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Davis & Hepburn: Feisty and Fabulous
All summer long, Symphony Space showcases the
greatest films of these two celebrated actresses, who both had long, lauded
careers, garnering many Academy Award nominations and wins, persevering through
their bumpy early years—Davis
making several undistinguished films before she hit the jackpot, and Hepburn at
one time being labeled “box office poison.” Though they were stars in every
sense of the word, they were also fine actors—not just larger-than-life
personalities—and their films remain as exciting and entertaining today as when
they were released.
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Double Feature! Hepburn in Summertime Sun at 2 pm & 7 pm, Tue at 9:15 pm She came to Venice as a tourist—and went home a woman! 1955. UK/USA. David Lean. 100 min. Technicolor. As a middle-aged, unmarried American secretary who travels to Venice, Hepburn is tough but longing to be loved. Davis in Now, Voyager Sun at 4 pm & 9 pm, Tue at 7 pm “I’m the maiden aunt. Every family has one, you know.” 1942. USA. Irving Rapper. 117 min. B&W. The role of a spinster, brought to the verge of a nervous breakdown by her domineering mother, was the biggest box office hit of Davis’ career.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, June 29, 2008 - Tuesday, July 1, 2008
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Double Feature! Hepburn in Pat and Mike Sun at 2 pm & 7 pm, Tue at 8:45 pm “Hepburn proves to be a star.” –Variety 1952. USA. George Cukor. 95 min. B&W. Of the nine movies Hepburn made with Spencer Tracy, this was her all time favorite. Written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. Hepburn in Adam’s Rib Sun at 4 pm & 9 pm, Tue at 7 pm “Meaty and juicy and comically nourishing.” –The New York Times 1949. USA. George Cukor. 101 min. B&W. Hepburn and Spencer Tracy are a hilarious team as the lawyer-husband and his lawyer-wife in this classic battle of the sexes.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, July 6, 2008 - Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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Double Feature! Davis in Dark Victory Sun at 2 pm & 7pm, Tue at 8:45 pm “Miss Davis is superb, she is enchanted and enchanting.” –The New York Times 1939. USA. Edmund Goulding. 104 min. B&W. Garbo was the original choice for Judith, who became Davis’ all-time favorite role and brought her a fourth Oscar Nomination. Davis in The Letter Sun at 4 pm & 9 pm, Tue at 7 pm “With all my heart, I still love the man I killed!” 1940. USA. William Wyler. 95 min. B&W. A classic film noir full of murder and blackmail on a rubber plantation.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, July 13, 2008 - Tuesday, July 15, 2008
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Double Feature! Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story Sun at 2 pm & 7pm, Tue at 8:45 pm “Hepburn doesn't play in The Philadelphia Story; she is The Philadelphia Story.” –Variety 1940. USA. George Cukor. 112 min. B&W. Hepburn plays an heiress, torn between her fiancé, charming ex-husband, and a shy reporter. Hepburn in Sylvia Scarlett Sun at 4 pm & 9 pm, Tue at 7 pm “Miss Hepburn is on her home grounds, and she plays the part with a richness of understanding.” –The New York Times 1935. USA. George Cukor. 95 min. B&W. To prevent the arrest of her father, a petty English crook, Sylvia transforms into Sylvester and convinces everyone that she is a he.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, July 20, 2008 - Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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Double Feature! Davis in The Great Lie Sun at 2 pm & 7pm, Tue at 8:45 pm “The tale gives Miss Davis an opportunity to display her fine talent for distress” –The New York Times 1941. USA. Edmund Goulding. 108 min. B&W. Davis and Mary Astor didn’t like the original script and rewrote themselves the story of a love triangle rivalry. Davis in In This Our Life Sun at 4 pm & 9 pm, Tue at 7 pm “Bette Davis plays as poisonously as only she can.” –The New York Times 1942. USA. John Huston. 97 min. B&W. Cruel and selfish, Davis is out of control and would do anything to get what she wants.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, July 27, 2008 - Tuesday, July 29, 2008
