projectionist, Lynn. Place: The Edge Center for the Arts, Bigfork. Date and time: Thursday February 9^th at 6:30PM. It will be worth going to Bigfork, because Jack will provide you with background about the movie and a cartoon of the period to lighten your spirits and warm you up a little bit.

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“Heartland” is the January Film Classic in Bigfork

This movie, about the realities of living in the unsettled west, will give you a perspective of how tough life was on the “real frontier” with the rewards and heartbreak such a life can bring. “Heartland” is a 1979 film, starring Rip Torn and Conchata Ferrell and directed by Richard Pearce.  This was not a high budget “glitzy” production, but one that teaches what early frontier folks had to face to succeed in life. It is a true account of the people and it was shot on location in Montana.  The mix of a great true story and a wonderful location is powerful and beautiful. “Heartland” is the January Classic Movie shown on the big screen of the Edge Theatre in Bigfork by Jack Nachbar. It will be accompanied by Jack’s presentation providing a better understanding of the 1910 time period of the movie.  Date: Thursday January 12^th. Time: 6:30PM. Price: free of charge.

As said earlier, the story is a true one. It is about a hardy, ambitious young widow who packs up her life and daughter to move to the West and start a job as the housekeeper on a ranch. It is based on a memoir by Elinore Pruitt Stewart of her life in Wyoming. You will soon find out just how resilient and tough she is and how demanding the real west can be on the pioneers of 1910. At first it seems that communications between the widow and rancher can never happen, and it ends up being a story of endearing love for the land, the rancher and her situation.  I can’t tell you more except it is, once again, one of those film gems that can only be best appreciated on the big screen like the one at the Edge Theatre.

The movie is in the category of a “hidden gem.”  The “stars” and director have had careers primarily in Television Work.  This movie seems to have slipped in among their other work and yet is an outstanding film.  It was featured as a “Buried Treasure”, and was featured on an episode of Siskel and Ebert's “Sneak Previews" in 1980. This film treasure received little attention during its initial run.

Conchata  Ferrell (1943) was born in West Virginia and raised in Ohio. Her acting career spans four decades as a successful character actress. She was a movie newcomer for this film and is still best known for her role in it.  Her other accomplishments include an Obie and Drama Desk awards for her acting, and two nominations for Prime Time Emmy awards. With her experience in Television shows and off-Broadway productions, it is ironic that she is still best known for her acting in this movie.

The director Richard Pearce (1943) was born in San Diego and went East to attend high school and Yale University. He is also best known for his work in Television series’.  He has only directed six movies, including “Heartland”, and it is one of his most recognized works.  It won the Golden Bear Award at the 30^th Berlin International Film Festival.

Rip Torn (1931) has had an interesting career. He was nominated for an Oscar for his role in “Cross Creek” and his work includes six Emmy nominations, winning one in 1996. He has an American Comedy Award, Funniest Male in a Series, Two Cable ACE Awards and a Satellite Award.  

Reviewer Richard Canby of the "New York Times" was quite enthusiastic about “Heartland” when the film came out in 1979.  “...The nicest thing about 'Heartland', a new, low-budget, uncommonly beautiful film written by Beth Ferris and directed by Richard Pearce, is that even though it celebrates the people of the American frontier, with emphasis on the women, it largely avoids sentimentality… Mrs. Stewart survived just about everything the frontier could throw at her."

So come and see the beautifully filmed story of rugged pioneers for yourself free of charge. An appropriate snack will be served courtesy of Jack and his wife/projectionist, Lynn.  Place: The Edge Center for the Arts, Bigfork. Date and time: Thursday January 12th at 6:30PM. It will be worth going to Bigfork, because Jack will provide you with background about the movie and a cartoon of the period will give you some laughs.