VIRTUAL Classic Film Discussions: The 70s "Chinatown"

Event Details

January 13: Chinatown

January 20: The Conversation

The 1970s were a time of questioning all our institutions and a time of seeking our identity--as a country and as individuals. Nowhere was the decade's spirit more evident than in the cinema. Hollywood responded to the turbulent times with anti-heroes and strong women; conspiracy thrillers and vigilante films; and indies and personal filmmaking. Francine J. Sanders, film scholar and writer, returns to lead discussions of two iconic films from the American New Wave.

You'll need to watch the film on your own prior to the discussion. Our library system has the film in DVD and Blu-ray formats. The film can also be streamed for free through Kanopy, or for about $4 through Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube. (As of December 1, it is NOT available through Netflix or Hulu.)

You're welcome to attend one or both of the discussions, but attending both will give you the best experience. If you wish to attend both of the discussions, you'll need to sign up separately.

Thursday, January 13, 1-2:30 pm: Chinatown (dir. Roman Polanski, 1974) A private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder. With Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Read an in-depth review of the film here.

Thursday, January 20, 1-2:30 pm: The Conversation (dir. Francis Ford Coppola, 1974) A paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered. With Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest, Harrison Ford, Teri Garr, and Robert Duvall. Read an in-depth review of the film here.

REGISTER HERE for this Zoom-based event.

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Event Type(s): Arts and Music

Age Group(s): Adult