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Rarely Screened! “Hepburn makes for a truly amazing drug addict in this harrowing and devastating Lumet film.” –filmcritic.com 1962. USA. Sidney Lumet. 170 min. B&W. The role of a drug-addict mother in a completely dysfunctional family—where the husband is a failed actor, the older son an emotionally unstable alcoholic, and the young one with a life threatening disease—brought Katharine Hepburn her ninth of twelve Oscar nominations.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, August 3, 2008 - Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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Double Feature! Davis in Jezebel Sun at 2 pm & 7pm, Tue at 9 pm The story of a woman who was loved—when she should have been whipped! 1938. USA. William Wyler. 103 min. B&W. The story of a selfish, headstrong, manipulating Southern belle who breaks hearts as easily as she breaks the rules. A brilliantly fashioned, superb study of the gender roles and conventions of the mid-19th Century South. Davis in A Stolen Life Sun at 4 pm & 9 pm, Tue at 7 pm 1946. USA. Curtis Bernhardt. 109 min. B&W. By taking up a dual challenge and simultaneously playing Patricia and Kate, identical twin sisters, Davis proves that she is equally talented as both a sweet, sincere, artistic girl, and her man-crazy sister.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, August 10, 2008 - Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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Double Feature! Hepburn in On Golden Pond Sun at 2 pm & 7pm, Tue at 9 pm “Hepburn’s luminous presence and quiet dignity carry the movie.” –filmcritic.com 1981. USA. Mark Rydell. 109 min. Color. Hepburn and Henry Fonda swept the Oscars with their affectionate, realistic performance of a couple dealing with family relationships, old age and death. Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn Sun at 4 pm & 9 pm, Tue at 7 pm “A cheerful Western, featuring two stars of the grand tradition who respond to each other with verve that makes the years disappear.” –The New York Times 1975. USA. Stuart Millar. 108 min. Technicolor. Hepburn is a bible-thumping preacher’s daughter who helps an old marshall track down some outlaws.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, August 17, 2008 - Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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Double Feature! Davis in All About Eve Sun at 2 pm & 7pm, Tue at 8:30 pm “Brilliantly conceived! Dazzling, devastation!” –The New York Times 1950. USA. Joseph L. Mankiewicz.138 min. B&W. A devastatingly witty look at life in the theatre. Juicy dialogue fuels the fabulous performances in this sophisticated treasure about an actress and her insidious rise to the top. Hepburn in Morning Glory Sun at 4:30 pm & 9:30 pm, Tue at 7 pm “Hepburn’s portrayal is ingratiating.” –The New York Times 1933. USA. Lowell Sherman. 74 min. B&W. Ironically, Hepburn launched her successful career and won her first Oscar for the role of Eva Lovelace, an aspiring but naďve actress, who goes to New York dreaming of theatrical stardom.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, August 24, 2008 - Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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Double Feature! Hepburn in Suddenly Last Summer Sun at 2 pm & 7pm, Tue at 9:30 pm “Hepburn is dominant, a genteel hammer.” –Variety 1959. USA. Joseph L. Mankiewicz. 114 min. B&W. In order to maintain the delusional memory of her deceased son, a wealthy heiress extorts a doctor into giving her niece a lobotomy in Gore Vidal’s screenplay of Tennessee Williams’ play. Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Sun at 4 pm & 9 pm, Tue at 7 pm “Together, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford constitute a dictionary definition of the elusive term ‘bitch-goddess.’” –Donna Bowman 1962. USA. Robert Aldrich. 134 min. B&W. Offstage, the two stars hated each other, but in this psychological thriller, the two divas played their hearts out—Crawford as an invalid and Davis as her demented ex-child star sister.

Tickets: $11; Members $7
Tickets are no longer available for this event.
Past Showdates: Sunday, August 31, 2008 - Tuesday, September 2, 2008
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