BOMBS AT TEATIME to be shown at Middleton Village Hall at 7.30 on 31st August, as part of The Middleton Environment Fair
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News November 2007
Change to Town Hall venue and Friday night seems popular and HISTORY BOYS had the biggest turnout yet .
Coming up next is TOP HAT Dec 7th (Progamme Notes) and another show in Middleton Village Hall on Dec 8th. This will be highly the acclaimed Al Gore film AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, 7.30 pm.
Message board
We have a new message board here http://wirksfilmsoc.1talk.net/index.htm which is open to anyone - please have a look and try it out. It could be a useful way to keep in touch and to find out what people think about the filmsoc or to talk about issues. For instance, there are links posted up concerning AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH and a discussion could take place there.
August 2008
Wirksworth Film Society is going from strength to strength and has now enjoyed five successful years of showing a wide range of first class movies. As one member commented; 'It's been just wonderful being able to walk into town and watch a superb film on the big screen, while sipping a glass of my favourite red wine - going to one of the big cinemas in the area is such a hassle, and I look forward to seeing what's on offer in this coming season'.
The society is now busy signing up members, old and new, for 2007/08. The new programme really has something for everyone; some vintage and recent favourites and a couple of lesser-known but excellent films. There is comedy, music, drama, and a few truly outstanding foreign films.
Examples include the toe-tapping TOP HAT, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (a wonderful choice for December), 'Notes on a Scandal', with a wonderfully wicked performance by Judy Dench, the award-winning HISTORY BOYS based on the stage play by Alan Bennett, and CHILDREN OF HEAVEN, a charming Iranian film that gives real insight into the day-to-day lives of the people.
The society is pleased to announce some exciting changes taking place; the venue is moving back to our splendid Town Hall, the sound system has been improved, the showings have been changed to the first Friday of each month and there will be a licensed bar for a pre-film tipple (but there will be plenty of time to get to the pub afterwards as well!).
Membership has been kept at the highly reasonable rate of last year (£25 pounds for all eight films), or you can be a temporary member for single films at £4 a time, as long as you book in advance. Keep an eye out for the Wirksworth Film posters and application forms from the library, or ring 01629 825063 and leave a message.
Membership gives you free entry to the main programme of 8 films:
Detailed programme notes.
New poster, membership application form, and film list flyer can all be seen here and downloaded.
Before the main programme we have a show in Middleton followed by two shows at the Wirksworth festival:
BOMBS AT TEATIME to be shown at Middleton Village Hall at 7.30 on 31st August, as part of The Middleton Environment Fair
This is a departure from last years "local" idea but still has "every day life" as the theme. It is a compilation of fascinating newsreel and documentary film from the 1940s that provide an illuminating glimpse at how we lived, the Home Front and domestic life of the time. Details of the films can be seen here
There is also a very timely environmental aspect; amongst other things the film shows that although we talk about our carbon footprint in the 21st century, Britons were far more in touch with environmental issues sixty or more years ago. At times wry, affectionate, informative or surprising, these films document a time of great austerity as Britain sought to retain a sense of normality in the shadow of World War II.
Before the season kicks off in October, the Film Society is showing two films in the Wirksworth Festival. The first, on Tuesday, September 18, is John Huston's exquisitely dry comedy BEAT THE DEVIL with some fabulous overacting from Gina Lollobrigida, Jennifer Jones, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre and the supporting cast.
Then, on Wednesday, September 19, the Society is thrilled to present another classic silent movie accompanied live by local musicians. Following the sell-out showing of METROPOLIS last year, with music by local composer Colin Humphreys, this year's offering is the 1919 German film THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI a film about madness. Colin has also composed the music for this and will give an introductory talk about the film, particularly the stunning and bizarre film sets.
Colin says; Although THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI is much less of an epic than METROPOLIS last year, it still has a very significant place in the history of cinema, as anyone who has studied the history of film will tell you. I have composed music that is dark and brooding to reflect the mood of the film, and all those who liked METROPOLIS last year will, for different reasons, like this. It is a psychological thriller with a bit of horror thrown in - a wonderful mixture!! The visual look of the film is quite unlike any other film I have seen, with crooked buildings and painted shadows, inspired by the German Expressionist style of painting, which was very much in vogue at the time.
Not-to-be missed Festival events. Both start at 7.30pm (See Festival brochure for more details or ring the Festival Office to book your tickets on 01629 824003).
