SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE: EIGHT CINEMATIC MASTERPIECES

Kurt Stone
Recipient of the LLS 2004 Excellence in Teaching Award

DESCRIPTION: Cinematic masterpieces come in all genres and forms: silent and talkie, comedy and drama, mystery and musical, fantasy and horror. Not only do masterpieces span a wide range of genres, they can also come from a wide range of sources: a classic novel, a previously-made film, yesterday’s headlines or something which emerges fully-born from the screenwriter’s mind. In cinema, there is truly something for everyone. As one wise film critic noted, “People who LIKE movies have a favorite; people who LOVE movies couldn’t possibly choose.” The eight masterpieces we will be viewing together were produced between 1928 and 2012 and are in English, French, Spanish, Hebrew, Chinese, German, Italian and Farsi (all with English subtitles). Despite ranging from the macabre to the melodramatic, and from classic fiction to chic fantasy, each has secured a spot in the pantheon of truly great films. Each film, screened in its entirety, will begin with a brief introduction by Dr. Stone, and following each viewing, he will engage the audience in what will be a short, albeit spirited, discussion.

EIGHT LECTURES:

1. M (Germany, 1931): Someone is murdering children in Berlin. The film that made Peter Lorre a star.
   
2. Pan’s Labyrinth (Spain, 2006): A fairy tale set in Fascist Spain.
   
3. The Rules of the Game (France, 1939): Jean Renoir’s brilliant satire about bourgeois life in France.
   
4. A Separation (Iran 2011): An Iranian couple is faced with a dilemma about leaving Iran.
   
5. The Man Who Laughs (USA, 1928): Based on the haunting novel by Victor Hugo.
   
6. Hill “Halfon” Doesn’t Answer (Israel, 1976): Israel’s greatest screwball comedy.
   
7. Not One Less (China, 1999): In a remote village, the local teacher is replaced by a 13- year old girl.
   
8. Bicycle Thief (Italy 1948): Vittorio De Sica’s classic film about a man searching for his stolen bike

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Now in his 13th year with the Lifelong Learning Society (LLS), Kurt Stone is a best-selling author, political activist, actor and ordained rabbi. He calls himself a "Hollywood Brat," having been born and raised in and around the film industry, and calls his love and knowledge of film "a genetic inheritance." Dr. Stone is the author of two books on the U.S. Congress, and, for the past eight years has written more than 400 oped pieces for his on-line blog, The K.F. Stone Weekly.