TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on screen November 15

Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies present a 50th anniversary screening of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, starring Gregory Peck. Although considered a drama about a lawyer battling racist sentiments in the South, the film has its share of horror: it is told from the point-of-view of a young girl, whose friends believe a local house is haunted. Director Robert Mulligan’s evocation of a spooky Halloween-type atmosphere, with leaves rustling in the October wind, is as unsettling as that seen in any legit horror film, lingering in the mind even after the story turns toward courtroom drama in its second half.
Screenings take place at 7pm local time on November 15 in select theatres across the country. Tickets to the series are available at presenting theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. Click here for a complete list of presenting theater locations and prices.

The haunted house in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
The "haunted" house in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD screens as part of the “TCM Event Series,” presented using new digital cinema projection systems in select movie theaters around the country. Previous screenings included THE BIRDS (1963) on September 19 and a double bill of FRANKENSTEIN and THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN on October 24.
Read the press release below:

Centennial, Colo. – Aug. 6, 2012 – NCM® Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) event series featuring four newly restored titles commemorating Universal Pictures’ 100th anniversary begins with Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” on Wednesday, Sept. 19. The series continues with a double feature on Wednesday, Oct. 24 with “Frankenstein” and “The Bride of Frankenstein” followed by a special 50th Anniversary edition of “To Kill a Mockingbird” on Thursday, Nov. 15. Each event will begin at 7:00 p.m. local time, with special matinees in select theaters at 2:00 p.m. The series will feature newly restored versions of the films created by Universal in celebration of its 100th Anniversary and will also include a specially-produced TCM introduction by film historian, author and TCM host Robert Osborne, who will take audiences behind the scenes for each of these American classics with unique insights into their making.
The “TCM Event Series” will be presented using new digital cinema projection systems in select movie theaters around the country. Tickets to the series are available at presenting theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of presenting theater locations and prices, please visit the web site (theaters and participants may be subject to change).
“The Birds” event on Sept. 19 will bring back Alfred Hitchcock’s chilling 1963 masterpiece, telling the tale of modern rich socialite Melanie Daniels and the strange behavior of birds north of San Francisco. As birds in the hundreds and thousands are attacking anyone they find outdoors, there is no explanation, and survival becomes the priority. Osborne will share an exclusive interview he conducted specifically for this special presentation with the film’s star Tippi Hedren filmed earlier this year at the Classic Film Festival in Hollywood. Hedren reveals how “Hitch” hand-picked her to play the part of Melanie Daniels, and also how the movie that launched her career also practically ended it. Osborne will reach deep into the TCM Archives to share more on-set stories from Hedren’s co-stars Rod Taylor and Suzanne Pleshette.
Just in time for Halloween, the double feature of “Frankenstein”and “The Bride of Frankenstein” on Oct. 24 will reintroduce audiences to the famous story of brilliant scientist Henry Frankenstein and his experiments on the re-animation of lifeless bodies. His fiancée, Elizabeth, and friend Victor Moritz are worried about his health as he spends far too many hours in his laboratory on experiments. The creature he’s brought to life escapes, and soon the villagers rise up, intent on destroying the murdering creature. The sequel finds Dr. Frankenstein and his monster both alive; but a mad scientist, Dr. Pretorius, kidnaps Dr. Frankenstein’s wife and forces him to create a new female companion for the original monster. The original 1931 film and its 1935 sequel—both starring Boris Karloff—will be introduced with exclusive interviews conducted at this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival, including conversations with Karloff’s daughter Sara Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jr. (son of the classic “Dracula” star), and Academy Award®-winning make-up artist Rick Baker. All three will discuss classic horror movies, how legendary icons like Karloff and Lugosi helped define the genre, and how today’s horror films measure up to the classics.
The series continues on Nov. 15 with a special 50th Anniversary screening of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” based on Harper Lee’s 1961 Pulitzer Prize winning book. Oscar® winner Gregory Peck plays Atticus Finch, a lawyer in a racially divided Alabama town in the 1930s. The event will feature a special TCM-produced introduction and historical commentary featuring Osborne.
“This Event Series is a rare opportunity for fans of these four legendary films,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of Fathom Events. “Not only will fans experience these Hollywood classics on the big screen once again, but TCM Host Robert Osborne will give fans an exclusive insight into the stories behind the making of each classic.”
As part of Universal’s 100th Anniversary this year, a commemorative 50th Anniversary release of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is currently available on Blu-ray™/DVD. Coming to Blu-ray™ for the first time, “The Birds” will be released as part of the “Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection” on Sept. 25. Also premiering on Blu-ray™, “Frankenstein” and “Bride of Frankenstein” will be included in the “Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection” available Oct. 2.

