The film society is starting off its spring schedule only one week after its last movie. The new program is now available at all the usual outlets.
The first movie is My Week with Marilyn, showing Monday at the Vernon Towne Cinema.
In 1956, Marilyn Monroe went to Britain to make a movie with Laurence Olivier, The Prince and the Showgirl, which became a legend for the lack of chemistry between its insecure and incompatible stars.
This film uses the story written by the film’s star-struck third assistant director (Colin Clark, son of the great art historian Kenneth).
As a movie-mad youngster, he wangled a job as a production assistant doing everyone’s bidding. Something about him caught the eye of Monroe (Michelle Williams, winner of the Golden Globe award) and she made him her confidant and personal assistant on the set.
Clark published his diaries in l995, then a further memoir in 2000 revealing an intimate romantic week alone with Marilyn. Is it all true? In any event it is a beguiling adventure with Williams showing us some of the insecurity, but charismatic personality of Monroe.
Kenneth Branagh is tremendous as Olivier, as one critic says “Branagh revives Olivier with wit, intelligence and charm.”
Other well known and loved British actors play supporting roles: Zoe Wanamaker as Monroe’s acting coach, Judi Dench as the great character Sybil Thorndike, as well as David Jacobi, Michael Kitchen, and Emma Watson showing us their talents.
My Week with Marilyn shows Monday at the Towne at 5:15 and 7:45 p.m. Tickets ($7) are available at the Bean Scene and theatre one week prior to the screening.