Event

Tap Roots
1948 / 109 mins.  
Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis Calhern

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film begins at 7:30 p.m.

Based on the popular novel by James Street- a great Civil War story with a twist. When Mississippi secedes from the Union, Lebanon Valley secedes from the State. Hayward & Heflin find romance amongst all the chaos and rebellion. Filmed on location with some spectacular cinematography. In color!

Movie Time's spring schedule is Costume Dramas and Romances. All dates are Wednesday nights.

April 4 - One In A Million
April 11 - The Count of Monte Cristo
May 2 - Ramona
May 16 - Wuthering Heights
June 6 - That Hamilton Woman
June 20 - Tap Roots

What is Movie Time?
This film series is presented in partnership with leading Milwaukee film historian, Dale E. Kuntz. Special choices from his extensive collection of 16mm classic films from the 1930s and '40s are shown in their original reel to reel format. Most of his films are not on DVD, so the audience has a rare opportunity to see these films that are otherwise unavailable. 

Prior to each screening, Dale fascinates the audience with his vast knowledge of film history and gives the inside scoop on each movie. Learn the bizarre details about the stars and the clues to help the audience spot little oddities that end up in the film instead of on the cutting room floor.

As a bonus, on any Wednesday when a film is scheduled, general admission to the Museum doubles as a movie ticket. Guests may choose to arrive early for a short Museum visit and then stay for the film.

Costume Dramas and Romances
From the very early years of motion picture history, costume films have been a staple of the industry. Partially due to the fact they can bring history alive for the audience. Scenes, people and famous dates become actual images and persons to the audience! The costumes range from Roman togas to hoop-skirts to military uniforms. Many people had no knowledge or had seen these kinds of images before. The great success of D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation (1915) insured that costume-historic dramas would become a part of the film industry.

Many stars had their greatest successes acting in costume films, including, John Barrymore, Norma Shearer, Errol Flynn, Jeanette MacDonald, Tyron Power, Bette Davis, and Merle Oberon. Probably the greatest success occurred in the greatest film, 1939's Gone with the Wind. It made Vivien Leigh a major star, a position she still holds today. The movie also started an avalanche of costume films over the next couple  of years. Even during WWII (when propaganda films were the norm) costume films retained their popularity. How Green Was My Valley, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Song of Bernadette, and Gaslight all were Academy Award winners. So, sit back and let your imagination take you back to the time when kissing the hand and blushing were the norm.