Ave Maria Film Series Offers Perspective on Cinema Classics
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Published on Friday, 16 October 2009 14:37
A shared interest in classic films between the proprietor of Ave Maria's coffee house and an AMU literature professor has led to a new series that will show and discuss a number of great movies during the academic year.
The Ave Maria film series will focus this fall on works of legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. In January, films either directed by or starring Orson Welles will be shown.
Daniel Dix, owner of The Bean of Ave Maria and the Queen Mary Pub, says the idea grew out of conversations he'd had with AMU literature professor Mark McCullough.
"Over the years, Mark and I have had a number of conversations about classic films," Mr. Dix said, "and we began discussing a shared desire to introduce the students to these films."
They worked out a format that involves a screening of the film, followed by a casual talk and discussion about it in the Queen Mary Pub. The discussions will be led by different faculty members, and the first film, The Birds, from 1963, will be shown at 7:15 p.m. Thursday in the lecture hall of the academic building. The discussion afterward will be led by AMU literature professor Blanford Parker.
Subsequent films this term will be Spellbound, Nov. 5, with the discussion led by psychology professor Rosemary McCullough; Rear Window, Nov. 19 with the discussion led by history professor Paul Baxa; and Rope, Dec. 3, with the discussion led by literature professor Michael Raiger.
The lineup and dates for next term are still in the works, but Prof. McCullough says that he will be leading a disussion after a showing of A Touch of Evil. Other works of Orson Welles will include Citizen Kane, with the discussion led by philosophy professor Joseph Trabbic and The Third Man, with the discussion led by literature professor Travis Curtright.
Participating faculty members individually chose the films they'll be talking about, Prof. McCullough said.
"This is not a 'best of Hitchcock' series," he explained, "but each film has its own interest to the faculty member presenting."
Mr. Dix said he also was motivated by a personal interested in events that encouraged contact between the town residents and the university community.
Prof. McCullough agreed, adding, "We're trying to create some of the salon atmosphere that is characteristic of university towns."