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THE BIRDS on screen

Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies present a nationwide screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS (1963) – flying back into theaters on Wednesday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. local time, with special matinees in select theaters at 2:00 p.m. The screening will feature a newly restored version of the films created by Universal Pictures in celebration of its 100th Anniversary. There will be an introduction by TCM host Robert Osborne, who will take audiences behind the scenes for a look at what went into making Hitchocock’s classic.
THE BIRDS screens as part of the “TCM Event Series,” which uses new digital cinema projection systems in select movie theaters around the country. Other screenings in the series include a double bill of FRANKENSTEIN and THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN on October 24, and a 50th anniversary screening of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on November 15.
birdsScreening Date: September 19 at 7pm (2pm matinees in some locations).
Tickets to the series are available at presenting theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. Click here for a complete list of theatres screening THE BIRDS.
From the press release:

“The Birds” event on Sept. 19 will bring back Alfred Hitchcock’s chilling 1963 masterpiece, telling the tale of modern rich socialite Melanie Daniels and the strange behavior of birds north of San Francisco. As birds in the hundreds and thousands are attacking anyone they find outdoors, there is no explanation, and survival becomes the priority. Osborne will share an exclusive interview he conducted specifically for this special presentation with the film’s star Tippi Hedren filmed earlier this year at the Classic Film Festival in Hollywood. Hedren reveals how “Hitch” hand-picked her to play the part of Melanie Daniels, and also how the movie that launched her career also practically ended it. Osborne will reach deep into the TCM Archives to share more on-set stories from Hedren’s co-stars Rod Taylor and Suzanne Pleshette.
As part of Universal’s 100th Anniversary this year, a commemorative 50th Anniversary release of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is currently available on Blu-ray™/DVD. Coming to Blu-ray™ for the first time, “The Birds” will be released as part of the “Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection” on Sept. 25. Also premiering on Blu-ray™, “Frankenstein” and “Bride of Frankenstein” will be included in the “Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection” available Oct. 2.

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Sense of Wonder: The Exorcist Today

Last night I attended one of the nationwide Fathom screenings of THE EXORCIST (1973), featuring the new documentary TO HELL AND BACK, which charts the making of the classic horror film. Never having attended a Fathom event before (it’s a bit like watching television in a theatre, with digital image projected on select screens around the country), I am pleased to report that the picture quality was very impressive: with  colors that were sharp and clear, the film looked as good as it ever has. It is also reassuring to note that not too much digital restoration has been performed: the photography retains the slightly grainy 1970s look that lends a documentary atmosphere to the proceedings. Assuming that the upcoming Blu-ray disc and iTunes download (which become available on Tuesday, October 5) are transferred from the same source, this bodes very well: THE EXORCIST has been preserved, not cosmetically embalmed.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the documentary TO HELL AND BACK. Not that I expected it to be bad, but after decades of reading about THE EXORCIST, I doubted there was much new to learn – especially after the wonderful behind-the-scenes features on the 25th anniversary DVD. However, TO HELL AND BACK has a devilishly good ace up its sleeve: besides interviews with producer William Peter Blatty, director William Friedkin, actress Linda Blair, and cinematographer Owen Roizman, the documentary includes never-before-seen screen tests and behind-the-scenes footage shot by Roizman on the set, depicting how many of the effects were done (the projectile vomiting – a brief startling shock in the film itself – goes on for what seems like minutes during rehearsals). Again, the presence of this short but insightful featurette bodes well for the home video release; though I already own two versions on DVD (the 1973 original and the 2000 “Version You’ve Never Seen”), I am seriously considering triple-dipping on this one.

All that, however, is secondary to the experience of revisiting THE EXORCIST on the big screen, along with an appreciative audience. In a way, the screening was something of a personal achievement for me: it was the first time I was able to sit through the film without becoming seriously disturbed. (For the record, I almost achieved this in 2000, but then the new footage – i.e., the Spider Walk – showed up, and my nerve faltered once again.)

I suspect that modern audiences will wonder what all the screaming was about; is this really the film that allegedly made people pass out and/or throw-up? But as William Friedkin told me, people who go just to get off on the effects, don’t. THE EXORCIST works because it takes a serious approach, asking you to buy into the possibility of possession – and, by extension – the existence of God and the Devil – on a deep, dramatic level.

