New vintage film series launches in Sonoma

Sebastiani to host new monthly supper club and film series beginning July 16|

The Sebastiani Theatre Foundation’s 17th annual vintage film series begins on Monday, July 16, with “Yellow Submarine.”

The series will run one Monday each month from July through December, 2018. A new Supper Club will meet at 5 p.m. prior to each of the films. A limited number of spaces in the Supper Club series are available for $425 per person on a first-come-first-served basis. Members receive reserved seats at the Sebastiani Theatre to view the films, a complimentary bag of popcorn and a glass of local wine, after enjoying supper at local restaurants as Saddles at McArthur Place, The Depot Hotel, La Casa, Maya, Café La Haye, the Sonoma Grille, the Swiss Hotel, Suite D, The Red Grape, the Plaza Bistro and others.

The series of six suppers and six vintage films is a fundraising effort by the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation.

The series includes:

Monday, July 16, 7 p.m. – “Yellow Submarine” (1968). Directed by George Dunning and written by Lee Minoff (original story and screenplay), John Lennon (song), Paul McCartney (song), Al Brodax (screenplay), Jack Mendelsohn (screenplay), Erich Segal (screenplay), and Roger McGough (uncredited), “Yellow Submarine” stars The Beatles: George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. This animated film tells the story of The Beatles accompanying Captain Fred in his Yellow Submarine to Pepperland to free it from the music-hating Blue Meanies. “Yellow Submarine” won the 1969 Special Award for a feature-length animation (George Dunning) as well as the National Board of Review, USA Award for Top Ten Films. This film was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Original Score (1970) and for a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (1969). Rated G (85 minutes)

Monday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m. – “The Producers” (1967), the second classic movie of the series, was written and directed by Mel Brooks and stars Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Estelle Winwood and Renée Taylor. “The Producers” tells the story of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom who make money by producing a sure-fire flop. “The Producers” won a 1969 Oscar Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay (Mel Brooks) and was nominated at the 1969 Golden Globes for Best Actor (Zero Mostel) and Best Screenplay (Mel Brooks). Rated PG (88 minutes)

Monday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. – Next in the series is “Monterey Pop” (1968), directed by D. A. Pennebaker and featuring Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Ravi Shankar, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Grace Slick, Cass Elliot, Janis Joplin, Eric Burdon, and many more performing at the Monterey Pop Festival, the greatest pre-Woodstock rock music festival ever. “Monterey Pop” was nominated for the 1968 Venice Film Festival Award (D. A. Pennebaker) and a 2003 Satellite Award for Best Overall DVD. Not Rated (78 minutes)

Monday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. – “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) is the fourth film in series of mostly 50-year-old movies. “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) was directed by George A. Romero and written by John A. Russo (screenplay) and George A. Romero (screenplay). The film stars Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, and Marilyn Eastman and is a story about panic throughout the nation as the dead suddenly come back to life. The film follows a group of characters who barricade themselves in an old farmhouse in an attempt to remain safe from these bloodthirsty, flesh-eating monsters. Night of the Living Dead” won the 1999 National Film Preservation Board/USA Award and the 2011 Horror Host Hall Of Fame Award for Behind The Screams (George A. Romero). The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films/USA also nominated this film as “2018 Best DVD/Blu-Ray Special Edition Release.” Not Rated (96 minutes)

Monday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m. – “Bullitt” (1968) was directed by Peter Yates and written by Alan Trustman (screenplay), Harry Kleiner (screenplay), and Robert L. Fish (novel, as Robert L. Pike). The film stars Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn, Don Gordon, and Robert Duvall. “Bullitt” is the story about an all-guts, no-glory San Francisco cop who becomes determined to find the underworld kingpin who killed the witness in his protection. “Bullitt” won a 1968 Oscar Award for Best Film Editing (Frank P. Keller) and was also Oscar-nominated for Best Sound. This film also received The 1969 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture, the 1969 Motion Picture Sound Editors/USA Award for Best Sound Editing, The 2007 National Film Preservation Board/USA Award for Best Cinematography (William A. Fraker) and the 2000 Society of Camera Operators Award for Historical Shot (David M. Walsh). Rated M/PG (94 minutes)

Monday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. – “Love Actually” (2003) was written and directed by Richard Curtis and stars a host of well known actors, including Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, and many more. “Love Actually” follows the lives of eight very different couples dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales, all set during the frantic month before Christmas in London, England. “Love Actually” won the 2004 BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor (Bill Nighy), The Empire Awards/UK for Best Newcomer (Martine McCutcheon), Best British Film, Best British Actress (Emma Thompson), and the 2003 Washington DC Area Film Critics Associations Award for Best Ensemble Cast. Rated R (135 minutes)

Vintage Film Series tickets can be purchased for $10 per individual movie. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. Ticket “packets,” which include one ticket each of all six films, are now available for $50 for the entire upcoming series, a savings of $10. Wine by the glass is offered for a $7 donation at each event.

Patrons are invited to “dress in the era” for each film.

The Sebastiani Theatre is located in Sonoma at 476 First Street East. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with show time at 7 p.m.

To purchase tickets or ticket packets in advance or as gifts, call 996-9756.

The Foundation’s mission is to preserve, enhance and maintain the Sebastiani Theatre for community entertainment and education for current and future generations.

www.sebastianitheatrefoundation.org.

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