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Section: Arts

Saluting Bette, Errol and Classic Cinema
By Christopher Schobert

Some clichés are true. A great example is the cry that comes up whenever one ponders the greats of film history: “They just don’t make ’em like they used to.” How can this thought be denied when a look at what’s currently playing at the multiplex includes Beverly Hills Chihuahua?

That’s why the Old Chestnut Film Society is something to cherish. From October to May, Old Chestnut and Ken-Ton Community Education present glorious classics of Hollywood’s past on 16-millimeter, and they’ve been doing so for 25 years.

Grant Golden, a frequent Forever Young contributor, is the man behind the series, which is held in the community room of the Philip Sheridan School at 3200 Elmwood Avenue, just north of Sheridan Drive. Each year, he selects a theme, and then programs the films around that particular concept — this year’s is “Bette & Errol,” saluting Bette Davis and Errol Flynn.

“One of our supporters is a big Bette Davis fan. But I thought some of our attendees might have trouble with all ‘weepers,’” says Golden. “I had a couple Errol Flynn movies in my collection. They were both big Warner Bros. stars, they worked together a couple times, so we’ve brought them together. We had never done either of them in a series.”

The series began last month with Charge of the Light Brigade, the Flynn-David Niven classic. The remainder of the schedule is:

• Bordertown, November 7, a drama starring Davis and Paul Muni.

• Four’s a Crowd, December 5, a comedy starring Flynn and Olivia De Havilland.

• The Great Lie, January 9, a drama starring Davis and Mary Astor.

• The Sisters, February 6, a costume drama teaming up Davis and Flynn.

• Gentleman Jim, March 6, a boxing biopic starring Flynn and Jack Carson.

• Old Acquaintance, April 3, a drama starring Davis, Miriam Hopkins, and Gig Young.

• The Whales of August, May 8, starring Davis, Lillian Gish, Ann Sothern and Vincent Price.

August is an interesting choice, as it was released in 1987, and features an older Davis. “That’s a flash forward 45 years,” says Golden. “She had already had a stroke at that point. It’s a very nice movie — sweet and charming. Davis was mad because Lillian Gish got to play the younger sister, and Lillian was a bit older than Bette. She was not happy about that.”

Golden loves to tell these nuggets of film history, which often add a great deal to the understanding and enjoyment of the films.

“The Great Lie — there’s an interesting story there,” he says. “Davis felt that the Mary Astor role of the pianist was too small, so she insisted that the role get built up. What happens? Mary Astor wins an Oscar for it, and Bette Davis is furious.”

He also has some great Flynn stories.

“Four’s a Crowd is a good example,” he says. “Flynn always complained that they never let him do anything except action pictures. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, but the public only paid to see him in tights, with a sword. So, this was one where they put him in a Cary Grant role, basically — a screwball comedy. So I’m looking forward to that; it’s one I’ve never seen. I always try to pick a few of those.”

Some of the films, including Lie, fall under the category of what Golden calls “real classic 40s weepers.” He says The Sisters is similar, but also fits under the costume drama umbrella. This is the only film of the series that brings Davis and Flynn together, although they did work together on one other film — The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex.

Golden says this pairing of stars is a new idea for the series. Past themes have focused on directors, genres, and even famous families like the Hustons and the Barrymores.

“Mostly our period is 1930s and ’40s American mainstream movies,” Golden says. “It’s always been my feeling that if you can lump things together a little bit, either you get the feeling for what an actor did, or a director did, or what a style was.”

But while the regular attendees are devoted supporters, Old Chestnut is always on the lookout for new fans.

“This is 25 years — it’s a huge milestone,” he says. “It’s fun, and people really like it, but we’re always looking for new attendees. The hard part is getting people in the first time. Once they experience it, and you have the fun of seeing and hearing it — that’s what hooks audiences. It’s sort of like, ‘Why do I want to go to a school and see an old movie?’ But once they’re there, they keep coming back.”

While the movie is obviously the highlight, there are other fun touches, as well, such as door prizes and brief talks on the films. Attendees can even bring their own munchies.

“Now we’re in a place with padded chairs and big round tables, so you can bring in your popcorn. I try to intro the movies a little bit, and tell a few stories. I often show a short,” Golden says. “When this started, there was barely VHS. If you wanted to watch old movies, you had the late show. But how else were you going to see them? It was 1983, and I had just come back to Buffalo. I got this idea — a mom and pop film series.”

The quarter-century mark is indeed a mark to be celebrated, and the Old Chestnut Film Society is showing no signs of slowing down, not as long as its devoted fan base continues to turn out and tell their friends. Golden’s passion for cinema is as strong as it was when he was an Amherst High Schooler.

“I love doing it,” he says. “It’s like having a party — people come, and say thank you very much. Without them, we could never continue.”

Series tickets are $32, or $6 for individudal tickets. For more information, call 836-4757.


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