Cold War Comedies Hit Phoenixville During Colonial's 'Red October'

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Sundays in October at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville will celebrate the best in Cold War comedy.

Here's what's up next on the docket this fall, according to the theatre:

Sunday, October 1 at 1:30 p.m.

The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming (1966)

• Based on Nathaniel Benchley’s comedic novel The Off-Islanders, this all-star satire concerns the wave of paranoia that rushes over the residents of a small New England island when a Russian submarine runs aground near the shore. Believing an enemy invasion has begun, the citizens form a muddled militia. Now it’s up to the level-headed policeman (Brian Keith) and a kindly Russian Lieutenant (Alan Arkin in his debut) to avoid an international catastrophe and get the sub back where it belongs. Highlighted by cast of comedic superstars that includes Carl Reiner, Jonathan Winters, and Paul Ford, the film also features the talents of Eva Marie Saint, John Phillip Law, Theodore Bikel, and Michael J. Pollard. Directed by Norman Jewison. US. 1966. NR. 126 minutes. Park Circus. 35mm projection.

Sunday, October 8 at 1:30 p.m.

The Front (1976)

• During the 1950s McCarthy witch hunts, blacklisted writers who wanted to work had two choices: move to Europe or hire a front. Woody Allen stars in this comedy/drama as Howard Prince, a cashier/bookie, who pretends to be a writer so he can sell TV scripts for his blacklisted friend Alfred Miller (Michael Murphy). When the scripts are bought and Howard becomes a success, the House Un-American Activities Committee grows suspicious of this overnight writing genius. Hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure, The Front features blacklisted talent in front of and behind the camera, including actor Zero Mostel (The Producers), screenwriter Walter Bernstein (Fail-Safe) and director Martin Ritt (Hud, Norma Rae). Directed by Martin Ritt. US. 1976. PG. 95 minutes. Sony. Digital projection.

Sunday, October 15 at 1:30 p.m.

Love and Death (1975)

• Two years before producing his Oscar-winning comedy/drama Annie Hall, Woody Allen delivered his farcical tour de force – Love and Death. A parody of the brooding Russian literature of Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy, Love and Death concerns the coward Boris Grushenko (Allen) who mistakenly becomes a war hero in the Russian Army during the Napoleonic Wars. After a series of misadventures, Boris finds himself enlisted in a plot to assassinate Napoleon (Back to the Future’s slacker-hating principal James Tolkan). Perhaps the funniest of Allen early films, Love and Death marks his third on-screening pairing with Diane Keaton. Directed by Woody Allen. US. 1975. PG. 85 minutes. Park Circus. 35mm projection.

Sunday, October 22 at 1:30 p.m

Beat the Devil (1953)

• After years of neglect, John Huston and Truman Capote’s cult collaboration is back on the big screen in a new restoration of its uncensored International cut! Filmed along the Italian coastline, this cult caper follows the antics of a group of oddballs led by Humphrey Bogart who conspire to buy a uranium mine in Africa. Written on the set by Capote, Beat the Devil’s snappy dialogue and anarchic pacing are the result of its frenzied film shoot. This hilarious send-up of hardboiled movies also stars Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Bernard Lee, Robert Morley and Peter Lorre. Directed by John Huston. UK. 1953. NR. 89 minutes. Sony. Digital projection.

Sunday, October 29 at 1:30 p.m.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

• In 1974, Mel Brooks revolutionized the genre parody with two hit films: the first was Blazing Saddles; the second was Young Frankenstein. Based by an idea conceived by Gene Wilder on the Saddles set, and written by Wilder and Brooks, Young Frankenstein lovingly lampoons both Mary Shelly’s gothic tale and classic Universal monster movies with everything from slapstick and sight gags to double entendre and dancing. Spending most of his career trying to distance himself from his heritage (“it’s pronounced Frahn-ken-steen!”), Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Wilder) is drawn into the family business when he inherits his grandfather’s castle - and secret laboratory. Now obsessed with his grandfather’s quest to give life to the dead, Frederick and his assistants (Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman and a scene-stealing Marty Feldman) produce a new creation (Peter Boyle). Then the real fun begins! Forty-three years after its release, Young Frankenstein continues to leave audiences laughing and influence wave-after-wave of comedians. Don’t miss your chance to see this classic comedy on the big screen before Halloween! Directed by Mel Brooks. US. 1974. PG. 106 minutes. Fox. Digital projection.

Image via Commons courtesy United Artists