THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER

Announces a new Family Films series,

featuring a celebration of the

eccentrically magical mind of Roald Dahl

Family Films at Film Society

Families can enjoy all-time classics and beloved films with this delightful matinee series—featuring a special spotlight on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s tales. Launching tomorrow, Saturday, October 29 at 4:00PM with a screening of Henry Selick’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, FSLC’s Family Films will be an ongoing weekend film series presented at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Amphitheater with a special family friendly ticket price of $6.00.

Following is FSLC’s Family Films schedule through 2011 (The 2012 schedule will be announced at a later date.):

THE WITCHES (1990) 92min

Director: Nicolas Roeg

Country: USA

Nine-year-old Luke is on holiday with his grandmother (he is an orphan) in a London hotel when he discovers a secret meeting of witches planning to rid the world of children by turning them all into mice! Although they at first appear to be normal people, in one terrifying moment Luke learns that its all a disguise and that the witches truly are hideous, and dangerous, creatures. With the help of a new friend and his surprising grandmother, Luke fights to outwit them, even after he is transformed into a mouse. Starring Anjelica Houston as The Grand High Witch of all the World.

THE WITCHES screens in the EBM Amphitheater on Sunday, October 30 at 4:00PM and Saturday, November 5 at 4:00PM.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

A just scary enough movie, written by Roald Dahl, directed by Henry Selick (NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CORALINE) and produced by Tim Burton, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH follows the darkly whimsical adventures of James after his parents are killed in a rhinoceros accident. The boy goes to live with his two aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, who are mean, nasty, and above all, greedy. After a magical giant peach grows in the garden they open it as a tourist attraction making lots of money…and trash, which James has to clean up every evening. But one night he notices a hole in the peach, and climbing in, meets a new family of sorts: Miss Spider, Grasshopper, Ladybug, Earthworm and Catepillar. Together they roll away to pursue James’ dream to go to New York.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH screens in the EBM Amphitheater on Saturday, October 29 at 4:00PM and Sunday, December 18 at 4:00PM.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2005) 115min

Director: Tim Burton

Country: USA

Tim Burton updates the film version of Dahl’s most well-know book with Johnny Depp stepping in as Willy Wonka. The plot is unchanged with the impoverished Charlie Bucket winning one of the five Golden Tickets to tour the mysterious Wonka candy factory. The somewhat intimidating Wonka leads the children through the factory, but really through a series of tests of their characters. Some background into Wonka’s obsession with candy is revealed which is not in the book.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY screens in the EBM Amphitheater on Sunday, November 6 at 4:00PM and Saturday, November 12 at 4:00PM.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (1968) 144min               

Director: Ken Hughes

Country: UK

Forever a favorite musical for kids, the novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was written by Ian Fleming, of the James Bond books, and the screenplay was written by Roald Dahl. An eccentric inventor (played by Dick Van Dyke) invents an amazing flying car,which drives by itself. It takes him and his two children to Vulgaria, a country where children are illegal. Vulgaria’s sinister baron kidnaps the car forcing the inventor and his girlfriend to both get it back and rescue all of the children. The film also stars British comedy legend Benny Hill.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG screens in the EBM Amphitheater on Saturday, November 19 at 2:00PM and Sunday, November 27 at 2:00PM.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009) 87min                  

Director: Wes Anderson

Country: USA

Using beautifully detailed stop-motion animation, Wes Anderson cleverly and stylishly reimagines Roald Dahl’s slim rambunctious novel about a family of foxes. Sly papa fox (voiced by George Clooney) is unable to resist the temptation of raiding nearby farms, while his wife (Meryl Streep) wishes he’d be a bit more responsible, and his diminutive son (Jason Schwartzman) resents the attention given to a talented cousin (Eric Anderson). Featuring a delightful array of furry friends (including Bill Murray as a badger lawyer). After succumbing to his animalistic instincts to pilfer from the nearby farms, Mr. Fox must help his family and community survive the infamous farmers' retaliation.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX screens in the EBM Amphitheater on Sunday, November 20 at 4:00PM and Saturday, November 26 at 4:00PM.

MATILDA (1996) 93min

Director: Danny DeVito

Country: USA

Directed by Danny DeVito, Roald Dahl’s story remains a mischievous and compelling ode to anyone who felt like they were getting the short end of the stick as a kid. Matilda isn’t an orphan, but she wishes she was; it’s her parents who are the problem! Her mom watches TV all day and her dad scams customers at his used car dealership and both try to dissuade her from reading. At first school seems like a safe-haven with good friends and her kind teacher, but they are terrorized by the head mistress, Miss Trunchbull.  But one day when the injustices get to be too much, Matilda learns she is gifted with more than an intellect. She has powers! A delightful film, MATILDA allows the guilty to be punished and the good to get what is rightfully theirs. With Embeth Davidtz as the life-saving Miss Honey, Pam Ferris as the truly wretched Trunchbull, and DeVito and Rhea Perlman as the parents.

MATILDA screens in the EBM Amphitheater on Saturday, December 3 at 11:00AM and Sunday, December 11 at 4:00PM.

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) 100min

Director: Mel Stuart

Country: USA

A perennial cult favorite that’s just as odd as you remembered, this musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fanciful novel stars Gene Wilder as the zany, top-hatted recluse Willy Wonka. Against all odds, the indigent Charlie Bucket finds a winning ticket, and chaperoned by his sickly Grampa Joe, must compete against four more privileged kids, who, one by one, are forced out of the race, as their candy-related moral failures are put to song by the Oompa Loompas.

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY screens in the EBM Amphitheater on Sunday, December 4 at 11:00AM and Saturday, December 17 at 4:00PM.