Big Screen Films

Between stage productions we take the opportunity to show, on our big screen, favourite vintage films, mainly from the 1930s-1950s, along with contemporary Pathe newsreels.  The showings are matinees on specified Thursdays; doors open at 1.30 for tea and coffee and the show starts at 2.00.

Admission is FREE but limited to Apollo members.  If you’d like to join and get not only admission to the films but all the other benefits of membership, click here.

Current film schedule:

20 March: ‘Easter Parade’ (Judy Garland, Fred Astaire)

‘Easter Parade’ features two of the best known entertainers in movie history, glorious music, fresh Technicolor and amazing dancing routines.  Prepare to be entertained and amazed!  There is no other way to describe the creative, fun and bedazzling colour, costumes and dances.   Along the way there are a few laughs (Garland really helps the comedy side).  It is a perfect way to escape reality and dive into the world of the magnificent MGM musical.  One of the best.

24 April: ‘Born Yesterday’ (Judy Holliday, Broderick Crawford, William Holden)

‘Born Yesterday’ was based on the successful Broadway play of the same name.  Reprising her role from the Broadway production, Judy Holliday plays Billie Dawn, former nightclub singer and current mistress of crooked junkyard tycoon Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford).  Brock hires journalist Paul Verall (William Holden) to make Billie presentable to Washington, D.C. society but before long he decides that Billie’s getting too smart for her (or his) own good.

The cast is unquestionably the film’s biggest asset.  Judy Holliday took home a well-deserved Oscar for her excellent performance as the dim but sweet Billie.  Meanwhile, Broderick Crawford gave a performance that’s arguably as good as his Oscar-winning performance of a year earlier.

15 May: ‘Calamity Jane’ (Doris Day)

We’re showing this film as a tribute to Doris’ 90th birthday.

Who else could put across the ‘Deadwood stage’ number like Doris Day in the opening sequences of this wonderful movie?  Right through to her mushy ballad ‘Secret Love’ she is perfect for the role of the butch cowgirl who gets a feminine makeover and snares her shooting buddy (the excellent Howard Keel, in fine voice here).  Doris was a true star, a great actress and singer, game for a laugh and a pretty blonde who transcended her rather trite public image through her talent.  Calamity Jane is possibly her best work, and certainly one of the best musical movies