For a moment in 2015, Lawrence Modern gamely attempted to examine modern architecture through film—the modernist medium par excellence—with movies curated by KU School of Architecture faculty. Our Modernism in Cinema series only lasted a couple of shows, but it left an afterimage that hasn’t worn off, and we are eager to delve into the enthralling synergy of movies and architecture once again. This time around, though, we plan to screen a slate of mostly classic films chosen by film scholars, filmmakers, and film aficionados. On April 19, we will screen the first film in our reboot, Vertigo, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 noir thriller at 7 p.m. at the Lawrence Arts Center’s 10th and Mass. Studios. Local Kellee Pratt, a film scholar and longtime Turner Classic Movies social media influencer, will discuss the film with Lawrence Modern’s Bill Steele.
A self-professed old movie cheerleader, Kellee’s love of cinema began after early brushes with fame—her mother was friends with Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell—and the influence of her grandmother, who made her watch “Witness for the Prosecution” on TV when she was a teenager. She was hooked. After graduating from KU with a degree in Communication Studies, Pratt had an early career in sales and marketing, but has lived a parallel life as a film nut—the kind who will jet to see a rare 35mm-only pre-Code Bette Davis film. In addition to TCM, she writes about film on her blog, Outspoken & Freckled, serves on the board of the Classic Movie Blog Association, and has been teaching classic film courses for many years through the City of Lawrence’s Lifelong Learning program.
Pratt will present many of the films in our series, with the goal of sparking a conversation about classic films through the lens of architecture and music.
“What is interesting about film is how many pioneering, innovative movies were influential not only unto themselves but in the style they projected,” Pratt says. Case in point: Vertigo, a film about a man remaking a woman into the image of his dead lover, which Pratt chose to kick off the series because it continues to be highly influential in terms of how architectural elements and music can tap into the audience’s subconscious. “I get excited when I can convert someone who has never seen this film before, and then enlighten them about it.” She adds, “The whole point of this is, I want people to look at old films, and look at them in a different light.”
Please join us for Vertigo April 19th. Tickets are on sale at the Lawrence Arts Center and can be purchased here. Runtime is 2 hrs. 8 min. A brief discussion will follow the screening. (The next film in the series will be announced at the event.) This will likely sell out! Don’t miss this chance to see Hitchcock’s masterpiece with fresh insight, meet new people, and have fun!
We wish to thank the Lawrence Arts Center for collaborating with us on this exciting film series and Lawrence Modern’s Tom Harper for generously sponsoring the event.
All films in the series are $10 and open to the public.
—Tom, Bill, Dennis & Tim
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