<<< July 3 - 9, 2008 >>>

Discuss this series with other film fans on:
http://www.myspace.com/americancinematheque

Tired and dazed from all the July 4th festivities and televised sports events? Come and join us for this rejuvenating spate of effervescent comedies guaranteed to re-energize and lift your spirits from the midsummer doldrums. From French farce (a Jacques Tati double feature) to silent American classics, and from teen comedy masters John Hughes and Martha Coolidge to the Marx Brothers, they’re guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and put a spring in your step. We’re delighted to welcome director Martha Coolidge In-Person on July 9 for a double feature of VALLEY GIRL and REAL GENIUS.

Thursday, July 3 – 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

MR. HULOT’S HOLIDAY (LES VACANCES DE MONSIEUR HULOT), 1953, Janus Films, 85 min. Dir. Jacques Tati. Tati’s first film as Monsieur Hulot, one of cinema's great comic personas, finds him going to a resort town for a vacation where chaos predictably ensues. A whimsical hymn to the joys of life and the funny little things we often fail to notice.

THE BIG DAY (JOUR DE FETE), 1947, Janus Films, 79 min. Jacques Tati’s feature debut as director showcases his performance as a mailman attempting to streamline delivery in his small town. But he soon finds his attempts at modernization and a coincidental Bastille Day celebration don’t mix. This is a 1995 restoration of the film's original color version. Both films in French with English subtitles. WE REGRET, THAT DUE TO A SHIPPING ERROR, THE BIG DAY WILL NOT BE SHOWN TONIGHT.

Saturday, July 5 – 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

THE BREAKFAST CLUB, 1985, Universal, 97 min. Director John Hughes’ 1980s string of teenage comedy-dramas reached its apex with this study of five misfit kids (Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall) meeting and talking about themselves as they undergo a day-long Saturday detention. With the Simple Minds’ big hit "Don’t You Forget About Me."

SUMMER SCHOOL, 1987, Paramount, 97 min. Mark Harmon plays a fun-loving high school teacher forced to spend his summer babysitting a remedial English class in this cult classic from director Carl Reiner. Kirstie Alley is Harmon's love interest, and together they form the center of a hilarious ensemble comedy populated with a winning supporting cast and enlivened by an infectious Danny Elfman score.

Sunday, July 6 – 7:30 PM

Marx Brothers Double Feature:

A DAY AT THE RACES, 1937, Warner Bros., 111 min. Dir. Sam Wood. The Marx Brothers’ second (and most expensive) MGM film serves up Groucho as Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush, who arouses all sorts of suspicion as the new head of a posh sanitarium -- and with good reason: He’s actually a veterinarian! Includes the celebrated "tootsie-fruitsie" and examination routines, as well as a tremendous cast including Maureen O’Sullivan, Allan Jones, Douglass Dumbrille, Sig Rumann, Esther Muir and, of course, Margaret Dumont.

ROOM SERVICE, 1938, Warner Bros., 78 min. Dir. William A. Seiter. Groucho, Chico, and Harpo stall to extend their hotel credit while trying to mount a play -- with the expected chaotic results -- in this zany Marx Brothers farce. Based on the play by Allen Boretz and John Murray, ROOM SERVICE is not only a delightful showcase for the brothers themselves, but for comedienne Lucille Ball, whose presence almost makes up for the lack of Margaret Dumont!

Wednesday, July 9 – 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

VALLEY GIRL, 1983, MGM Repertory, 99 min. Dir. Martha Coolidge. Perky teenage Valley girl Deborah Foreman falls for unkempt punk rocker Nicolas Cage, and the young lovers struggle to stay together amidst the disapproval of their peers and their own cultural prejudices. In director Martha Coolidge’s hands, what could have been just another teen exploitation film becomes a winning romantic comedy with charming heroes and a gallery of beautifully drawn supporting characters (Frederic Forrest and Colleen Camp are particular standouts as Foreman’s parents.)

REAL GENIUS, 1985, Sony Repertory, 108 min. Dir. Martha Coolidge. After their pompous professor takes advantage of their skills, a pair of brilliant science students (Gabe Jarret and Val Kilmer) decide to use their knowledge to get revenge in this irresistible comedy. Once again director Coolidge demonstrates her flair for simple but expressive gestures that define character, and her ability to capture the social insecurities of adolescence is evident in Jarret’s subtle, endearing performance. Discussion in between films with director Martha Coolidge.