Fall film series begins tonight

The Churchill Arts Council’s fall film series, Big Screen Epics, begins tonight with a showing of “Lawrence of Arabia.”

The series of three films will feature critically acclaimed films that are large in both narrative scope and running time and are best viewed on the large screen at the Barkley Theatre. The other films in the series will be “Doctor Zhivago” and “Once Upon A Time In America.”

“Lawrence of Arabia” was directed by David Lean and released in 12962. It’s the epic tale of a young British military officer who blazed his way to glory in the Arabian desert during World War I. The film stars Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif and Jose Ferrer.

It is one of the most praised and awarded films of all time. It received Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography. It was also nominated for Best Actor (O’Toole), Best Supporting Actor (Sharif) and Best Screenplay.

In addition to the Oscars it also received Golden Globe awards for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor and was also nominated for Best Actor and Best Musical Score.

Tickets for the film — $7 CAC members, $10 for nonmembers — will be available in the Art Center’s bar beginning at 6 p.m. The film will begin at 7 p.m. and the Art Bar will remain open until the conclusion of the film.

Special passes for all three films in the series, $18 for CAC members, $27 for nonmembers, will also be available for purchase tonight only. For information you can call Churchill Arts at 775-423-1440.

The film series will continue with a showing of the 1965 film, “Doctor Zhivago” on Oct. 18 and will conclude with a screening of “Once Upon A Time In America” on Nov. 1.

Also coming up will be a special ceremony for the lighting of the historic Lariat Motel sign which was recently renovated and re-installed at the entrance to the Art Center courtyard. This will be held on Nevada Day, Oct. 31, from 5-7 p.m.

We’ll have more information on this and the other films in the series next week.

Kirk Robertson covers the arts scene.