2022: the Vintage Film Festival, and Marie Dressler’s birthday!

Published: 29 October 2022

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The lucky patrons who attended the October 2022 Vintage Film Festival at the Capitol Theatre know what a fabulous, fun time it was! The weekend featured, not just 13 classic movies featuring great actors in their breakout roles, but a super Sunday lunchtime talk by Heather Babcock about the women of pre-Code gangster films, live piano accompaniment by Jordan Klapman for our two silent movies, a special introduction by Carole Lombard scholar Dr. Olympia Kiriakou to Twentieth Century, an amazing silent auction, great new banners and merchandise, free admission for 25-and-unders, and free popcorn all weekend! A couple of our attendees sported vintage fashion for their vintage film watching; and Dr. Frankenstein and his creation even turned out to enjoy their biopic, Frankenstein!

In addition to local film fans from Northumberland County, we welcomed many guests from Peterborough County, Durham Region and the GTA, and from as far afield as Kingston, Ottawa and London, Ontario, and even Nova Scotia!

The Marie Dressler Foundation’s warmest thanks go out to:

• the members of the Vintage Film Festival committee, who spent months planning the Festival, and a solid weekend working onsite at the Capitol
• the amazingly collaborative Capitol Theatre staff and volunteers
• the Foundation’s board members, who provided yearlong support, and helped out onsite
• and the many generous sponsors, donors, advertisers, promotional and creative partners, and Friends of the Festival – and, of course, our patrons! – without whom the proceeds of VFF 2022 would not be able to support the Foundation’s educational activities, including the bursaries for graduating high school students to help them achieve their post-secondary goals.

Leo McCarey’s 1937 screwball comedy The Awful Truth, and its star Cary Grant (in his breakout role), were runaway favourites in the VFF 2022 People’s Choice awards for favourite film and actor.

Next year's Vintage Film Festival explores the journey "from the page to the screen". We'll be sharing thirteen films adapted from novels and short stories, including The Wizard of Oz, From Russia with Love, The Phantom of the Opera, Rosemary's Baby and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – another terrific program!

Mark your calendars now for the 2023 Vintage Film Festival – Friday, October 20th through Sunday, October 22nd – at the Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen Street, Port Hope!

Join us to celebrate Marie's birthday! Wednesday, November 9th is "Marie Dressler Celebration Day" in Cobourg, Marie's birthplace. Two Canadian “Academy Award for Best Actress” winners: Marie Dressler receives the 1931 Oscar from the 1930 recipient, Norma Shearer.Marie was often referred to as an unconventional star. Her career in Broadway theatre, silent films and talkies spanned fifty years. She was awarded the Best Actress Oscar at the 1931 Academy Awards. You can learn more about Marie's career and life at the Canadian Women in Film Museum, located in Marie Dressler House in Cobourg. Book your visit at www.cdnwomeninfilm.ca.

We invite you to join us in celebrating Marie's birthday on November 9th with a Marie Dressler movie, refreshments, and a draw for something special. No reservations are required, and there is no charge. (Seating is on a "first come" basis.) We'd love to see you at the Citizen's Forum on the 2nd floor of Victoria Hall, 55 King Street West, Cobourg at 2:00 p.m. to help us celebrate our hometown movie star.

Marie Dressler Foundation