FILM SERIES
Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Fall at the Nation’s Library
curated by Norman Middleton, Music Division
Monday evenings at 7:00 pm – Mary Pickford Theater, 3rd Floor, James Madison Building. No tickets required. Seating is limited. Reservations may be made one week before any given screening by calling (202-707-5677) between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Reserved seats must be claimed at least 10 minutes before show time, after which standbys will be admitted. Programs subject to change without notice.
November 17
HEARTLAND REGGAE (1980) directed by James
P. Lewis (90 minutes) - Considered the definitive reggae film, this documentary
of the One Love Peace Concert, held in Kingston, Jamaica in 1978, includes
discussions of the Rastafarian lifestyle and philosophy.
FRANK ZAPPA MINI-FESTIVAL
November 24
UNCLE MEAT (1968)
written, produced, and directed by Frank Zappa (100 minutes) –
You’ll need a chicken to watch this combination of fiction, home movies
and footage of the 1968 Mothers of Invention Royal Albert Hall --- the story
of a songwriter who sometimes becomes a monster.
December 1 - Double Bill
THE AMAZING MR. BICKFORD (1987) directed
by Bruce Bickford and Frank Zappa (60 minutes) – A rare glimpse into
the dark surrealist vision of clay animator Bruce Bickford—a world
of aliens and monsters, elaborate battles, and violent barroom brawls set
to Zappa’s music.
AND
DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC? (1985) directed
by Frank Zappa (57 minutes) – A live performance in New York City
by Zappa’s 1984 band, arguably the best artists he'd ever assembled.
For Zappa fans, this is a must.
December 8
200 MOTELS (1971) directed by Tony Palmer,
Charles Swenson, and Frank Zappa (98 minutes) – A tale of life on
the road with animation interspersed with performances of the Mothers of
Invention and the Royal Symphony Orchestra, and a cast that includes Theodore
Bikel and Ringo Starr.
December 15
STOP MAKING SENSE (1984) directed by Jonathan
Demme (88 minutes) - Expertly filmed and edited performance of a Talking
Heads concert (over three nights) featuring lead singer David Byrne with
Alex Weir, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, Bernie Worrell, Chris Frantz,
Steven Scales, and others.
Jazz in the Spring at the Nation’s Library
curated by Larry Appelbaum, Music Division
April 1 -29, 2009
Watch here for updated information.