Now that that shocks have worn off after all the years, it is pleasantly ironic (for those of us who were there when the film made its debut) to note how subtle THE EXORCIST is, in many ways. There are long stretches when little happens, except for the recurring sound of rustling in the attic. Big chunks of screen time are occupied with the personal lives of the characters, such as Father Damien Karras’s trip to see his mother in New York. Much of the horror derives not from demonic possession but from the medical science used in a vain attempt to locate the etiology of Regan’s illness.

I also remain impressed with the way the William Friedkin managed to avoid going archetypal while depicting THE EXORCIST’s battle between Good and Evil. There is a fine review of Moby Dick – written by D. H. Lawrence, I think –  that praises Melville for keeping the novel grounded in the semblance of a believable story about a hunt for a whale, even as the book piles on metaphors and symbolism that could have rendered the whole tale as an abstract allegory. Friedkin achieves something similar here: THE EXORCIST, we can see clearly now, is a film about people, who feel lost and helpless, who are trying to do their best, whether or not they are certain that God is watching over them. The film has a very scaled-down, credible tone, quite different from the adult fairy tale stylings of, for instance, HORROR OF DRACULA.

This leads me to my final point. From time to time, some critic will complain that THE EXORCIST’s view of evil is too small scale to mean anything (Stephen Thrower in his book Beyond Terror: The Flims of Lucio Fulci, comes to mind). Why, they ask rhetorically, does the Devil waste time tormenting a little girl in a room? The very fact that the question is asked shows that these viewers have missed the point.

Leave aside for a moment that the revised 2000 version (which is the one screened last night, which will be available on Blu-ray along with the original cut) offered an explanation in a restored bit of dialogue between Father Merrin and Father Karras. Focus instead on the entire vision of the world as it is presented in THE EXORCIST.

Father Karras (Jason Miller), troubled with guilt over his mother
Father Karras (Jason Miller), troubled with guilt over his mother

Everywhere the camera turns, we see examples of Satan’s work: the former alter boy, now a drunk sitting in his own urine and vomit in a subway; the pathetic inmates of an insane asylum, staring into space, helpless and lost in their own psychosis; the priest-psychiatrist – Karras – who has lost his faith because he has seen too many wounded souls that he could not repair. As if that were not enough, THE EXORCIST throws in a film-within-a-film, depicting campus unrest (with hints of potential political violence). Although never mentioned, the echo of Vietnam reverberates silently somewhere in the distance, and the the Georgetown setting tacitly reminds us of corruption in Washington, D.C. (this was the era of Watergate). Evil, if we only open our eyes and look, is everywhere present; the Devil’s fingerprints are scattered everywhere throughout the film, as the Evil One strives to breed despair in the human race.

Even if we do not believe in a literal Devil, the symbolism is clear: Evil is at work in the world. What happens to Regan Theresa MacNeil is only one manifestation, a small microcosm that brings the larger world into clearer focus. That’s what good dramas do. Although I dislike the oft-heard claim “It’s not a horror film,” in the case of THE EXORCIST I can accept it to the extent of saying, “It’s not just a horror film.” As shocking as it once was, hopefully we can now see more clearly that it truly is, as Friedkin has often said, a film about the mystery of faith – a faith all the more mysterious when set against the weary world view depicted in THE EXORCIST.

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The Exorcist on screen September 30

Linda Blair in THE EXORCIST (1973)

Watch out, THE LAST EXORCISM! The grand-daddy of possession flicks, the Oscar-winning 1973 classic THE EXORCIST will be back in select theatres later this month – for a special one-night-only pair of screenings on September 30. The event is presented by NCM Fathom, which broadcasts video to an network of affiliated theatres, creating “live” nationwide events rather like watching television on the big screen (previous examples include the RiffTrax crew performing live commentary for screenings of PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE). Warner Brothers Home Video is using the event as a platform to promote the upcoming release of a two-disc Blu-ray on October 5, which will include the original theatrical cut and the so-called “Extended Director’s Cut,” plus three new documentaries; also on October 5, the film will be available for download via iTunes.

