Movie Night & More

Remember when politicians worked for the good of man (and woman) kind? When a person could go to the Senate or House of Representatives (in the national or local arenas) with ideals and ideas as well as promises and logical compromises that meant something? Neither do I but, in the movies, that plot line makes for good box office.

CineFare in Middletown continues its 4-Tuesday night run in Middletown with the 1939 Frank Capra masterwork "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, the versatile Claude Rains, and Beulah Bondi (among others), the movie casts Stewart who "represents the powerful forces of American freedom, democracy and morality over oppression and evil in his emotional portrait of a naive, idealist, patriotic young politician who, after being sent to Washington (a symbol of liberty and democracy) as a junior senator from an un-named state, matures in wisdom, fights political corruption within his state's political machine, and guards American values as a moral hero." Sounds like a surefire winner (and it was - the film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards but only won 1) yet critics lambasted the movie as "anti-democratic" and "propagandistic" in the months leading up to World War II.

It really is a fine film and well worth your time. The screening takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Goldsmith Family Cinema inside the Center for Film Studies at Wesleyan, Washington Terrace. Introducing the movie will be Assistant Professor of Film Studies Steve Collins - the event is free and open to the public. Click here for more information and to learn more about the restaurant discounts and free transportation from Main Street.

The ARTFARM production of "The Taming of the Shrew" returns to the Grove behind Wheaton Hall on the campus of Middlesex Community College for 4 more performances Thursday July 23 through Sunday July 26. Each show is preceded by a 6 p.m. concert. This week, the performers include Rani Arbo & Mark Erelli (Thursday), Noah Baerman (picture by Kate Ten Eyck) & Friends (Friday), Dr. Dennis Waring (Saturday) and Carlos Hernandez-Chavez (Sunday.) Also, the Eco-Festival will take place Sunday from 4 - 6 p.m. and will feature live entertainment as well as vendors and information. To learn more, go to www.art-farm.org.

Special "Shout-out"to the "Shrew Orchestra", the trio of Joseph Getter (composer, music director, woodwinds), Mick Bolduc (guitar) and Tim Gaylord (drums, percussion) for its fine work during and after the show.