Highlights Archives
Washington Square: Read It & See It
What happens when a father threatens to disinherit his daughter if she continues her love affair with the man he disapproves of? Find out on Sunday, May 6, at 1:30 p.m. when the Society hosts a free screening and discussion of the 1997 film classic "Washington Square," based on the novel by Henry James. Professor Emeritus Joe Wiesenfarth from the University of Wisconsin-Madison will be the guest speaker and will moderate a discussion of the film and the book from which it was adapted. And don't worry if you haven't read the book — reading is encouraged but not required
The film follows the story of heiress Catherine Sloper and her relationship with her father Dr. Austin Sloper and her suitor Morris Townsend. When questions are raised about the motives of both her father and her suitor, Catherine is forced to untangle the connections between love and money. The twisting plot provides fodder for Henry James to critique the shallowness and sexism of his society. While some find James' work stiff, self-important, and a bit dull, others see him as the most astute social critic of his time. But whatever your view, Washington Square is a period piece done right, fully capturing its era and never stooping to anachronisms that would interrupt the viewer's sense of an older, crueler world.
Washington Square is the first film in this season's Classic Book and Movie Club, a three-part series of Hollywood movies adapted from classic turn-of-the-20th-century books. This cooperative film series is sponsored by the Society, the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research, and "The Capital Times" newspaper. Don't miss your chance to see this classic story come alive on the big screen in the Society's auditorium. Admission is FREE on a first-come, first-served basis.
Future Screenings in the 2007-2008 Classic Book and Movie Club series include:
- September 16, 2007 — Edith Wharton, "Age of Innocence" with Martin Scorsese film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder
- January 20, 2008 — E.M. Forster, "Howard's End" with James Ivory film starring Vanessa Redgrave, Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter and Emma Thompson.
Questions? Call Karen Kron at 608-264-6445.
:: Posted May 2, 2007
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