“THE EXORCIST EXTENDED DIRECTOR’S CUT” RETURNS TO THEATERS WITH NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE FOR THRILLING ONE-NIGHT EVENT
NCM Fathom, Warner Home Video and CHUD.com Bring Academy Award®-winning Thriller Back to Select Movie Theaters Nationwide September 30
Centennial, Colo. – September 2, 2010 – The scariest movie of all time, The Exorcist Extended Director’s Cut, returns to theaters nationwide for a one-night special event on Thursday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m. local time and again for a second showing at 10:30 p.m. in select theaters. The thrilling special in-theater event, shown in more than 450 select movie theaters nationwide, will feature never-before-seen on-set footage and interviews with Academy Award® winning director William Friedkin, writer William Peter Blatty and actress Linda Blair as well as members of the original cast and crew. Following The Exorcist Extended Director’s Cut, audiences will also be treated to a look behind-the-scenes showing how many of the legendary scenes were shot in this classic and thrilling tale of good vs. evil.
Tickets for The Exorcist Extended Director’s Cut are available at participating box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, please visit the website (theaters and participants may be subject to change).
Released in 1973, “The Exorcist” caused a cultural earthquake that is still felt today, shocking and enthralling audiences who had never seen anything like it. Many viewers were frightened out of their wits – and literally out of their seats. Some ran out of the theater; others got physically ill or couldn’t sleep for weeks. Now audiences may experience the same visceral emotions again in their local movie theater with this masterpiece of suspense that haunted, intrigued and thrilled the world.
Adapted from the best-selling 1971 novel inspired by an actual exorcism case, “The Exorcist” tells the now-famous story of a young girl’s demonic possession, and her mother’s (Ellen Burstyn) desperate attempts to save her. Blair, in a breakout role, plays the possessed Regan, caught in a gripping fight between good and evil which culminated with an exorcism conducted by two priests. Terrifying audiences and chilling them to the bone, the theological thriller also starred Max von Sydow, Kitty Winn, Lee J. Cobb, Jason Miller and Mercedes McCambridge. “The Exorcist” is still considered one of the most successful feature films of all time, grossing $440 million worldwide and earning 10 Academy Award® nominations (winning Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound).
“The cultural impact of this truly frightening thriller cannot be understated and to experience it in movie theaters on giant, 40-foot screens is amazing,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom. “With the stunning quality of this special event, fans will be on the edge of their seats like never before.”
Presented by NCM Fathom and Warner Home Video, in association with CHUD.com, The Exorcist Extended Director’s Cut will appear in 457 select U.S. movie theaters, including AMC Entertainment Inc., Celebration! Cinema, Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Clearview Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, National Amusements, Rave Motion Pictures and Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters, as well as Arlington Theatre (Santa Barbara, CA), The Carolina (Asheville, NC), The Majestic 10 (Williston, VT) and Penn Cinema (Lititz, PA).
“The Exorcist” will be available from Warner Home Video on Blu-ray in a two-disc, high-definition set featuring both the original theatrical version and Extended Director’s Cut of the film plus three new documentaries on October 5. For more information, visit www.warnerhomevideo.com.

About National CineMedia (NCM)

NCM operates NCM Media Networks, a leading integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through mobile technology. The NCM Cinema Network and NCM Fathom present cinema advertising and events across the nation’s largest digital in-theater network, comprised of theaters owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) and other leading regional theater circuits. NCM’s theater network covers 172 Designated Market Areas® (49 of the top 50) and includes approximately 17,100 screens (15,600 digital). During 2009, over 680 million patrons attended movies shown in theaters currently included in NCM’s network (excluding Consolidated Theatres). The NCM Fathom Events broadcast network is comprised of approximately 550 locations in 154 Designated Market Areas® (49 of the top 50). The NCM Interactive Network offers 360-degree integrated marketing opportunities in combination with cinema, encompassing over 40 entertainment-related web sites, online widgets and mobile applications. National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 48.0% interest in and is the managing member of National CineMedia LLC. For more information, visit www.ncm.com or www.fathomevents.com.

Please note that the press release’s use of the phrase “Never-Before Seen Footage” refers to “on-set footage and interviews.” That, plus the appellation “Extended Director’s Cut” might lure viewers into expecting to see a different version of the film, when in fact this appears to be the revised version released to theatres in the year 2000. At that time, the film was billed as “THE EXORCIST: THE VERSION YOU’VE NEVER SEEN” – a title that makes no sense now, as interested viewers have seen that version in theatres and on DVD.

The Exorcist: listening to the demon below from upstairs Ellen Burstyn in THE EXORCIST The Exorcist: Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow) performs an exorcism on Regan. The Exorcist (1973): Father Merrin arrives The Exorcist (1973): Regan resists efforts to help her.

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