By: Richard L. Smith
The West Orange Classic Film Festival is making a grand return for its 18th season in 2024, showcasing an impressive array of Oscar-honored dramas and beloved comedy classics.
This much-anticipated event kicks off from January 21st through March 3rd in West Orange, the town where Thomas Edison, the pioneer of motion pictures, made his mark.
Film enthusiasts will have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in cinematic masterpieces the way they were intended to be enjoyed - on the big screen.
Adding to the experience, each film screening will be preceded by an introduction and followed by an engaging Q&A session with renowned guest speakers. Attendees can also look forward to exciting raffle prizes related to the films.
The festival takes place on Sundays at the AMC Theatre in the Essex Green Shopping Center at 495 Prospect Ave, West Orange, with screenings starting at 2:00 pm.
Note that there will be no screening on Super Bowl Weekend, February 11th. Tickets are priced at $15.00 per screening and must be purchased in advance via Eventbrite.
The festival's schedule is as follows:
- January 21st: "Chinatown" (1974) featuring an introduction by film historian Stephen Whitty. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of this neo-noir classic starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, set in 1930s Los Angeles and nominated for Best Picture.
- January 28th: "In the Heat of the Night" (1967) with Chriss Williams, film historian and professor. This Academy Award-winning Best Picture stars Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger in a tale of a detective navigating racial tensions in Mississippi.
- February 4th: "Laurel & Hardy at Work" (1930-33), introduced by Paul Castiglia. Enjoy four restored shorts of the iconic comedy duo, including "Busy Bodies" and "Towed in a Hole."
- February 18th: "The Conversation" (1974), marking its 50th anniversary, with Stephen Whitty. A gripping film by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Gene Hackman as a surveillance expert who fears his work may lead to murder.
- February 25th: "The Quiet Man" (1952), presented by Alan Delozier, an expert in Irish Studies. This beloved film, an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture, follows a boxer returning to Ireland, chosen by festival attendees in a poll of Irish-themed films.
- March 3rd: "The In-Laws" (1979) with John Chasse, a pop culture connoisseur. Chosen by attendees in a poll of classic comedies, this film promises a hilarious pre-wedding adventure.
The West Orange Classic Film Festival, presented by the West Orange Film Society and part of the West Orange Arts Council, is co-sponsored by the West Orange Recreation Department.
For tickets and more information, visit the Eventbrite page: West Orange Classic Film Festival Tickets by clicking HERE.
Join in celebrating the legacy of cinema in a town that played a pivotal role in the history of film.