July Programming Notes Julia Mahony — June 5, 2023 Town and gown alike were abuzz when the production of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer came to Princeton for filming last year. Mark your calendars on July 21, when the final product will arrive on our big screen. During Oppenheimer's tenure at the Institute for Advanced Study, he was a patron of the Garden. It is reported that he was moved to tears during a screening of Jean Renoir’s The Grand Illusion, which we are showing in collaboration with the Historical Society of Princeton on July 19.

We’re gonna need a bigger boat for "Jawsfest" on Thursday, July 13th. In our lobby before the screening of Spielberg's classic, Alliyah Akhtar, a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton and expert in fossil sharks, will be displaying shark teeth of varying sizes and ages. Our friends at the Bent Spoon will be selling Jaws themed ice cream flavors, and we will have custom t-shirts available for purchase. We will also have trivia and prizes, as well as an intro from Alliyah, right before the screening, and Winberie’s will be making a special sharkbite cocktail that is $7 if you go to their restaurant with a ticket stub either right before or after the show.

Movie-wise, you can't go wrong with Billy Wilder's classic The Apartment, which will be our first HSN of the month (July 5). Another title to keep in mind is the philosophical and action packed The Matrix (July 6) followed by an accompanying Deep Focus online seminar on July 11. Our Hollywood Summer Nights range this month from Singing in the Rain (July 25), perhaps the greatest big-screen musical ever made, to cult classic, The Big Lebowski (July 18) which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

We have two very different but equally engrossing National Theatre Live performances arriving in July. A revival of Good on the West End will be coming to us on July 9 and 11. David Tennant stars as a professor in Germany in the years leading into the Second World War. Tennant’s character begins the play as a good man, but is slowly drawn in to Naziism as he gradually compromises his principles. On a more lighthearted note, we will be showing Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! The Musical on July 16 and 17 in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the beloved stage show. This Olivier Award-winning production was filmed during the musical’s 1998 run in London and stars the then-newcomer Hugh Jackman.

Michael Showalter’s silly and nostalgic look at sleepaway camp, Wet Hot American Summer (July 28), is our Retrograde title this month. Watch as the teens at Camp Firewood navigate friendship, romance, and quickly approaching debris from NASA’s Space Lab on the last day of camp in 1981. The all-star cast includes Paul Rudd, Janeane Garofalo, Elizabeth Banks, Amy Poehler, and Bradley Cooper in his very first movie role.

Movie-wise, you can't go wrong with Billy Wilder's classic The Apartment, which will be our first HSN of the month (July 5). Another title to keep in mind is the philosophical and action packed The Matrix (July 6) followed by an accompanying Deep Focus online seminar on July 11. Our Hollywood Summer Nights range this month from Singing in the Rain (July 25), perhaps the greatest big-screen musical ever made, to cult classic, The Big Lebowski (July 18) which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

June Programming Notes Julia Mahony — June 1, 2023 Hollywood Summer Nights is in full swing in June at the Garden. While we have first-rate classics playing Wednesday and Thursday throughout the season, I wanted to highlight a couple films that I’m particularly looking forward to. On June 8 we’re playing one of Billy Wilder’s most enduring noirs, Sunset Boulevard. This is the tragic tale of faded silent film actress Norma Desmond, a recluse in a Hollywood that has moved on to the talkies. Gloria Swanson’s performance is so compelling that she became inextricably associated with her role as Norma Desmond for the rest of her career. We’re playing The Godfather Part II on June 29 after a highly successful screening of Part I last summer. While Part II is not shown on the big screen as often as it’s earlier counterpart, it is widely regarded as one of the great sequels of all time, and you won’t want to miss it! In this film, we get to both dig into Vito Corleone’s past as he established himself in America, and continue the story of Michael Corleone on his morally murky journey as the Don.

We’re partnering with Winberie’s in Palmer Square again this year on certain HSN titles for which they have created specialty cocktails! The first is The Blues Brothers (June 21). If you go to the restaurant before or after the movie and show them your ticket stub, you can get an Orange Crush cocktail for $7.

While we tend to focus on special programming in these notes, I would be remiss not to mention that we’ll be playing the highly anticipated Asteroid City by Wes Anderson, the tweed-clad darling of indie cinema. This will start June 23 with a pre show the evening before. Set in an American desert town in the 1950s, the film follows students and parents at a Junior Stargazer and Space Cadet convention, whose stay becomes spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.

