Drama of World War 2 comes to Tibbits’ Big Screen!
COLDWATER – Since the silent era of film, audiences have been captivated by war movies with plots depicting the needless brutality of war as in the silent masterpiece “J’accuse!” from 1919 or to showcase the bravery of soldiers and civilians alike as in “Defiance” from 2008. On May 20 the Tibbits Classic Film Series will bring two of best-known war classics to the big screen, “Run Silent, Run Deep” and “The Sands of Iwo Jima.”
The double feature begins at 4pm with the navel drama, “Run Silent, Run Deep.” When his submarine is sunk by the Japanese during the second world war, Commander ‘Rich’ Richardson, played by Clarke Gable, is assigned to desk duty. After a year of being stuck in an office he is finally given a chance to skipper another sub. Not long after assuming command, Richardson begins a dangerous and reckless quest for vengeance and begins to hunt down the enemy destroyer that sunk his previous vessel. Refusing to listen to reason he routinely puts his new crew in unnecessary danger much to the distress of second in command, played by Burt Lancaster.
“Sands of Iwo Jima” follows at 5:45pm starring John Wayne as John Marion Stryker, a hardened Marine who is given command of a squad of new recruits and is charged with making them battle-ready. The squad grows more and more resentful of Stryker due to his increasingly brutal training regimen and his general lack of sympathy for the men’s personal problems. The Squad’s opinion of their CO begins to change after they are deployed to Tarawa, an island located in the Pacific theatre of WW2, when he risks his life to save a fellow squad of marines that have been pinned down by an enemy bunker. The now battle-tested squad becomes more closely-knit and Stryker’s relationship with the men warms as they all find themselves in the midst of the bloodiest island battle of the war.
The theatre will open 30 minutes prior to the first film showing. Concessions, including popcorn and a cash bar, will be available for purchase at Tibbits’ Ghost Light Bar. There is no charge to view these films, though donations are accepted. The Classic Film Series will return this fall.
The Classic Film Series is generously sponsored by Dr. Matthew Christopher, DDS, PC. A proud supporter of Tibbits Opera House, Dr. Christopher is also a Tibbits Summer Theatre Popcorn Theatre sponsor and corporate member of the historic theatre. Dr. Christopher and his staff provide excellent quality dental care for the entire family. Conveniently located in Union City and Coldwater, they handle most treatments in office, saving patients time and money while crafting smiles to last a lifetime.
All showings will take place at the beautiful historic Tibbits Opera House, 14 S. Hanchett Street, in Coldwater. For more information or a complete listing of shows and events, please visit Tibbits.org.