Secret Cinema Film Screening

Secret Cinema Film Screening

Date: Thursday, April 17

Time: 6:30-8:00 PM

Location: Independence Seaport Museum

Join us for a special film screening in the Museum! Secret Cinema will bring its traveling projectors back to our first-floor gallery for a screening. MARITIME MOVIES will include an assortment of short films (vintage school films, comedies, documentaries, and cartoons) dealing with nautical themes: boats, ships, marine life, sailors, and the navy. Most of these films will be making their debut Secret Cinema appearance. As usual, all Secret Cinema programs are projected using 16mm film (not video, not digital) on a giant screen.

A few highlights of MARITIME MOVIES are:

STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928, Dir: Ub Iwerks) - This Walt Disney cartoon introduced Mickey Mouse to the world and showed a wilder, more mischievous Mickey than was seen in later depictions. It is famous for being an early "talkie" cartoon (though it was hardly the first, as often claimed). STEAMBOAT WILLIE later became infamous for the multiple extensions of its copyright. That was finally allowed to expire in 2024.

TWO FACES OF THE SEA (1972, Dir: Lowell Wentworth) - This cinema verité look at the work of commercial fishermen in Port Clyde, Maine presents a visceral look at their challenges. The "two faces" seen are the sea's friendly side, when work goes smoothly -- and what happens when a bad storm blows in.

LIFE ALONG THE WATERWAYS (1950, Dir: John A. Haeseler) - School film made for young children to teach them about the different kinds of animals found living along brooks, streams, and rivers, and the different species' interdependence, all captured in lovely Kodachrome.

ROVING THE MEDITERRANEAN (1934?) - A look at sailors maintaining a Navy cruiser ship, and on shore leave in Gibraltar, Tunisia, and Venice. Shot silent (possibly in the 1920s), with a wiseguy narration added. "Life in the Navy is great!" Produced by the Navy Recruiting Service.

TOWED IN A HOLE (1932, Dir: George Marshall) - Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy star as successful fish sellers who set out to "eliminate the middle-man" -- by buying an old wreck of a boat so they can catch the fish themselves. While attempting to repair their craft, things go predictably awry

... and more!

$10 tickets, free for ISM Members. Email membership@phillyseaport.org for the member discount code.

Register here.