“Reel People” Film Series at Facets Film School February—April

Facets Film School, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., is presenting a new midnight movie series starting February 25, 2012. “Reel People” will feature films about real people and events. A different host will introduce each movie every week. Many of the hosts are instructors at Facets. The film series features Classic Movie Man, Steve Reginald, introducing the 1950 release, Three Came Home starring Claudette Colbert on Saturday, March 17.

Claudette Colbert as Agnes Newton Keith

Three Came Home tells the story of Oak Park, IL, native Agnes Newton Keith. The film is based on Keith’s memoirs written about her experiences as a Japanese prisoner of war on the Island of Borneo, during World War II. The film is remarkable on many levels, including a realistic and gritty performance from Colbert as Keith. Colbert, famous for her glamorous persona in romantic comedies and melodramas, is anything but glamorous as Keith.

The film, released barely five years after the end of the conflict, presents a remarkably balanced portrayal of Keith’s experiences as a prisoner of war under the Japanese. Sessue Hayakawa (Bridge on the River Kwai) lends excellent support as Colonel Suga, both Keith’s tormentor and confidant. The direction by Jean Negulesco (Johnny Belinda, Road House) is steady and true. Considered one of the most important films of the year when first released, this classic is almost forgotten today.

Admission to each film is free for Facets members, $5 for nonmembers.

Facets Multi-Media, founded in 1975, is a non-profit, 501(C)3 organization, and a leading national media arts organization. Its mission is to preserve, present, distribute, and educate about film.


Feb. 25             Lew Ojeda        Amin: The Rise and Fall (1981)
March 3            Mike Smith       I’m Not There (2007)
March 10          Chris Damen     Barfly (1987)
March 17          S. Reginald       Three Came Home (1950)
March 24          Cary Elza          Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
March 31          N. Calderone    The Bengali Detective (2011)
April 7               Joe Lewis         The Beaver Trilogy (2000)
April 14             Dom Mayer      King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
April 21             J. Wicklund       Head (1968)

South Loop Connection blogger teaching film class at Facets Multimedia Filmschool

Down-to-Earth Sophistication: Claudette Colbert in Hollywood

Claudette Colbert is one of the legends from Hollywood's golden age.  An Academy Award winning actress, Colbert acted in all movie genres with equal success. But Colbert really excelled at romantic comedy, working with top directors, including Ernst Lubitsch, Mitchell Leisen, and the legendary Preston Sturges.

The Colbert class, taught by instructor, Stephen Reginald, is on Wednesday nights, starting July 28 for at total of six weeks. Reginald's last class at Facets was Carole Lombard: The Divine Screwball. To read a review of the Lombard class, check out the Chicago Magazine Web site.

For more information on the Colbert class and other Facets Film School offerings, please click on the link below.

Facets Multimedia: Filmschool

Posted using ShareThis