We’re kicking off a new Deep Focus online seminar series this month, focused on jazz music in movies. Join us on Tuesday, June 6, at 7:30pm for our talk on Alfie, and keep an eye out for future titles in this series. June being LGBT Pride month, we’re excited to be hosting a Deep Focus seminar on The Wizard of Oz on Tuesday, June 20 at 7:30pm, as a part of our ongoing Flaming Classics series, which focuses on Queer and Trans cinema. In addition, you can check out our previous discussions in this series here. Additionally, we will be participating in the Princeton Pride Parade ’23 hosted by the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice. You can find out more here.

We have special events with both the University and Public Libraries this month. BlacKkKlansman will be showing on June 13 in collaboration with Princeton University Library’s ARCH Program. This Spike Lee joint trails Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), the first Black officer of the Colorado Springs police department, as he infiltrates the KKK by disguising his voice and enlisting his Jewish colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), to impersonate him. On June 22 we’ll have a free screening of the charming comedy, Be Kind Rewind, presented by the Princeton Public Library as a part of their summer reading theme, “all together now.”

Our late-night Retrograde series returns this month, where we present another cult classic from the era of VHS. Nicolas Cage and John Travolta battle it out to steal each other’s identities in the outlandishly entertaining Face/Off (June 16) at 9:45pm. This big-budget thrill ride features delightfully unhinged performances by the two leads.

May Programming Notes Julia Mahony — May 5, 2023 This month marks the much-anticipated return of our annual Hollywood Summer Nights program. Each week from mid-May through early September, we will bring Hollywood’s brightest stars to our big screen, where they belong. Whether you are a long-time devotee of classic cinema or a newcomer interested in exploring American cinema's rich history, your moviegoing experience will be enriched by the strong and inclusive sense of community fostered by this program's audience.

Our series honoring films featured on the recent Sight and Sound poll of the greatest films of all time continues with Claire Denis' Beau Travail (May 4) and Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (May 9). Our recently reinaugurated Prof Picks series continues with an eye towards Asian films, as May is Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. First, we have Yasujiro Ozu's masterpiece Tokyo Story (May 4), an emotionally resonant meditation on intergenerational family dynamics and the passage of time. Paul Schalow, the chair of Asian Languages and Cultures Department at Rutgers University, will introduce the film and follow it up with a Q&A. Then we have Princeton Professor and samurai expert Thomas Conlan discussing Akira Kurasawa's epic and highly influential Seven Samurai (May 16). Both of these films were also featured on the Sight and Sound poll.

For Mother’s Day, we’ll be showing the fun, feel-good ABBA jukebox musical Mamma Mia! (May 14). Set on a beautiful Mediterranean island, this musical tale tells the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a young woman about to get married, who is trying to figure out who her father is. Sophie's mother, a hotel proprietor with a spirited past, is played by none other than Meryl Streep.

We are excited to be hosting a special-event screening of the comedy classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail (May 11). This screening will include trivia, prizes, and other surprises for those in attendance. Keep an eye out for updates!

Our Deep Focus offerings this month kick off with an in-theater showing of Sweet Smell of Success (May 3) followed by an online seminar (May 16) led by TCM writer and Doylestown native Hannah Jack. For our Queer and Trans Cinema Series we will be playing John Waters’ Polyester (May 17), a satirical take on Douglas Sirk melodramas starring Waters's muse Divine. Christine Holmlund, professor Emerita of Cinema Studies, as well as Gender/Sexuality/Women’s Studies, at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will be leading a discussion of the film on May 23 via Zoom. Finally, look out for The Wizard of Oz, which will kick off our Hollywood Summer Nights program on May 16th and will be the subject of an online discussion in our Queer Series in June.

April Programming Notes Julia Mahony — Apr 7, 2023 Spring has sprung at the Princeton Garden Theatre and we’re kicking off April with a strong run of special events! We're very excited to reinaugurate Our Prof Picks series with a wide range of titles. We will also have a Deep Focus title, a Food on Film feature, more movies in honor of the recent Sight and Sound polls, a documentary celebrating Record Store Day, and two special events with the prolific filmmaker Prakash Jha.

Our Prof Picks Series, which features in-theater speakers, is officially returning. In this series, we welcome guests from Princeton and other nearby universities to discuss a film with our audience. The academics will often talk about topics that overlap with their research and teaching interests. We’re relaunching with Princeton University Professor Yuri Leving discussing Andrei Tarkovksy’s recently restored masterpiece Mirror (Apr 3). This dreamlike and autobiographical piece was also Tarkovsky’s highest ranking film in both the critics’ (#31) and the directors’ (#8) 2022 Sight and Sound polls. Other Prof Picks titles this month will include:

· Memories of Murder (Apr 12) at 7pm
· Blue Velvet (Apr 27) at 7pm
· Chevalier (Apr 29) evening show

On Apr 4, the YWCA is presenting the documentary The Price of Silence. This free event consists of a two part documentary presenting an overview of the history of slavery in New Jersey and shines a light on its lasting impact in the area. After the film, there will be an in-theater panel discussion moderated by Dr. Joy Barnes-Johnson and including State Representative Shavonda Sumter, as well as many individuals involved in the making of the film.

