News
The Ashland Film Club will announce the rescheduled date for showing ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ soon. Stay tuned for updates.
Forty-eight years ago this movie was banned in Hanover County by the School Board as being “immoral.”
To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 American drama film based on the 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Harper Lee. It stars Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch and Mary Badham in the role of Scout.
The film, widely considered to be one of the greatest ever made, earned an overwhelmingly positive response from critics, and was a box office success. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Peck, and was nominated for eight, including Best Picture.
In 1995, the film was listed in the National Film Registry. It also ranks twenty-fifth on the American Film Institute‘s 10th anniversary list of the greatest American movies of all time. In 2003, AFI named Atticus Finch the greatest movie hero of the 20th century.
To Kill a Mockingbird marks the film debuts of Robert Duvall, William Windom, and Alice Ghostley.
Essay Contest #3: In 1966 the Hanover County School Board banned ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ from public schools as being “immoral.” From watching the movie why do you think they took this action? Was it, at the time, justified?
(Response due by March 30, 2015)
Essay Contest #2: What aspects of this film ‘The Searchers’ parallel the Homer’s quest in the Odyssey? John Wayne’s character is out for revenge. Are his actions justified? As Wayne and his companions go after the Indians is there a parallel about the worlds’ problems today with terrorism and the attitude toward Muslims? Can you cite specific examples from the film? (Response due by March 1, 2015)
(Essay Responses due by March 1, 2015) Teachers may submit up to two essays per class to the Ashland Film Club Awards committee. Send essays to P.O. Box 33 Ashland, VA 23005 or email to cotutheater@gmail.com. Approval to publish essay winners will be required by both the parents and students. Questions? Please call Ragan Phillips, Ashland Film Committee Chairman at 804-798-3429.
The Ashland Theater located at 205 England St. has reopened and will be showing four classic award winning films as part of the Ashland Film Club series on Sunday afternoons at 4:30pm on Feb 1, Feb 15, Mar 1, and Mar 15th. Films include: ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’, ‘The Searchers’, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, and ‘The Sting’. Following each film, Jim Doering, a member of the Randolph-Macon Film Studies group will provide insightful discussion about the film and musical score. This short discussion will be followed by a question and answer session. We hope that you and your students can enjoy this exploration of film & music together and perhaps this experience can be used for discussion in the classroom or to use as you deem appropriate for your curriculum.
As an incentive we are offering essay contests to encourage your students to actively participate in critiquing each film. The winner of each contest will receive a $50.00 Gift Certificate from Barnes & Noble, provided by Points of Excellence. Essays will be reviewed by the Ashland Film Committee and the winners will be announced by April 1, 2015. For each contest entry, the essay must be received within two weeks of reviewing the films (See attached essay contest questions for each film. Due dates for essay contests 1-4 are due 2/15; 3/1; 3/15 & 3/30 respectively). Teachers may submit up to two essays for each film and may mail to Ashland Film Club Awards Committee P.O. Box 33 Ashland, VA 23005. Teachers may also email the essay responses to the theater committee at cotutheater@gmail.com. Approval to publish essay winners will be required by both the parents and students. Questions? Please call Ragan Phillips, Ashland Film Committee Chairman at 804-798-3429.
The Ashland Film Club offers discounts for teachers and students to attend each film ($5 per film). If any student cannot afford to participate– please feel free to contact us at cotutheater@gmail.com so we can work out an arrangement. We would like as many students to view these quality films as possible. Visit www.AshlandTheaterVA.org for more information. We look forward to seeing you and your students at the historic Ashland Theater.
Brought to you by:
Ashland Main Street Association
Ashland Community Theater Foundation
Randolph-Macon College
Essay Contest #1 – Click here for “Yankee Doodle Dandy” Response Due By Feb. 15, 2015.
Essay Contest #2 – Click here for ‘The Searchers’ Response Due by Mar. 1, 2015.
Join us for these exclusive screenings and discussions in February and March!
Special Rate for Students! Only $25 to see all four films.
Join Online Here, or you can mail your membership donations to:
Ashland Main Street Association
PO Box 33
Ashland, VA 23005
Please make checks payable to the Ashland Main Street Association and note “Film Club” on your check.
The Ashland Main Street Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Essay Contests to win $50.00 Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate and publication of work is being offered by the Ashland Film Club. Click HERE for details.
Give the Gift of Movies! Purchase a Town Gift Certificate.
Ashland Town Gift Certificates can now be used at the Ashland Theater! They work just like cash. Simply present the town certificate at the Movie Box Office window. Tickets for movies are $5.00 each. Purchase any amount and this can be used at other local businesses as well. The town does a wonderful job in printing your certificate on a card that makes a perfect present! Town Hall is open from 8:30 am – 5:00 PM Monday – Friday. Click HERE for more details.
For any questions, please call 804-798-1073.
Forty-eight years ago this movie was banned in Hanover County by the School Board as being “immoral.”
