November’s Movie Night at Old City Hall offers a double feature like you haven’t seen in years.
“Central Park” (l932) stars Joan Blondell as Dot, a penniless New Yorker who is tricked by a small-time hood pretending to be a police inspector. The hood promises to pay Dot $100 to help in a sting operation at a local benefit. She agrees, unaware that he hood’s gang is using her to steal the charity receipts. Only her equally penniless boyfriend, Rick (Wallace Ford) can save Dot before she becomes involved in the heist—but he’s being held captive by the hoods. Oh—what suspense you’ll endure—for the whole 57 minutes that the film runs!
“Hallelujah, I’m a Bum,” (1933) stars the legendary Al Jolson in one of the most sophisticated and delightful musicals ever made. Jolson plays a happy hobo who falls in love with a beautiful young woman (Madge Evans) with amnesia. The rich playboy he must compete against just happens to be the Mayor of New York (Frank Morgan, remembered as The Wizard of Oz)! The songs—and much of the rhyming dialogue—come from the team of Rodgers and Hart. As Jolson says, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”
The fun starts on Friday, November 11 at 6:30 PM. Doors open at 6:15. The Al Jolson film will run about 90 minutes after a brief 5 or 10 minute introduction. Then there will be about a 15 minute tea break before we screen CENTRAL PARK which is 57 minutes in length.
Thanks to Mayor Paul Becker for arranging and showing these cool classics!