Morton Theatre Film Festival

Please join us for the family friendly Inaugural Black History Month Film Festival, presented by the Morton Theatre Corporation on Sunday, February 12, 2017. Two films and two short cartoons will be presented, along with a Question and Answer session following each one, guided by professors of film and African American studies. The films presented will be:

"Date with Duke:" (1947) Jazz bandleader and composer Duke Ellington performs some musical numbers with "The Puppettoons." The Duke interacts with talking perfume bottles to create his "Perfume Suite."

"International Sweethearts of Rhythm: America's Hottest All Girl Band" The International Sweethearts of Rhythm was arguably the greatest female band of the big band era.  Their fascinating story began in 1938, taking them from a school for orphaned African American children in Mississippi to touring the United States and Europe during the 1940's. Their phenomenal musicianship and showmanship prevailed in a male-dominated field under the cloud of racial discrimination.

"John Henry,"(1946). A "Puppettoon" that tells the legend of John Henry; it is narrated by a major African American actor of the time, Rex Ingram.

"The Bronze Buckaroo" (1939). During the era of segregation the African American community developed its own cinema, which often offered Black versions of popular film genres.  "The Bronze Buckaroo" is one such film, offering Herb Jeffries, a popular musician as a singing cowboy.  Along the way there is a villainous rancher, a humorous sidekick, and some fancy shooting as justice prevails.

In addition to the films, you can enjoy jazzy music from the 1930s and 1940s, taking photos with props reminiscent of this era, and concessions will also be available for purchase.

Free admission. Doors will open at 3:00 p.m. and the first film will start at 3:30 p.m.

Source: Direct online submission from event organizers

Sunday, February 12, 2017

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