Prakash Jha, Indian director, screenwriter, actor, and producer, will be coming to the Garden for two screenings in late April. We will be showing Matto Ki Saikil (Apr 21), which he plays the lead in, and Rajneeti (Apr 28), which he co-wrote, directed, and produced. He will lead in-theater discussions after both screenings, which are FREE for all who attend.

Another event coming up that is free-for-members is Love and Communication (Apr 25). Written and directed by Princetonian playwright James Christy, this drama follows the story of two parents desperate to find the proper treatment for their autistic son. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew.

Our Food on Film series returns this month with Kelly Reichardt's feature First Cow (Apr 20). This bovine adventure tells the tale of the first cow in the pacific northwest territory of the US and two unlikely souls who become dependent on her milk. This film pairs perfectly with our collaborators at Cherry Grove Farms, who will provide both an introduction to the movie and cheese plates for pre-order.

In celebration of Record Store Day, we will be showing Meet Me in the Bathroom (Apr 13), a music doc that chronicles the explosive New York music scene of the early 2000’s. The radio station WPRB 103.3FM will be spinning records outside of the theater ahead of the event (weather permitting) and will be tabling both before and after the show.

As a part of our Deep Focus program, we will be showing the notorious pre-code drama Baby Face (Apr 5), starring Barbara Stanwyck. Join us for an online seminar on the film on Tuesday Apr 11, led by TCM writer Hannah Jack. We have two additional virtual seminars coming up on films we showed on the big screen back in March. Cinema’s First Nasty Women: Queens of Destruction will meet on Tues, Apr 18, at 7:30pm, and will be led by Professor Maggie Hennefeld, who co-curated the collection of shorts. Paris is Burning will be held on Tues, Apr 25, at 7:30pm, and will be led by Professor Lucas Hildebrand, who wrote a book on the celebrated documentary.

March Programming Notes Brendan Joyce — Feb 28, 2023 Our special event programming throughout March will celebrate Women’s History Month as we highlight female-centric films and filmmakers. Our selections range from the groundbreaking works of early female filmmakers to modern works featuring women of color and directors who broke through into the mainstream.

Three films I’d like to highlight are Chantal Akerman’s – Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Mar 8). This film not only earned the honor of being named the greatest film ever made in the 2022 Sight and Sound critics poll but also marked the first time a film directed by a woman has received the top spot in the poll’s 70-year history.

Also, I’d like to highlight a recently restored and curated set of silent short films courtesy of Kino Lorber entitled Cinema’s First Nasty Women: Queens of Destruction (Mar 22). This collection of short films from the early 20th Century features women actors and filmmakers pushing the boundaries of what was socially acceptable at the time. Our Queens of Destruction screening will also include a Deep Focus virtual seminar, which takes place on Tues, April 16 at 7:30 pm on zoom with Professor Maggie Hennefeld.

Finally, we kick off the month with the first and only inclusion of a black female director on the 2022 Sight and Sound list by showing Julie Dash’s lyrical debut, Daughters of the Dust (Mar 2). This is a FREE screening and is presented in conjunction with the Princeton University Art Museum and their exhibition Cycle of Creativity: Alison Saar and the Toni Morrison Papers, on view next door to the Princeton Garden Theatre at Art@Bainbridge. The gallery will be open until 7 pm for attendees to visit the gallery before the film.

Below are the other titles that we will be highlighting throughout the rest of March for Women’s History Month.

· Love & Basketball (Mar 9)
· Mädchen in Uniform (Mar 15)
· A League of Their Own (Mar 16)
· Sleepless in Seattle (Mar 23)
· Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Mar 21)
· Paris is Burning (Mar 29)

We will continue our Deep Focus virtual seminars this March by highlighting two films in our Flaming Classics series, which focuses on innovative films in Queer and Trans Cinema. The aforementioned Mädchen in Uniform will hold a virtual seminar on zoom on Sun, March 26 at 1:00 pm with noted American scholar and film critic, B. Ruby Rich. Then join us on Tue, April 25 at 7:30 pm for our virtual seminar on Paris is Burning with author Lucas Hilderbrand. Check our website for more information about how to participate in these online discussions.

