One rather quiet day at work, one of my co-workers asked an intriguing question: Would you like to read that classic novel that you never got around to in high school or college? Or re-read it to see what it's like from an adult perspective and then discuss it with like-minded folks? What about the movie version?
And thus — out of that thoughtful query by Jacob Stockinger — The Classic Book and Movie Club was born. Stockinger, then Culture Desk editor at The Capital Times newspaper in Madison, put his suggestion to the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. For the last five years those organizations — along with The Cap Times — have been jointly sponsoring "the Club."
Four times per year — once every quarter — Madisonians read the highbrow book and then gather at the Wisconsin Historical Society auditorium, with lowered brows, to partake of the movie. Each one has been introduced by a UW professor or someone equally knowledgeable about the film, the book, the era or author to set the stage for the screening. Afterwards they lead the discussion and answer our questions.
Admiral and Mrs. Croft, played by John Woodvine and Fiona Shaw (above), are perhaps my favorite married couple in all of Jane Austen's novels. There is no better portrayal of them on film than in the 1995 version that will be shown Sunday at the Wisconsin Historical Society auditorium on Library Mall as the final offering in the Classic Book and Movie Club.
We've seen — and sometimes even managed to read — some of the great literary works of the 19th and 20th centuries: "Mrs. Dalloway," "The Big Sleep," "Jane Eyre," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Goodbye, Columbus," "The Maltese Falcon," "Howard's End," "Anna Karenina," "The Age of Innocence," "Washington Square" and on and on and on. As for the movies — new versions or old — they've added another layer of understanding and enhancement to the books.
This past season has been a Jane Austen feast, ending tomorrow with my personal favorite, "Persuasion." I finished the book last weekend, leaving me enough time before seeing the film for the book to marinate in my mind and memory. Alas, Sunday's showing will mark more than the end of the Club's season; it's the end of the Club itself.
The Club is one more victim of the hard times facing the nation's newspapers. Jake was among the 24 staffers (myself included) who left The Capital Times last spring when the paper and the staff were dramatically downsized. There's no one left with the same passionate interest that it takes to put together such a complex program.
For the entire five years of the Club, Jake tirelessly sought reader suggestions to compile the programs, convinced busy university profs to give up a weekend afternoon to lead the discussions and worked with the sponsoring organizations on everything from schedules to set-up to finding a copy of the chosen films. As a voracious reader and movie-goer, it was always a labor of love for Jake.
So, tomorrow, I'm spending one more afternoon with the Club — and with Jake — at the movies. No persuasion necessary.
Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds star in the 1995 film adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, "Persuasion."
"PERSUASION": Retired UW-Madison professor, Joseph Wiesenfarth, will discuss the 1995 BBC film after the 1:30 p.m. viewing.
Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009
Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium / 816 State Street on Library Mall / Madison WI
Free admission / First-come, first-served seating
So sad that you are losing such a wonderful community tradition. It sounds tons more appealing than most book clubs I've heard of.
Posted by: Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening | Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 05:51 PM