Free Friday Film Series: Laughter is the Best Medicine!
by: Erin Witt, Reference Librarian, Ives Main Branch
Looking to beat the heat this July? Visit the New Haven Free Public Library – Ives Main branch every Friday in July at 2 pm for our Free Friday Film Series! The theme for this month is “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” Our librarians have selected four classic films that deliver 50 ccs of delight which promise to cure any summer ails.
Our series starts off with a bang on July 7th with a showing of The Blues Brothers:
After his release from prison, Jake (John Belushi) reunites with his brother, Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) — collectively known as the “Blues Brothers.” Jake’s first task is to save the orphanage the brothers grew up in from closing, by raising $5,000 to pay back taxes. The two are convinced they can earn the money by getting their old band back together. However, after playing several gigs and making a few enemies, including the police, the brothers face daunting odds to deliver the money on time.
On July 14th, join us for the Mel Brooks classic Young Frankenstein:
Respected medical lecturer Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) learns that he has inherited his infamous grandfather’s estate in Transylvania. Arriving at the castle, Dr. Frankenstein soon begins to recreate his grandfather’s experiments with the help of servants Igor (Marty Feldman), Inga (Teri Garr) and the fearsome Frau Blücher (Cloris Leachman). After he creates his own monster (Peter Boyle), new complications ensue with the arrival of the doctor’s fiancée, Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn).
July 21st takes us out of this world with the star-studded film Galaxy Quest:
The stars of a 1970s sci-fi show – now scraping a living through re-runs and sci-fi conventions – are beamed aboard an alien spacecraft. Believing the cast’s heroic on- screen dramas are historical documents of real-life adventures, the band of aliens turn to the ailing celebrities for help in their quest to overcome the oppressive regime in their solar system.
To round out the month, onJuly 28th we end our series with the Marilyn Monroe classic Some Like it Hot:
After witnessing a Mafia murder, slick saxophone player Joe (Tony Curtis) and his long- suffering buddy, Jerry (Jack Lemmon), improvise a quick plan to escape from Chicago with their lives. Disguising themselves as women, they join an all-female jazz band and hop a train bound for sunny Florida. While Joe pretends to be a millionaire to win the band’s sexy singer, Sugar (Marilyn Monroe), Jerry finds himself pursued by a real millionaire (Joe E. Brown) as things heat up and the mobsters close in.
Come join us! All films will be shown in the Lower-Level Community Program Room. We hope to see you there! For questions and more information, visit our website or call (203) 946-8130.
