TV Times

TV Times

American movie classics at ICES
A festival of award winning American movie classics will be on at the ICES auditorium from February 20 to 24.The festival includes 'Love is a Many Splendored Thing' (1955) by Henry King, 'Witness for the Prosecution' (1957) by Billy Wilder, 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' (1969) by George Roy Hill, 'The Guns of Navarone' (1961) by J. Lee Thompson and Roman Holiday (1953) by William Wyler.

'Love is a Many Splendored Thing', based on a true story and filmed on location in Hong Kong a beautiful, absorbing film is a timeless classic. Jennifer Jones portrays one of cinema's most memorable characters in this film.

When Eurasian doctor and widow Han Suvip (Jennifer Jones) meets Mark Elliot an American correspondent (William Holden) stationed Hong Kong, she is captivated by his tenderness and insight. He finds her beauty and grace equally irresistible and they began an intensely passionate affair. Despite obstacles such as interracial prejudice and Han's attempts to reconcile her past with her new feelings, they come to know a rare love and happiness.

But Elliot is soon transferred to Korea where war has broken out. The film screen on February 20 nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture.

'Witness for the Prosecution' (116 mint) screen on February 21. Co-wrote and directed by Billy Wilder this brilliant 1957 mystery based on Agatha Christie celebrated play about an aging London barrister who's preparing to retire when he takes the defense in the most vexing murder case of his distinguished career. A clever character-driven courtroom drama, it deserved the Academy Award nominations that it received in 1958.

Starring Charles Laughton as the defense attorney, Tyronne Power as the man accused of the murder, and Marlene Dietrich as his wife and Elsa Lanchester. It nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture.

'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' (110 mint) is rightfully hailed as one of the greatest westerns ever made. It is a great look at two likeable outlaws, full of witty dialogue and exciting action sequences. Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and The Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) are two train and hank robbers, chased by the law. The plot follows them as they travel to Bolivia after railroad president hires a posse to hunt them.

The charisma and screen presence of the two actors and the way they work together is what drives the film of the seven Academy Award nominations. There were four Oscars: William Goldman was awarded an Oscar for Best Story and Screenplay and Conrad Hall was honored for his cinematography. Two other statues went to Burt Bacharach for Best Song ("Raindrops Keep Falling on My Hcad", the other three nominations Best Picture, Best Director and Best Sound. (Wednesday, February 22)

The plot of The Guns of Navarone (157 mints) is that of a daring commandos commission to the fictional island of of Navarone. There, the Germans have huge radar controlled guns. Earlier, the British landed 2,000 troops on the island of Kheros. Now, they must be withdrawn. However since the previously unknown German installation on Navarone has since gone operational, it is impossible to safely evacuate those troops. Either the commandos succeed in sabotaging the German guns at Navarone or the British garrison on Kheros will be forced to surrender.

Cinema legends Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn and David Niven are the Allied Saboteurs assigned to infiltrate to destroy the guns of Navarone in this thrilling World War 11 drama. (Thursday, February 23)

Roman Holiday (118 mint), a delightful film shot entirely on location in Rome, and produced and directed by one of Hollywood's most skillful, distinguished, professional and eminent directors - William Wyler. The film's bittersweet story is a charming romantic- comedy. A runaway princess (Audrey Hepburn) rebels against her royal obligations and escapes the insulated confines of her royal prison to find a 'Prince Charming' commontr- an American reporter (Gregory Peck) covering the royal tour in Rome. The film received a phenomenal ten Academy Award nominations for a comedy. It won a Best Actress Oscar for its under-experienced British (Belgium-born) actress named Audrey Hepburn. (Friday-February 24)

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