The Art Directors Guild (ADG) Film Society and American Cinematheque kick off the 2014 ADG Film Series with a special screening of the celebrated British psychological thriller The Prisoner (1967), designed by Jack Shampan, on Sunday, April 27 at 5:30 P.M. at the Egyptian Theatre, sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter.
It was in 1967 that Patrick McGoohan produced his masterpiece – The Prisoner. He created, directed and starred in the unique story of a spy who resigns, but is too dangerous to be set free – Ian Fleming meets Franz Kafka. The Prisoner demanded a very special world, much of it found in the otherworldly Portmeirion, a private city built of architectural relics on the coast of Wales.
“It all began in 1960, with British TV's Dangerman – 30 minutes of gritty film noir,” said Production Designer John Muto, Founder and Co-Chair of the ADG Film Series. “More detective than spy adventure, the program starred Patrick McGoohan, the charismatic actor who's said to have passed on the role of James Bond.” Dangerman, (re-titled Secret Agent in America), ran most of the decade. Meanwhile the first Bond feature, Dr. No, revolutionized the look of the spy film – in chic high style – inspiring shows from The Avengers to The Man From U.N.C.L.E. At the end of the spy cycle, McGoohan, like his character, quit the espionage business and came roaring back – creating possibly the most mind-bending of all miniseries.
The evening will begin with Actress Catherine McGoohan, daughter of Mr. McGoohan, who will discuss her memories of Portmeirion and the making of The Prisoner. The program will present two notable episodes: “Arrival" (1968), setting the story and the world, and “The Schizoid Man” (1967) in which McGoohan battles his doppelganger. Film clips tracing the decade of the sixties in film and TV design will be discussed by Alex McDowell (Designer of Man of Steel and Watchmen, and Director of the USC World Building Media Lab) and Arnold Schwartzman, O.B.E. (Oscar®-winning Documentarian, Director, and Graphic Designer). ADG Film Society Founder, Co-Chair and Production Designer John Muto will moderate the program.
“The 2013 ADG Film Society/American Cinematheque Screening Series was a great success,” said Muto. “In 2014, we've put together another – possibly even more eclectic and challenging – slate of films, for everyone who loves and is fascinated by great film design." For information about the 2014 ADG Film Series: Art Directors Guild Film Series 2014.
In addition to The Prisoner, the 2014 ADG Film Screening Series includes:
• Sunday, May 18 – MONSIEUR VERDOUX (1947) at the Aero Theatre, A Tribute to Designer John Gabriel Beckman
• Sunday, June 22 – DANTE’S INFERNO (1935) at the Egyptian Theatre, spotlighting the descent into hell sequence with Art Directors Duncan Cramer and David S. Hall
• Sunday, July 20 – THE DEVILS – US version (1971) at the Aero Theatre, with a tribute to Designer Derek Jarman
• Sunday, August 24 – EL GAUCHO (1927) at the Egyptian Theatre, spotlighting Supervising Art Director Carl Oscar Borg's vision of a timeless Argentina
Representing the ADG are Film Society Co-Chairs John Muto and Thomas A. Walsh, and Debbie Patton, ADG Manager, Awards and Events. Working with them are the American Cinematheque’s Gwen Deglise, Margot Gerber, and Grant Moninger. General admission: $11. American Cinematheque members: $7. Students/Seniors with valid ID: $9. All screenings start at 5:30 P.M. 24-hour information is available at 323-466-FILM (3456).
For ticket information: American Cinematheque Tickets – Egyptian Theatre
About the Art Directors Guild: The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) represents nearly 2,000 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, and Assistant Art Directors; Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists; Illustrators and Matte Artists; and Set Designers and Model Makers. Established in 1937, ADG's ongoing activities include a Film Society; an annual Awards Banquet, a creative/technology community (5D: The Future of Immersive Design) and Membership Directory; a bimonthly professional magazine (Perspective); and extensive technology-training programs, creative workshops and craft and art exhibitions. The Guild's Online Directory/Website Resource: Art Directors Guild; Follow ADG on Twitter: @ADG800; For Facebook: ADG Facebook.
About American Cinematheque: Established in 1981, the American Cinematheque is a 501(c)(3) non-profit viewer-supported film exhibition and cultural organization dedicated to the celebration of the Moving Picture in all of its forms. At the Egyptian Theatre, the Cinematheque presents daily film and video programming which ranges from the classics of American and international cinema to new independent films and digital work. Exhibition of rare works, special and rare prints, etc., combined with fascinating post-screening discussions with the filmmakers who created the work, are a Cinematheque tradition that keep audiences coming back for once-in-a-lifetime cinema experiences. The American Cinematheque renovated and reopened (on Dec. 4, 1998) the historic 1922 Hollywood Egyptian Theatre. This includes a state-of-the-art 616-seat theatre housed within Sid Grauman's first grand movie palace on Hollywood Boulevard. The exotic courtyard is fully restored to its 1922 grandeur. The Egyptian was the home of the very first Hollywood movie premiere in 1922. In January 2005, the American Cinematheque expanded its programming to the 1940 Aero Theatre on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. For more information about American Cinematheque, visit the website: American Cinematheque. Follow the American Cinematheque on Twitter (@sidgrauman) and Facebook (Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre).
