A Smorgasbord Of Vintage Films, from 1953 to 2000

Of course there is a full schedule of first-run films and special events at The Moviehouse in Millerton, N.Y. But there are also screenings planned for the winter months at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in downtown Great Barrington, Mass.

The four films scheduled for the next two months don’t seem old to viewers of a certain age; they seem positively current. Nonetheless, the two films from 1980 did come out 42 years ago — which is nearly a half century.

One of the 1980 films is, “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” an independent film that was  an enormous success when it came out. It tells the story of what happens when an airplane drops a glass soda battle while flying over a South African village — a gift of sorts from the heavens. This film will be shown on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

The other choice from 1980 needs no introduction, as they say on nighttime television. “The Shining” by Stanley Kubrick has to be one of the most famous and most-quoted films of cinema history. This film will be shown on Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. It’s possible that screenings of “The Shining” will someday be like screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” with audience members bringing toy axes and speaking all the dialogue aloud.

This selection of four films is incredibly diverse. If you had to think of a film that is the complete opposite of both “The Shining” and “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” what better choice could you have than “Roman Holiday,” the first film starring  Audrey Hepburn. Filmed in black and white and released in 1953, it pairs Hepburn as  young princess bursting with purity and Gregory Peck as a crafty older journalist, prepared to take advantage of the young woman — until, of course, he falls in love with her. This film (photo above)will be shown on Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.

And rounding out this quartet of very diverse cinematic experiences, “Remember the Titans” from the year 2000 (which is practically yesterday compared to the other three titles on the roster) will be shown on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. Denzel Washington is Herman Boone, the coach of a high school football team during its first season as a racially integrated squad.

Tickets are $8 each, or $5 for ages 12 and under. All tickets must be purchased in advance at www.mahaiwe.org or by calling 413-528-0100 Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

Proof of vaccination or a recent COVID-19 test and ID are required; masks must be worn at all times in the theater.