Thursday, August 25, 2022
DOORS & WINE OPEN AT 7:30 PM.
THE FILM BEGINS AT 8:00 PM.
Must be 21+
The Athenaeum’s popular film series, Flicks on the Bricks, returns in August for its 16th year with The Lubitsch Touch, a trio of effervescent films from Ernst Lubitsch, curated by Beth Accomando, KPBS arts reporter and host of the Cinema Junkie podcast. Guests are invited to join us on the outdoor patio for balmy summer nights and screenings of classic cinema al fresco.
“She's gay! She's glamorous! She's glorious! Leave it to Lubitsch to make her Paris love affair the slickest, slyest romance you've ever howled at!” (Print Ad—Greene County Examiner-Recorder, ((Catskill, NY)) 7 December 1939)
Only the royal suite at the grandest hotel in Paris has a safe large enough for the jewels of the Grand Duchess Swana. So the three Russians who have come to sell the jewels settle into the suite until a higher ranking official is dispatched to find out what is delaying the sale. She is Ninotchka, a no-nonsense woman who fascinates Count Leon who had been the faithful retainer of the Grand Duchess. The Grand Duchess will give up all claim to the jewels if Ninotchka will fly away from the count.
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes
Cast: Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, and Ina Claire
Memorable Quote:
Ninotchka: I should hate to see our country endangered by my underwear.
Interesting Trivia:
The tagline "Garbo laughs!" came before the screenplay was written; the film was built around that single, now legendary, slogan. This slogan was itself a reference to another legendary advertising slogan about Greta Garbo. Garbo, a famous leading lady of the silent film era, made her first talking picture, Anna Christie (1930). That film was advertised, to great success, with the slogan "Garbo Talks!" When she made this comedy the "Garbo Laughs!" tagline resonated with her fans.
Nominations:
Academy Awards, USA 1940: Best Picture; Best Actress in a Leading Role (Greta Garbo); Best Writing, Original Story (Melchior Lengyel); Best Writing, Screenplay (Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch, Billy Wilder)
INDIVIDUAL FILMS:
$15 member / $20 nonmember
SERIES OF 3 FILMS:
$39 member / $54 nonmember
The films will be shown in person and outdoors on the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library patio. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.
These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert. Masks are optional.
*Covid-19 policy special procedure: Due to the outside nature of this event, we will not be checking vaccination status or negative test.