PALM SPRINGS CULTURAL CENTER HOSTS “SCREWBALL SUNDAYS” FILM AND SPEAKER SERIES
The Palm Springs Cultural Center and the Film Society of Screwball Comedy (FSOSC) proudly announce that the popular revival film series, Screwball Sundays, will return this spring with an unparalleled lineup of classic screwball comedies and esteemed guest speakers. The highlight of this year's series is the appearance of legendary film critic, historian, and author Molly Haskell. Renowned for her profound analysis of the portrayal of women in cinema, Ms. Haskell’s groundbreaking book From Reverence to Rape: The Treatment of Women in the Movies, continues to influence film scholarship and inform discussion of gender in film.
Molly Haskell will grace the stage on Saturday, April 27th, at 6 pm for a special evening screening of the Preston Sturges classic THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942), followed by a ticketed reception and book signing. Continuing her presence, Ms. Haskell will speak again, at the screening of Ernest Lubitsch’s DESIGN FOR LIVING (1933) on Sunday April 28th, at the regular series showtime of 3pm.
Screwball Sundays kicks off March 3rd with the hilarious Cary Grant classic ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944), featuring film historian and author Steven C. Smith. Each screening will feature a live introduction and Q&A following the film with Aliece Pickett, co-founder of the Film Society of Screwball Comedy (FSOSC), who will also interview each guest speaker. All speaker appearances are sponsored by FSOSC, which is dedicated to the art, science, and preservation of screwball comedy. FSOSC has a vast database of screwball comedy film information and resources, including books, that are available for enthusiasts. For more information, visit FSOSC.org.
Screwball Sundays Featured Speakers
Steven C. Smith
Film historian, national speaker, author Steven C. Smith will be speaking and signing his book Music By Max Steiner, The Epic Life of Hollywood’s Most Influential Composer at the March 3rd screening of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, starring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lace. Max Steiner composed over 300 scores with RKO and Warner Bros., including the score for ARSENIC AND OLD LACE.
Mr. Smith is a four-time Emmy nominated producer of over 200 documentaries, and also authored A Heart at Fire’s Center, The Life And Music of Bernard Herrmann.
Kristen Lopez
TCM contributor and author Kristen Lopez will be speaking and signing her TCM book, But Have You Read The Book? at the April 7th screening of SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS, starring Veronica Lake and Joel McCrea.
Ms. Lopez is an entertainment journalist and the Film Editor for TheWrap. She is a regular contributor to TCM, has written for Variety, Roger Ebert and MTV, and was the TV editor for IndieWire. Ms. Lopez is the creator of the classic film podcast, Ticklish Business, now running for eight years. Her next book is set to be published in 2025.
Rob Kozlowski
Film historian, journalist, and author Rob Kozlowski will be speaking and signing his book Becoming Nick And Nora, The Thin Man and the Films of William Powell and Myrna Loy at the April 14th screening of AFTER THE THIN MAN, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.
Mr. Kozlowski taught comedy writing at Second City Chicago and at the Cinema and Television Arts Department at Columbia College Chicago. Mr. Kozlowski has authored two other books on the entertainment industry, The Art of Chicago Improv: Short Cuts to Long-Form Improvisation, and The Actor’s Guide to the Internet.
Molly Haskell
Legendary film critic, historian and author Molly Haskell will be speaking at a special Saturday screening of THE PALM BEACH STORY, starring Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea, on April 27th at 6pm. Ms Haskell will be signing books at an exclusive ticketed reception following the screening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center’s VIP Lounge. Ms. Haskell will also be speaking the following day at the April 28th screening of DESIGN FOR LIVING, starring Miriam Hopkins, Gary Cooper, and Fredric March, at the series’ regular showtime of 3pm.
Ms. Haskell is the author of six books. From Reverence To Rape, the Treatment of Women in the Movies is cited as one of the most influential books in film history. She has written for The New York Times, The Guardian UK, Esquire, The Nation, Town and Country, The New York Observer, The New York Review of Books, The Village Voice, New York Magazine, and Vogue. She has served as associate Professor of Film at Barnard, and as Adjunct Professor of Film at Columbia University.
Kimberly Truhler
Film and fashion historian and author Kimberly Truhler will be speaking and signing her book Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s at the May 5th screening of HOLIDAY, starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Holiday will be exhibited on 35mm film.
Ms. Truhler is the founder of GlamAmor.com. She has contributed to TCM, The National Film Registry, the BBC, Elle, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, CNN’s series American Style, the Encyclopedia of Film and Television Costume Design and American Cinematheque. Ms. Truhler has taught History of Fashion in Film at Woodbury University.
Doors will open 45 minutes before the 3pm showtime, allowing audiences to arrive early and enjoy preshow of original shorts and cartoons from the 1930s and 40s. The series is also made possible by the generous support of 107.3 Mod FM.
Tickets are available now, and attendees can save money and bypass lines by purchasing an All Access Pass, which also includes admission to the reception and book signing with Molly Haskell.
Tickets and passes available here.
The screenings will take place on select Sundays at 3pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center’s Historic Camelot Theatre, located at 2300 E Baristo Rd. The Historic Camelot Theatre is highly regarded by film fans, boasting one of the largest screens in the Coachella Valley and a state-of-the-art sound system.