If you enjoy Hollywood Classics, then the Garden Theatre has you covered as we kick off the month with Elia Kazan’s award-winning drama – On the Waterfront (Mar 1) — featuring a legendary performance from Marlon Brando. Join us for a Deep Focus seminar on zoom with TCM writer Hannah Jack on Tue, March 14 at 7:30 pm.

Italian filmmaker Liliana Cavani will be visiting the Garden Theatre this month and taking part in a post film discussion for the provocative arthouse thriller The Night Porter (Mar 28) – this screening is in conjunction with the university’s Department of Italian Studies.

We’re also excited to be partnering with the Princeton Public Library at the end of the month for a FREE screening of the astounding 2023 Academy Award nominated documentary – All That Breathes (Mar 30). This screening is in conjunction with the library’s Princeton Environmental Film Festival.

Finally, be sure to grab your tickets to our annual Hollywood Awards Party on Sunday, March 12. Join us in celebrating the best films of the past year. Tickets to the Hollywood Awards Watch Party will not only support the Garden Theatre but will include popcorn and fountain drink.

Februrary Programming Notes Brendan Joyce — Feb 1, 2023 Welcome to a new monthly feature, in which a member of our programming team highlights some of the upcoming films and special events we have on deck for the upcoming month.

Starting in February and continuing throughout the year, we will highlight films from the 2022 Sight and Sound list. Once every decade since 1952 British Film Institute's Sight and Sound magazine polls film critics from around the world and issues a list of the 100 greatest films of all time. The 2022 iteration of the list has stirred much controversy in the film community due its noteworthy additions and shake-ups.

We’re kicking off our Sight and Sound screenings with two films that are not only new additions but highlight prominent Black filmmakers during Black History Month. Our retrospective starts with Jordan Peele’s brilliant debut feature, Get Out (Feb 16), which was one of only four films from this past decade to be included on the Sight and Sound list. Followed by our screening of Spike Lee’s Brooklyn based drama, Do The Right the Right (Feb 23).

In addition to those three films, we will be screening The Watermelon Woman (Feb 21), a landmark of ‘90s queer cinema written, directed, and starring Temple University graduate – Cheryl Dunye. Then on February 28 join us on zoom for an online discussion with the film's producer, Dr. Alexandra Juhasz, which is a part of our Deep Focus seminar series. Speaking of Deep Focus, we’ll also be showing The Awful Truth (Feb 2), a classic screwball comedy starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. Join us for a discussion on zoom with TCM writer Hannah Jack on February 7. Check our website for more information about how to participate in these online discussions.

Romance is in the air this February at the Garden Theatre as we highlight the underrated cult classic Mermaids (Feb 9). Our Mermaids screening will be in celebration of Galentine’s Day, a day intended to honor the connection you have with your lady friends. Mermaids not only stars Cher but has both Winona Ryder (at the height of her ‘80s teen stardom) and Christina Ricci playing her two young daughters. We will also show one of the defining works of Hong Kong cinema with Wong Kar-wai’s, melancholic love story – Chungking Express (Feb 15).

We conclude our romantic slate of films on Valentine’s Day with a screening of When Harry Met Sally (Feb 14), which is one of the most quintessential romantic comedies ever made.. If you plan to attend our screening of When Harry Met Sally, be sure to put a special message for your Valentine on screen before the movie starts.

Finally, join us for three family offerings this month as we will be holding two screenings of one of Miyazaki’s finest hand-drawn animations with Howl’s Moving Castle. We’ll be screening the subtitled version of the film on Feb 1 followed by showing the English dubbed version for our $5 Family Matinee on Monday, Feb 20.

Looking down the line at our programming, we plan to bring back a selection of films nominated for this year's Academy Awards ahead of Oscar night and our Hollywood Awards Party on Sunday, March 12. Also, our special events in March will highlight and showcase female led films and female filmmakers in honor of International Women’s Month.. Stay tuned as we release more information on those titles.

Our programming team has also noted the many requests for straight to streaming films such as 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery' — and why we haven’t played it yet. This is due to the decisions made by streaming service distributors such as Netflix that chose to show a film such as Glass Onion for one week at select big box theaters before its stream exclusively on their platform. When it comes to streaming services and their distribution methods, sometimes their decision making will differ from film to film and even year to year. Last year Netflix allowed us and many other arthouse theaters to show The Power of the Dog. But Glass Onion is a film and a property they are very protective of and are much more selective of how they like to showcase this specific film.