Screen scene: Local film news

Robert Mitchum as the nefarious Harry Powell in a still from The Night of the Hunter. The film kicks off the free monthlong “Jeepers Creepers Theater" at the North Asheville Library. Photo courtesy of United Artists

Davida Horwitz and Steve White have posted a video showcasing their construction progress on the Grail Moviehouse at 45 S. French Broad. Set to Wendy Carlos’ interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Fourth Movement, as heard in A Clockwork Orange, the various clips and photos depict the loading, transportation and unloading of the theater’s seats, popcorn machine, soda fountain and some A/V equipment, as well as the construction of the Theater 1 screen wall.

“We got permits for the walls this week [Sept. 10] and should be getting electrical, plumbing and A/C soon. Things will start moving quickly,” White says. He and Horwitz plan to show a wide range of films on the theater’s two screens and are shooting for a January  opening. avl.mx/1n6

• Each Saturday in October, at 2 p.m., the North Asheville Library will show a classic horror or suspense film. Selections for the “Jeepers Creepers Theater” series include Charles Laughton’s The Night of the Hunter, starring Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters (Oct. 3); Fritz Lang’s M, starring Peter Lorre (Oct. 10); Tod Browning’s Freaks (Oct. 24); and George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (Oct. 31). There will be no film on Oct. 17.

The screenings are free and open to adults and mature teens. The Night of the Hunter and M will be shown in the Community Room and, due to early voting, Freaks and Night of the Living Dead will be shown on the covered reading patio behind the library. avl.mx/1d0

Douglas Fairbanks stars in The Mark of Zorro, shown Friday, Sept. 25, as part of the Leicester Library’s silent movie series. The two-hour program begins at 6 p.m. and will be hosted by local film historian Chip Kaufmann. Based on the 1919 story, The Curse of Capistrano, by Johnston McCulley, this swashbuckling adventure movie introduced the masked hero Zorro. Fairbanks produced the 1920 screen adaptation, which was the first film released through United Artists, a company that he formed with Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin and D. W. Griffith.

The 105-minute film will be preceded by the nine-minute animated comedy, Felix the Cat in Hollywood (1923), which features caricatures of famous stars of the time, including Chaplin and Fairbanks. Complimentary popcorn will be served, and all ages are welcome. The series will continue with film screenings Friday, Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.

Send your local film news to ae@mountainx.com

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About Edwin Arnaudin
Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). Follow me @EdwinArnaudin

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