Golden Anniversaries, which is co-presented by Cinema St. Louis (CSL) and the St. Louis Public Library, features classic films celebrating their 50th anniversaries. This fourth edition of the event will highlight films from 1971.
Because in-person screenings remain problematic during the pandemic, Cinema St. Louis will hold free online conversations on the films, with people watching the films on their own but gathering virtually to discuss them.
Film critics, film academics, and filmmakers will offer introductory remarks and then participate in discussions about the films. In addition to a fine selection of St. Louis critics, Golden Anniversaries will feature several experts from elsewhere.
The conversations will be offered as free livestreams at 7:30 PM on the second Monday of every month in 2021 except November, when the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) hopes to feature several in-person Golden Anniversaries selections.
The first four discussions are already scheduled:
- Jan. 11: Peter Bogdanovich’s “The Last Picture Show” with Joshua Ray, film critic for The Lens, CSL’s film blog
- Feb. 8: Gordon Park’s “Shaft” with Novotny Lawrence, author of “Blaxploitation Films of the 1970s: Blackness and Genre”
- March 8: Robert Altman’s “McCabe” and Mrs. Miller” with Charles Taylor, author of “Opening Wednesday at a Theater or Drive-In Near You: The Shadow Cinema of the American ’70s”
- April 12: Ted Kotcheff’s “Wake in Fright” with Andrew Wyatt, editor of and film critic for The Lens
In addition, two programs are confirmed but not yet scheduled: a double bill of Werner Herzog’s “Fata Morgana” and “Land of Silence and Darkness” with Pete Timmermann, director of the Webster University Film Series, and Joseph Losey’s “The Go-Between” with Cait Lore, film critic for The Lens.
The remaining discussions — which will take place on May 10, June 14, July 12, Aug. 9, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, and Dec. 13 — will be announced in February on the CSL website.
Among the other potential selections are Mike Nichols’ “Carnal Knowledge,” Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange,” Don Siegel’s “Dirty Harry,” William Friedkin’s “The French Connection,” Alan J. Pakula’s “Klute,” and Elaine May’s “A New Leaf.”
The discussions with the presenters will be facilitated by Cliff Froehlich, CSL’s executive director. Audience members will be able to ask questions and make observations on the films through the chat function of the livestream.
Participants will need to register for Golden Anniversaries livestreams on the CSL website. The introductions and discussions will also be recorded and archived on CSL’s YouTube channel. Essays on many of the films will appear on The Lens, CSL’s blog.
The Classic French Film Festival — currently slated for in-person presentation in August 2021 — will also feature several 1971 films. Candidates include Claude Jutra’s “Mon Oncle Antoine,” Louis Malle’s “Murmur of the Heart,” and François Truffaut’s “Two English Girls.”
SLIFF — scheduled for in-person presentation from Nov. 4-14, 2021 — will also include a selection of 1971 films. Likely contenders include Jan Troell’s “The Emigrants,” Sam Peckinpah’s “Straw Dogs,” Melvin Van Peebles’ “Sweet Sweetback’s Badasssss Song,” and Monte Hellman’s “Two-Lane Blacktop.”
For more information, please visit cinemastlouis.org/golden-anniversaries.
