Cinema has made remarkable progress since the Lumière Brothers introduced the world to motion pictures in 1895. The magic of the movies was born in the silent era, and that spirit blossomed and evolved over the decades, creating the contemporary landscape we see today. The film industry has grown tremendously since those early days, and with the advances in technology and the rise of the digital age, it might be easy to write off the classics.
However, the legacy and demand for the classics is growing, with moviegoers flocking back to the theaters to see these iconic films. This sentiment can be seen across the entire spectrum of cinema, and our Big Screen Classics Series brings landmark anniversaries and unique films back to the big screen every year. As a cherry on top, renowned film historian and critic Leonard Maltin provides priceless insight into each film, shedding light on their enduring legacies.
To kick off Fathom’s Big Screen Classics 2024 series, we are diving into each of the 12 films spanning 60 years of cinema.
In this classic musical fantasy, Judy Garland stars as Dorothy Gale, a young Kansas farm girl who dreams of a land “somewhere over the rainbow.” Dorothy’s dream comes true when she, her dog Toto, and her family’s house are transported by a tornado to a bright and magical world unlike anything she has seen before. Unfortunately, she makes a mortal enemy of a wicked witch when the house falls on the hag’s sister. Now, befriended by a scarecrow without a brain, a tin man with no heart and a cowardly lion–and protected by a pair of enchanted ruby slippers–Dorothy sets off along a yellow brick road for the Emerald City to beseech the all-powerful Wizard of Oz for his help to return home. Audrey Hepburn is willful, self-aware and ultimately self-reliant Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison is Professor Henry Higgins in this splendid widescreen adaptation of the smash Broadway musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. My Fair Lady won the Academy Award® as Best Picture of 1964 and seven additional Oscars®, including Best Director (George Cukor), Best Actor (Harrison), and Best Art Direction. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, My Fair Lady still dazzles thanks to indelible performances, gorgeous cinematography, and songs like “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “On the Street Where You Live” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.” Frustrated with babysitting on yet another weekend night, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a teenager with an active imagination, summons the Goblins to take her baby stepbrother away. When little Toby actually disappears, Sarah must follow him into a fantastical world to rescue him from the Goblin King (David Bowie). Guarding his castle is the labyrinth itself, a twisted maze of deception, populated with outrageous characters and unknown dangers. To get through it in time to save Toby, Sarah befriends the Goblins, in hopes that their loyalty isn’t just another illusion in a place where nothing is as it seems. Winner of eight Academy Awards® (plus two special achievement Oscars), Fathom Events is proud to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of one of cinema’s most celebrated motion pictures of all time: Gone with the Wind! Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland and Hattie McDaniel star in this classic epic of the American South, opening on the eve of the American Civil War, as rich, beautiful, and self-centered Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh, in her Oscar-winning role)has everything she could want—except Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard).As the war devastates the South, Scarlett discovers the strength within herself to protect her family and rebuild her life. Through everything, she longs for Ashley, seemingly unaware that she is already married to the man she really loves (Gable)-and who truly loves her-until she finally drives him away. Only then does Scarlett realize what she has lost…and decides to win him back. Six silver screen icons–Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts–come together in this hilarious and heartwarming story of life, love, and a loss in a small Louisiana parish. At the center of the group is Shelby (Roberts), newly married and joyfully pregnant, even though her diabetes could make childbirth life-threatening. Terrified at the possibility of losing her only daughter, ’Lynn (Field) looks to her four closest friends for strength and laughter, as she fights to overcome her deepest fear of death to join Shelby in celebrating the miracle of new life.
A classic story of family, female empowerment, and big southern hair, the big screen is the perfect way to experience the film’s authentic Louisiana charm and celebrate 35 years of Steel Magnolias. Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman sneak into an R-rated movie to see their favorite Canadian superstars, Terrence and Phillip. When their parents find out, they declare war on Canada. Now the boys have to stand up to their parents, stop World War III and get Satan back to Hell before he destroys the world. It’s all part of a young boy’s life in this quiet little redneck mountain town.
The NeverEnding Story tells the story of Bastian (Barret Oliver) who, on his way to school one day, ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called “The NeverEnding Story,” Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by “The Nothing,” a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive. Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window tells the gripping story of a recuperating photographer (James Stewart) who suspects his neighbor may be a murderer. As the mystery develops, he enlists his girlfriend (Grace Kelly) to help him investigate and piece together the clues as they race to bring the full picture into focus. Ribald, tasteless, and hilarious…Mel Brooks’ classic spoof of the Western genre pokes fun at everyone and everything. Together with his nefarious railroad baron-backer Hedley Lamarr(Harvey Korman), corrupt Governor Lepetomane (Brooks)cooks up a scheme to grant a reprieve to an African American convict (Cleavon Little), on the condition that the condemned man agrees to serve as sheriff of a small Western town—with the intent that the newly-minted lawman will only live long enough to serve the needs of the governor and his seedy benefactor. The acclaimed comedy earned three Academy Award® nominations, including Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Madeline Kahn); Best Music, Original Song; and Best Film Editing. So why is October 3rd specifically “Mean Girls Day”? Because in the movie, it’s the day Aaron Samuels and Cady Heron have their first real, flirty (by Cady’s standards) conversation. On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was.” OR ALTERNATE: While Mean Girls came out on April 30, 2004, October 3rd has since become “Mean Girls Day,” begins talking to her crush, Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett), “more and more.” “On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was,” Lohan says in a voiceover.
After living in Africa with her zoologist parents, Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) must brave the wilds of high school where she is taken under the wing of the popular girls, The Plastics, led by the cool and cruel Regina George (Rachel McAdams). What follows is a treasure trove of sharp, witty humor that defined a generation, inspired a hit Broadway musical, and popularized countless catchphrases. Co-Starring and written by Tina Fey, and featuring Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Franzese, and Amy Poehler, Mean Girls is nothing short of a pop culture phenomenon and an iconic classic. Bruce Willis stars as Korben Dallas, a New York cab driver-turned-unlikely hero in this timeless story about love and survival set in the 23rd century. The acclaimed director of such films as Lucy, La Femme Nikita and Leon: The Professional brings to life a future world in which humanity has wandered out among the stars, spreading the life-energy of the universe and further agitating the dark force—whose time to strike back occurs only once every 5,000 years, when a doorway between the parallel dimensions briefly opens. That time is now, and Zorg (Academy Award®-winning actor (Gary Oldman), the agent of darkness, intends to take advantage of it. Humanity’s hopes may lie with Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), who represents the fifth element, the life force. Leeloo holds unimaginable powers, but she needs help, found in the unwitting Korben. Nothing less than the future of the universe is in their hands.
Two talented song and dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. One winter they join forces with a sister act(Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) and trek to Vermont for a white Christmas. The result is stuff dreams are made of.
Classic cinema will always be an essential part of the moviegoing experience. There is something about rediscovering an old film you fell in love with or introducing the magic to someone else. Join us in theaters nationwide for this year’s Fathom’s Big Screen Classics.
