Family Classics Picture Show back for 3rd season at Cinemapolis

Tompkins Weekly Staff

ITHACA – Area families will have a chance to see classic films on the big screen once again, as Cinemapolis presents its Family Classics Picture Show for a third season.
The year-long series of 10 Sunday matinees will kick off at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 15, with a screening of “Funny Face.” Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire star in the film that tells the tale of the surprising discovery of a new model following a fashion shoot at a book store.
The series is the brainchild of Ithaca City School District teacher Allison Andersen. After developing an educational series of similar screenings at Cinemapolis for the K-5 classes at Fall Creek Elementary, Anderson wanted to open up the concept for the entire community.
“As a teacher and parent, I’ve long been interested in the idea of growing literacy,” said Andersen. “The understanding of timeless themes and characters’ motivations are critical to understanding both film and literature, but these ideas are perhaps more easily introduced to children through the visual power of films.
“Our Family Classics Picture Show develops literacy by presenting classic films that express universal themes such as friendship, adversity, and family loyalty – themes which students will visit time and again in literature as well as film,” she added.
Working with Cinemapolis staff and a dedicated committee of volunteers, Andersen has crafted a line-up of films that will lead families through American cinema’s exciting early years and into the modern age. Films in this year’s series include:
January 15 – Funny Face (1957)
February 19 – African Queen (1951)
March 19 – Silents in March (1921-1956)
April 23 – Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
May 21 – The Thrill of it All (1963)
June 18 – Way Out West (1937)
September – MUSICAL TBA
October 22 – Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
November 19 – Captains Courageous (1937)
December 17 – HOLIDAY SURPRISE
To get families excited about the magic of the movies, each matinee will feature an introduction by actor, magician and movie buff David Moreland, and will include custom enrichment guides to help continue the conversation after the credits roll.
Moreland brings his own family’s love of cinema along with his experience in the movie business. Before moving to Ithaca in 2002, he worked as a character actor in Hollywood and appeared in dozens of television shows and the films “Legally Blonde,” “Donnie Darko,” “One Hour Photo,” and “City of Angels.”
“I don’t think classic films are inherently better than the best of current Hollywood releases, but today’s kids see the current releases over and over, and if we don’t make a special time for the classics, young people will never see them. That’s what the Family Classics Picture Show is all about,” said Moreland. “I’ve shown many of the films in this year’s line-up to my daughters. They’ve asked to see them again and again, and have even chosen them as their birthday party movie, so their friends could see them too.”
All shows will begin at 2 p.m. and will conclude with the distribution of guides that highlight facts about the film, feature excellent books that explore similar themes, and provide a list of additional movies that families can enjoy.
While staff and committee members have vetted the films in the Family Classics Picture Show, only parents can decide which films are the right fit for their family. Cinemapolis encourages parents to read about each film at CommonSenseMedia.org before deciding to attend.
Discounted tickets for these special Sunday events are just $3 for adults, $2 for kids, or $10 for an entire family. The Family Classics Picture Show at Cinemapolis is made possible by lead sponsor The Ainslie Reilly Group at Morgan Stanley, with additional support from Mama Goose.
Cinemapolis is a non-profit media arts organization, encouraging central New York residents to explore the power of film to entertain, educate, and to celebrate the human experience. For more information, visit Cinemapolis.org or contact Executive Director Brett Bossard at brett@cinemapolis.org.