Magic Lantern Film Society plans year of classic cinema

The Magic Lantern Film Society is in its twenty-fifth season of offering Cameron students a taste of classic films. “Birth of a Nation” was the first film to be screened this year on Sept. 8. The next showing will be of “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6. 

“The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” is what TV Guide calls “John Huston’s best film.” It follows three men in search of gold and riches. When the gold is discovered, the men begin to turn on each other after none of them wants to split it.

The Magic Lantern is a student organization sponsored by Professor John Morris and Professor Emerita Sherry Newell. Radio/television senior Justin Rielly is the president this year.

The film society was originally started in 1981 by Professor Mark Stegmaier. It was named after his graduate school in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Morris started with the Magic Lantern Film Society in 1990. He said the film society is to show Cameron students films they wouldn’t see anywhere else.

“We try to provide a wide range of classics,” Morris said. “We show many different genres for the people to see.”

Morris said the movies are chosen by solicitations from the audiences of the screenings. The people attending can give their input for the following year.

“We are always welcoming suggestions from our viewers,” Morris said. “Sometimes there will be a movie somebody in the group wants to see, and we’ll add that in.”

The Magic Lantern shows foreign films occasionally along with the English language films. Usually, there are two foreign films out of the standard ten films screened each year. This year, there will be three foreign films: “Nosferatu,” “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” and “Alexander Nevsky.”

“We show these foreign films because they’re not readily available in Lawton,” Morris said. “You can sometimes rent them, but you can’t see them in a theater.”

The screenings are in the Student Activities Building across the street from the Student Union. Most showings are at 7:30 p.m. but certain screenings are at 6:30 p.m. The movie screenings are always free. Morris said the Magic Lantern hasn’t been working on a budget in five years. Student donations help keep the film society running each year.

“We are fortunate to have people donate money at each of the showings,” Morris said. “Their donations help bring the Magic Lantern back the following year.”

Before each film, there is a classic cartoon. This year, Morris said they are screening a 1939 Republic Serial called “Daredevils of the Red Circle.” Each one is short and ends with a cliffhanger. To see the next part, students have to attend the next screening.

Morris said this adds nostalgia to the Magic Lantern screenings.

“Back in the early days of film, kids could go to the theaters on a Saturday afternoon for a dime,” Morris said. “They would see some cartoons, a couple shorts and a double-feature. All of that was only for a dime.”

Professor Stegmaier introduced the screening of “Birth of a Nation” on Sept. 8. Morris said Professor Vivian Thomlinson will introduce “The Treasure of Sierra Madre” in October.

“‘Treasure of Sierra Madre’ is based loosely off one of the stories of the Canterbury Tales,” Morris said. “She teaches those so we thought it would be nice to have her introduce the film.”

For a complete calendar of the Magic Lantern Film Society screenings, go to www.cameron.edu/magiclantern.