Pothole Pictures 2023-24 Film Season
October 7, 7:30 pm Special event: Silent Film with LIVE music — Snow White (1916 version)
Special Price for this event: $15 Adults $5 Children 12 and under
A special event to open our season. It includes live music from harpist Leslie McMichael and violist Barbara McMichael, who created an original score for this silent picture. The film inspired Walt Disney to create his animated version in 1937 and its star, Marguerite Clark, was as famous in her time as Mary Pickford. Audiences have called it “enchanting,” “delightful,” “fabulous” and “a spellbinding celebration of the imagination.” 1916. Marguerite Clark, Dorothy Cumming. B & W. Not Rated.
Sat. 7 pm — Rob Adams, John Clark and Eveline McDougall — Eclectic music
October 20-21, 7:30 pm Celebrate our farms! — The Biggest Little Farm
A hit at major film festivals from Telluride to Toronto, the film documents John and Molly Chester’s 8-year quest to transform 200 barren acres, one problem-solving puzzle at a time, into a diverse farm in harmony with nature. Each night you can join a panel of farm educators from our region in a post-film Q & A. Bring your ideas for supporting our local farms! 2018. John Chester, Molly Chester. Director: John Chester. Color. 91 min. PG
Fri. 7 pm — The Hilltown Hamhocks — Proto-bluegrass trio
Sat. 7 pm Gabriel Fisher — Blues/rock/folk-inspired guitar
Nov 3-4, 7:30 pm No fighting in the war room!— Dr. Strangelove
Only Stanley Kubrick could create a comedy about the atomic arms race that is entertaining, funny, thought provoking and scary all at the same time. Brilliant satire, brilliant direction, brilliant performances and brilliant writing by Terry Southern. Metacritic score: 97 (out or 100). Picked by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 greatest American movies of all time. IMDB “Top 100” highest rated films. 1964. Peter Sellers (in multiple roles), George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden James Earl Jones and Slim Pickens. B & W. PG
Fri. 7 pm — Snapdragons — Folk/pop/rock
Sat .7 pm — Brookside Project — Original & classic Americana
Nov 17-18 Martial masterpiece — Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The epic story in Crouching Tiger is mostly secondary to brilliantly staged martial arts battles that are exciting, balletic and visually stunning. You don’t have to be even slightly interested in martial arts to be awed and entranced by the skill of Director Ang Lee. Roger Ebert said that the film “transcends its origins and becomes one of a kind. It’s glorious, unashamed escapism and surprisingly touching…”. The New York Times called it an “unlikely masterpiece.” You won’t disagree. 2000. Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh. Director: Ang Lee. Color. PG-13
Fri. 7 pm — Dan Lederer — Inventive & eclectic guitar
Sat .7 pm — Crouching fiddle, Hidden banjo — Traditional Irish Acoustic
Dec 1-2 NOT your everyday Island Paradise — Moonrise Kingdom
An adventure story about imagination, innocence and true love from director Wes Anderson. Sam and Suzy, twelve and in love, run off together on Penzance Island, and an all-star cast of adults (Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton) set out to find them. Clever, quirky and artful, but also emotionally satisfying, “Moonrise Kingdom” is a color-drenched cinematic storybook. 2012. Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward. Director: Wes Anderson. Color. PG-13
Fri. 7 pm — Whistlestop — Fiddle/guitar/banjo
Sat. 7 pm — The Frost Heaves & HaLeS — Indie rock/freaky folk
Dec 15-16 Girls Rule! — THE LADY EVE
A card sharp who doubles as a countess (Barbara Stanwyck) turns the tables in more ways than one on a hapless herpetologist and brewery heir (Henry Fonda) in this screwball comedy masterpiece. Written and directed by the brilliant Preston Sturges, it features one of Stanwyck’s greatest performances, accompanied by Fonda and a band of genius character actors. Named by the American Film Institute’s as one of both the “100 Greatest Comedies” and “100 Greatest Love Stories” of all time. Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, William Demarest. 1941. Director: Preston Sturges. Black and white. 94 min. Not rated.
Fri 7 pm — Abdul Baki — Classical/jazz/blues/Afro-Caribbean piano
Sat. 7 pm Robert Markeyi — Indian ragas sitar
Jan 12-13 2024 Magic in Memphis — Mystery Train
A Jim Jarmusch cult classic — starring the city of Memphis and the spirit of Elvis Presley. Featuring Steve Buscemi, plus Tom Waits, Joe Strummer, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and two unforgettable Japanese actors, Masatoshi Nagase and Youki Kudoh. Picked as a “Great Movie” by Roger Ebert because of its “deep embedding of comedy, nostalgia, shabby sadness and visual beauty.” Nicoletta Braschi, Elizabeth Bracco. 1989. Director: Jim Jarmusch. Color. R
Fri. 7 pm CHEESE PRIESTS — Punk/grunge covers
Sat. 7 pm — Sean Penn Jr. — Live looping
Feb 16-17 2024 Practically Perfect in Every Way — Mary Poppins
One reviewer called this “One of the greatest children’s films ever,” but lots of adults love it just as well. Mary Poppins always knows exactly how to save the day (let’s elect her to Congress!). Even when the film is not perfect (as with Dick Van Dyke’s Cockney accent), it is always supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Winner of five Oscars, a Golden Globe and two Grammys. Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Glynis Johns, Ed Wynn. 1964. Director: Robert Stevenson. Color. 140 min. G
Fri. 7 pm — The Give — Heartbreak, chrome & hospitals
Sat. 7 pm Leatherleaf — Rich folk harmonies
We are an all-volunteer-run, non-profit, community movie house and we’ve been showing the best in classic, foreign, and independent films on the BIG screen in our historic, century-old 420-seat Memorial Hall Theater (at 51 Bridge Street – above Town Hall – in Shelburne Falls, MA) since 1995. We have frequent special events like “Meet the Filmmaker” nights and collaborations with local community organizations. Live, local musical acts play on stage for half-an-hour before each film. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for kids under 12.
To sign up for our mailing list and receive the season movie schedule in advance, send your Name and Mailing Address to:
Pothole Pictures, PO Box 368, Shelburne Falls, MA, 01370