March 23-25 Fri-Sun at 5pm

NEW 35MM PRINT, NOT AVAILABLE ON VIDEO

THE PIED PIPER

(Jacques Demy, France, 1972, 35mm, 90 min.)

This rarely screened 1970s cult musical oddity by Jacques Demy (THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG) offers a dark retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin legend. The cast is headed by two English pop-culture icons of the era: Donovan (who not only sings some lovely songs, but composed the compelling soundtrack) and OLIVER child star Jack Wild. Donovan plays the titular minstrel, hired to rid the town of its plague-carrying rats. Wild is apprentice to the town's outcast, a Jewish alchemist. A strong supporting cast of great British character actors include Donald Pleasence as the venal mayor, Richard Lester movie stalwart Roy Kinnear as the duplicitous burgermeister and a young John Hurt. Demy's arresting visualization of his 14th-century setting recalls the Brothers Grimm—a squalid, superstitious place beset by plague and bad government, ill-served by a corrupt, anti-Semitic church.
Recommended for ages 10 and up.

APRIL 13-15 Fri-Sun 5, 7pm and SPECIAL SCREENINGS AVAILABLE APRIL 9-13

FAIRY TALE FAVORITES

(Various Directors, 2003-2006, 66 min.)

Back by popular demand, favorite fairy tale short films from the 2007 Cinema K: Children's Film Festival Seattle! Take a trip around the world with this breathtaking pro-gram of international animation.

THE FAIRY WIND (Edith Pieperhoff, Ireland): Despite warnings, a widowed father decides to fell trees in a fairy fort.

WAR AND PEAS (Jannik Hastrup, Denmark): A fat king and his army are no match for a small brigade of hungry animals.

FUMI AND THE BAD LUCK FOOT (David Chai, USA): A heart-warming fable of female empowerment featuring a wild moose attack.

THE GIFT (Jessica Langford, Scotland): A young girl rescues a seal and meets a sea prince in his underwater palace.

THE BALLERINA FROG (Staffan Erlandsson & Anna Hansson, Sweden): A clumsy frog dreams of becoming a ballerina and dancing on the stage.

LON PO PO (Cha-Pow!, USA): A Chinese version of the classic fairy tale.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (SJ Chiro, USA): The classic tale, kicked up a notch. Winner of the Cinema K Children's Jury Prize for Best Live Action Film 2007.

Recommended for ages 7 and up.
Special screenings are available during Spring Break, April 9-13. Contact Liz at liz@nwfilmforum.org or (206) 829-7862 to book your group.

MAY 18-20 Fri-Sun at 5, 7pm (no Sat 5pm screening)

PETER PAN

LIVE HARP ACCOMPANIMENT BY LESLIE MCMICHAEL AT ALL 7 PM SCREENINGS

SPECIAL LIVE INTERTITLE READING BY JULIETTE WALLER PRUZAN AND STEPHEN HANDO AT SUN 5 PM SCREENING

(Herbert Brenon, USA, 1924, DVD, 102 min.)

Long before Cathy Rigby slipped into a harness and struck a perky pose, J.M. Barrie insisted on handpicking the star of the first-ever film version of his famous play. After viewing screen tests by Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford and Lillian Gish, Barrie chose Betty Bronson, an unknown and inexperienced teenager from New Jersey, to play the part of Peter Pan. Bronson's glowing, lithe performance was almost lost to history when Paramount misplaced the film in the late 1920s. Thanks to a suspenseful and brilliant rescue and restoration, this long-lost interpretation of Peter Pan is once again thrilling audiences both young and old. Anna May Wong joins the cast as Tiger Lilly and Ernest Torrence, best known for his hilarious portrayal of Buster Keaton's father in STEAMBOAT BILL, JR., just might be the best Captain Hook ever. Prepare to fly to another place and time, where magic is in the air and children never have to grow up—and get ready to clap your hands when Tinkerbell needs you!

“Bronson literally soars in the title role, beautifully capturing the character’s alternating strains of puckishness, petulance, and occasional melancholy at the prospect of growing up. There’s...much to love here: a mermaid colony; fabulous sets; fine photography by James Wong Howe; and a wonderfully fey performance by George Ali in a dog suit as Nana, the Darling children’s nimble dog-nursemaid.” Gary Morris, BRIGHT LIGHTS FILM JOURNAL

All 7 pm screenings of PETER PAN will feature live musical accompaniment by well-known Northwest harpist Leslie McMichael. McMichael founded the harp department at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle and now directs three independent Suzuki harp programs in the greater Seattle area. She also co-founded the Vashon Island Harp School. Having recorded traditional music for lever harp and original songs on her electric harp, McMichael takes great delight in presenting harpists and harp music in unusual situations.