REEL CITIES: International Film Series begins with The City

Loyola’s International Film Series, an annual event sponsored by the College’s Honors Program, begins on Tuesday, Sept. 19 with a screening of 1939’s The City, a 1939 American film produced for that year’s World’s Fair. With music by Aaron Copland, the film is a problem-solving documentary that calls for smaller cities planned for living, working, and playing. Free and open to the public, the screening will take place at 8:30 p.m. in McManus Theater.

In keeping with the focus of the Year of the City, this year’s International Film Series will feature films in which cities play an integral part. Other films in the Series include Brazil’s Cidade de Deus, set in one of Rio de Janeiro’s most dangerous housing projects (Oct. 16); Born into Brothels (2004), a documentary depicting Calcutta’s red light districts (Nov. 14); Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Jan. 23), based on classic Los Angeles private eye movies; Speedy, a silent film set in New York’s Coney Island (Feb. 13); Sweet Smell of Success (March 26), a look at behind the scenes power brokering in showbiz Manhattan; and Roma, citta aperta, Roberto Rossellini’s 1946 film, shot shortly after the Allies drove the Nazis out of Rome.

Except for Speedy, which will feature live accompaniment by the Alloy Orchestra and be shown at 7:30 p.m. at Baltimore’s Senator Theatre, all films will be shown at 8:30 p.m. in McManus Theater on the College’s North Charles Street campus.