Illinois State University’s Associate Professor of English William Thomas McBride will host six popular Hollywood adaptations of classic Broadway plays for the Six Week Film School starting Wednesday, September 26 and running through November 14 at the Normal Theater, 209 W. North St. Showtimes are 7 p.m. The events are free and open to all. There will be no showings on October 10 and 31.
The Six Week Film School is sponsored by the Normal Theater and co-sponsored by Illinois State’s Department of English and Uptown Normal.
The films will be:
A Streetcar Named Desire – September 26
A Street Car Named Desire is a 1951 classic drama and the recipient of several awards including four Oscars, two Golden Globes, and two BAFTA awards. Written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Elia Kazan, the film is a brilliant adaptation of the 1947 play that goes by the same name. Featuring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, and Kim Hunter, the movie is the story about a disturbed southern belle named Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh), who moves in with her sister (Kim Hunter) in New Orleans and is tormented by her brutish brother-in-law played by Marlon Brando.
Dutchman – October 3
Dutchman is a 1966 drama directed by Anthony Harvey. It is based on the popular 1964 play by Amiri Baraka. Featuring Shirley Knight and Al Freeman Jr. in lead roles, the film was nominated for the Golden Lion award at the 1966 Venice Film Festival. The film was critically acclaimed and Shirley Knight received the Volpi Cup for best actress.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – October 17
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a 1966 American comedy-drama directed by Mike Nichols. It is based on the 1962 play by Edward Albee and won five Academy awards, including the awards for best actress and best supporting actress. The film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, and Sandy Dennis. The screenplay of the film was done by Ernest Lehman and in 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
Boys in the Band – October 24
The Boys in the Band is a 1970 American drama film directed by William Friedkin. Based on the 1968 Off-Broadway play by Mart Crowley, it is often cited as a milestone in the history of queer cinema. Boys in the Band features Kenneth Nelson, Peter White, Leonard Frey, and Cliff Gorman among others. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe, and Cliff Gorman and Leonard Frey received the Producers Guild of America Laurel Awards.
True West – November 7
True West is a drama directed by Allan Goldstein. Starring John Malkovich, Sam Schacht, and Gary Sinise, the film is based on the play by Sam Shepherd.
Death of a Salesman – November 14
Death of a Salesman is a 1985 American drama directed by Volker Schlöndorff. The film is an adaptation of the 1949 play of the same name by Arthur Miller. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Kate Reid, John Malkovich, Stephen Lang, and Charles Durning, Death of a Salesman won three Emmy awards and a Golden Globe award. The film was critically acclaimed and originally premiered on CBS in the fall of 1985.
