The Sid Williams Theatre Society continues celebrations for the City of Courtenay’s 100th birthday with another round of classic films, the Bickle Theatre Original series, a tribute to the theatre’s beginnings as a cinema when it first opened as the Bickle Theatre back in 1935. The theatre society’s film programming serves as fundraising events for the society.
For this season’s Bickle Theatre Originals, the theatre society presents The Maltese Falcon on Oct. 26, High Noon on Jan. 25, and Rebel Without A Cause on March 14.
A classic film noir, The Maltese Falcon was the directorial debut of John Huston and was one of the first breakout leading man roles for Humphrey Bogart. Rounding out the cast were Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet in his film debut.
Private investigator Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) gets more than he bargained for when he takes a case brought to him by a beautiful but secretive woman (Mary Astor). As soon as Miss Wonderly shows up, trouble follows as Sam’s partner is murdered and Sam is accosted by a man (Peter Lorre) demanding he locate a valuable statuette. Sam, entangled in a dangerous web of crime and intrigue, soon realizes he must find the one thing they all seem to want: the bejeweled Maltese falcon.
The film received three Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Sydney Greenstreet, and Best Adapted Screenplay for John Huston. When it premiered in 1941, Variety called it “one of the best examples of actionful and suspenseful melodramatic story telling in cinematic form.”
Don’t miss The Maltese Falcon on Monday Oct. 26. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the film begins at 7 p.m.
There will be popcorn and prizes, including tickets to upcoming Blue Circle Series shows. The audience is encouraged to dress up for the evening in 1940s attire.
Tickets are $3 for Sid Williams Theatre Society members and $5 for the general public (plus applicable handling fees). Purchase by phone or in person at the Ticket Centre Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or online at sidwilliamstheatre.com.
– Sid Williams Theatre Society