cinema

A Smorgasbord Of Vintage Films, from 1953 to 2000

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.

cinema

Latest News

Millerton Police Dept. rebuilds after fire; new cruisers on the way

Millerton Police Dept. rebuilds after fire; new cruisers on the way

The borrowed Pine Plains cruiser parked on Main Street in front of the Millerton Inn during the Millerton Street Fair on Saturday, June 28.

Photo by Aly Morrissy

MILLERTON — After receiving substantial state grant funding in July 2024 and beginning to roll out new equipment that fall, the Millerton Police Department suffered a setback when the February fire at the Village Water and Highway Department building destroyed much of its newly acquired gear — including patrol vehicles outfitted with cutting-edge technology.

Thanks to full-value insurance coverage and swift support from the Town of Pine Plains — which loaned the department a vehicle — Millerton officers were able to remain active in the community. Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik said two custom-built, four-wheel-drive Ford Interceptor cruisers are now in production and are expected to arrive by the end of the summer.

Keep ReadingShow less

Uncertainty looms over Millerton community pool timeline

Uncertainty looms over Millerton community pool timeline

Groundbreaking of the new pool planned for Eddie Collins Park has been delayed after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation intervened to determine the status of wetlands in the proposed building site.

Archive photo

MILLERTON — The long-awaited groundbreaking for a new community pool at Eddie Collins Memorial Park — once expected this past April — now faces significant delays with no definitive timeline in sight, Mayor Jenn Najdek said.

The primary setback stems from a still-pending permitting process, as the village awaits final approvals from the Dutchess County Board of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regarding septic placement and wetland buffers. A patch of wetlands on the site — roughly five feet by five feet, Najdek said — requires a protective buffer, which could range anywhere from 5 to 100 feet. That determination will dictate whether the current pool design needs to be altered or moved altogether.

Keep ReadingShow less

North East town records brought into the digital age

North East town records brought into the digital age

Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.

As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.

Keep ReadingShow less

Fun, food and facts bring crowds to downtown Millerton

Fun, food and facts bring crowds to downtown Millerton

Nora Garcia, 6, of Millerton, bottom right, gets a face painting treatment from Maddy Rowe, a Webutuck High School senior. Nora’s sister, Juliana, 8, top right, is decorated by Giana Kall, a Webutuck senior. The program was sponsored by the Webutuck PTA.

Photo by John Coston

Locals and visitors packed into downtown Millerton Saturday, June 28, for the first ever Millerton Street Fair hosted by the Millerton News, the Millerton Business Alliance and Townscape. Representatives from local nonprofits, businesses along Main Street, Bee Bee the Clown and face painters from Webutuck High School drew in crowds all afternoon.

Festivities officially opened at 10 a.m., and a steady stream of visitors soon followed. Volunteer firefighters hosted a bouncy castle, a duck pool, a “put out the fire” ring toss game, and the “touch a truck” event at the fire department’s garage.

Keep ReadingShow less