Lancaster film series concludes with ‘Atlantic City’

The Churchill Arts Council’s Burt Lancaster film series will conclude this evening with a screening of the 1980 film, “Atlantic City.

The film was directed by Louis Malle, who also directed such films as “Pretty Baby,” “My Dinner With Andre,” “Alamo Bay,” “Au Revoir Les Enfants” among many others. In addition to Lancaster the films features Susan Sarandon and Kate Reid.

The movie is the tale of a chance encounter encounter between a once-upon-a-time, minor gangster and a waitress in an oyster bar just off the boardwalk. She’s dreaming of learning to deal blackjack so she can become a croupier in Monte Carlo and he is wandering through his memories and dreams of days past, back when he knew Bugsy Siegel.

It is a thoughtful meditation on the possibilities of hopes for the future and the reincarnation of memories. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards including ones for Best Picture (but lost out to “Chariots of Fire”), Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

It also received Golden Globe nominations for Actor and Director. In addition, it received the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Tickets are $7 for CAC members, $10 for non-members can be purchased in the bar at the Oats Park Art Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow night and the film will begin at 7 p.m.

CAC events coming in March include “An Evening with the Arts” on March 4, a poetry reading with Daryl Chinn on March 11 and a performance by Kahulanui on March 25.

“An Evening with the Arts” is the Arts Council annual fundraising dinner and silent auction which raises funds to help insure the continued delivery of the array of performances, exhibitions, films and readings throughout the coming year.

Items in the auction are an eclectic assortment of artworks, crafts, trips and weekend getaways, and other items. Dinner will be catered by the Slanted Porch and will feature a choice of fillet and lobster tail, or asparagus ravioli in a light tarragon cream sauce, with all the trimmings, wine and desert.

This year’s theme is SteamPunk and appropriate attire is encouraged. Tickets are $80 per person, which includes dinner, wine and admission to the auction, or $90 per person if you’d also like $20 worth of raffle tickets. Tables of eight or 10 are available, but since seating is limited, early reservations are advised. You can call Churchill Arts at 775-423-1440 for reservations and/or more information.

We’ll have more information on the Daryl Chinn reading and the Kahulanui performance next week.

Kirk Robertson covers the arts and may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com