Bette Davis at the National Theater
With over 100 films to her credit and ten Academy Award nominations, plus two wins for Best Actress in Jezebel and Dangerous, Bette Davis is one of Hollywood’s most recognized icons.
Over the summer, the National Theatre in Washington, DC is screening some of her more famous films in their free Summer Cinema 2008 series.
Films in the series include:
July 7 - Jezebel
Davis plays a Southern Belle who enjoys publicly breaking social rules of “proper” behavior and thus loses her banker fiancé. She then goes on a mission to win him back.
July 14 - Dark Victory
The carefree and hedonistic New York socialite, Judith Traherne, after learning she has an inoperable brain tumor, must face her dark and frightening future.
July 21 - The Letter
Set in Singapore, the wife of a plantation administrator shoots a man to death, claiming self-defense. But was it?
July 28 - All About Eve
Davis plays Broadway star, Margo Channing, who is starting to show her age. Approached by an seemingly adoring fan and aspiring actress named Eve Harrington, the scheming woman plots to steal Margo’s career, fame friends and even her lover. In the Best Picture Oscar winner, Davis delivers her famous line, “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy night.”
August 4 - Mr. Skeffington
Marring a man she doesn’t love in order to save her brother from a financial scandal, Davis plays a manipulative New York beauty who stings along multiple lovers and has countless affairs. But after contracting a disease that ruins her looks, she must face the reality of finding love without after losing the only asset she had.
August 11 - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
This cult classic pairs two of Hollywood’s best actresses, one as the evil sister Jane (Bette Davis), and the other, the innocent but wheelchair bound sister Blanch (Joan Crawford). Acting as caretaker for her sister, Blanch terrorizes, controls and goes on a rein of psychological horror against her sister, as they live as recluses in an old mansion.
National Theatre Summer Cinema 2008
National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC (map it)
202-783-3372
Dates and Times - Mondays July 7 through August 11, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. Click here for a printable schedule.
Tickets - FREE, but tickets are required. Tickets are distributed ½ hour before show time.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Metro Center - Blue, Orange or Red lines, or Federal Triangle - Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.
Parking - Paid garage and limited metered street parking is available.
Images - public domain
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2 Comments
These are terrific films but the venue sucks. They are not shown in the theater but in the bar area upstairs. They set up green plastic chairs and show a DVD. All I could see was the head of the person in front of me. You’d be better off watching the DVD at home.
Thanks for the feedback Michael. I’m sure this is not th etype of feedback the National Theatre wants. Hopefully, they will improve their setting.