SPARROWS with the Library of Congress’ Christel Schmidt

At each Cinema Club screening, a prominent film historian, filmmaker, or film-loving personality introduces an essential cinema classic. Following the film, the speaker and members of the Drafthouse programming team lead an in-depth post-show conversation, offering insight into the film's production, history, and artistic qualities. This is a venue for film appreciation: to discover or revisit the outstanding cinematic achievements of yesteryear.

March's Cinema Club selections is SPARROWS (1926), chosen by our guest Christel Schmidt. Mary Pickford’s penultimate silent film is a Dickensian tale of orphans living on a baby farm run by an evil caretaker. The movie boasts highly stylized sets, including a truly ominous swamp, and atmospheric cinematography that illustrates the growing influence of German expressionist cinema on American filmmakers in the 1920s. As one of Mary Pickford’s darker-themed pictures, it is considered by many to be her best, including by her business partner and onscreen rival Charlie Chaplin. The feature is preceded by the Sparrows trailer, a surprise short film, and rarely-seen outtakes. Will feature a post-show conversation with Christel Schmidt, the editor of Mary Pickford: Queen of the Movies (co-published by the Library of Congress and the University Press of Kentucky), led by Alamo Drafthouse Film Programmer Sam Prime. 35mm restorations courtesy the Library of Congress. (LoC). Stick around afterwards, because Christel Schmidt will sell and sign copies of Mary Pickford: Queen of the Movies after the screening!