• Film & Video

    From Tramp to Vagabond: A History of Homelessness in Film at the Belcourt

    From Tramp to Vagabond: A History of Homelessness in Film at the Belcourt

    Belcourt Theatre

    September 14-September 29, 2008

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    The Belcourt Theatre presents an abridged celluloid survey of the homeless person, an indispensable character to 95 years of cinema. All dates below are confirmed, exact showtimes will be announced soon on the Belcourt website.

    CHAPLIN SHORTS: 1914-1917 Sunday, Sept. 14
    Making a Living - Chaplin's first film where he plays a con artist who turns from a life of swindling on the streets into a newspaper reporter who steals the scoop (1914, 9min)
    The Tramp - The seminal film in which Chaplin honed the Tramp character and his sense of pathos (1915, 19min)
    Police - The criminal element is introduced to the Tramp’s character (1916, 25min)
    The Vagabond - A street musician rescues a kidnapped gypsy girl (1916, 22min)
    Easy Street - The homeless man from the mission becomes a hero cop (1917, 21min)

    CHAPLIN SHORTS: 1917-1921 Sunday, Sept. 14
    The Immigrant - Charlie plays an immigrant who finds that life in the promised land isn't what he thought. (1917, 22min)
    The Adventurer - An escaped convict (Chaplin) becomes a hero, saving a girl and her mother from drowning and lives a double-life. (1917, 21min)
    The Idle Class - A play on words and a double role for Chaplin who plays both an idle bum and an idle, rich, alcoholic to turn the tables on who's really idle (1921, 20min)A Dog's Life - A short feature where the Tramp and his little dog “Scraps” struggle to live in the inner city. (1918, 40min)

    BOUDU SAVED FROM DROWNING (1931) Sun-Mon, Sept. 14-15
    Michel Simon gives one of the most memorable performances in screen history as Boudu, a Parisian tramp rescued from a suicidal plunge into the Seine by a well-to-do bookseller who decides to take him in. Boudu shows his gratitude by shaking the household to its foundations. Legendary director Jean Renoir (THE RULES OF THE GAME) takes advantage of a host of Parisian locations and the anarchic charms of his lead actor to create an effervescent satire of the bourgeoisie. Dir. Jean Renoir, 1931, France, 85min -- unavailable in 35mm - presented in a rare 16mm archival print

    THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940) Mon-Tue, Sept. 15-16
    Based on the John Steinbeck novel and filmed only a year after its publication in a time of limited equipment, the film turns dust to gold in the hands of the prolific director John Ford. Tom Joad returns to his home after a jail sentence to find his family kicked out of their farm due to foreclosure amid the dustbowl era of the Great Depression. Dir. John Ford, 1940, USA, 128min -- unavailable in 35mm - presented in 16mm

    SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS (1941) Tue-Thu, Sept. 16-18
    This is both a filmmaker’s film and film for the masses, and that’s the point. Director John L. Sullivan wants to make a social-problems film, portentously called 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'. When his producers point out that he knows nothing about trouble or poverty, he goes on the road as a hobo. Dir. Preston Sturges, 1941, USA, 90min – 35mm is believed to have perished in the Universal Pictures fire. Presented in 16mm

    MIRACLE IN MILAN (1951) Wed-Thu, Sept. 17-18
    In this fairytale film presentation by neo-realist, Italian director Vittorio de Sica (UMBERTO D, THE BICYCLE THIEF), young Toto, released from an orphanage at age 18, and the homeless squatters who have taken to his contagious exuberance strike oil while rebuilding their camp. When the landowner tries to claim the oil for himself, they receive help from an unlikely person from Toto’s past. Dir. Vittorio de Sica, 1951, Italy, 95min – unavailable in 35mm - presented in 16mm

    THAT TENNESSEE BEAT (1966) Fri-Sat, Sept. 19-20
    The local “B” movie salute to down-and-out songwriters on the streets of Nashville, this film features a homeless songwriter (Earl “Snake” Richards) who gets kicked out of his home by his father (Merle Travis) and saved by a wheelchair-bound preacher (Minnie Pearl). Also look for performances by Boots Randolph, Pete Drake and The Statler Brothers. Dir. Richard Brill, 1966, Nashville, 84min – unavailable in 35mm - presented in 16mm

    MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969) Fri-Sun, Sept. 19-21
    United Artists 90th Anniversary new 35mm print!! Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman turn in pivotal performances in this groundbreaking character study of a lost Texas cowboy turned gigolo (Voight) and a sickly squatter (Hoffman). Dir. John Schlesinger, 1969, USA, 113min

    BOUND FOR GLORY (1976) Sun-Tue, Sept. 21-23
    Hal Ashby's film of Woody Guthrie's autobiography recounts the hobo-turned-folkie (David Carradine) who leaves family in 1930s Dust-Bowl-era Texas to, like thousands of others, ride the rails to California. Along the way he begins write songs which would attract him a following with the oppressed people about whose lives he sings, but curries no favor from the establishment. The award-winning cinematography by Haskell Wexler captures both the bleakness of the Great Depression and the beautiful grandeur of America of which Guthrie sings. Dir. Hal Ashby, 1976, USA, 146min, 35mm

    VAGABOND (Sans toit ni loi, 1985) Mon-Wed, Sept. 22-24
    Sandrine Bonnaire won the Best Actress César for her portrayal of the defiant young drifter Mona, found frozen to death in a ditch at the beginning of the film. Agnès Varda pieces together Mona’s story through flashbacks told by those who encountered her (played by a largely nonprofessional cast), producing a splintered portrait of an enigmatic woman. With its sparse, poetic imagery, VAGABOND (Sans toit ni loi) is a stunner, and won Varda the top prize at the Venice Film Festival. (Criterion Collection) Dir. Agnes Varda, 1985, France, 105min, 35mm

    DARK DAYS (2000) Wed-Thu, Sept. 24-25
    This documentary developed cult following on the strength of its subjects and 16MM B&W camera style, but depicts an almost unimaginable community living in rail tunnels under New York City. Director Marc Singer spent two years living among them and emerged with a genuine cinematic experience. Featuring a pulsing soundtrack by DJ Shadow. Dir. Marc Singer, 2000, USA, 94min, 35mm

    AGILE, MOBILE, HOSTILE: A YEAR WITH ANDRE WILLIAMS (2008) Thu, Sept. 25
    Andre Williams has written and recorded hit records and has worked with music industry legends, including Berry Gordy, Ike Turner and Stevie Wonder. Andre has also struggled throughout his life with addiction, poverty, homelessness and the legal system. Throughout his 72 years, Andre has never stopped driving his creative visions forward, regardless of cost or consequence. But during the course of a single year, these consequences turn out to be heartbreaking and severe as his addictive history catches up with him. The decisions he makes ultimately become a choice between life and death. (South by Southwest) Dir. Tricia Todd & Eric Matthies, 2008, USA, 86min, DIGITAL

    CITY LIGHTS (1931) Fri-Mon, Sep 26-29
    New 35mm restoral from Kino Int’l - In this tender comedy/drama the little tramp (Charlie Chaplin) tries to help a blind flower vender regain her sight. The tramp's friendship with a tipsy millioniare leads to a comic subplot of mistaken identity. Chaplin mixes slapstick and pathos with effortless brilliance. Dir. Charles Chaplin, 1931, USA, 87min, 35mm

    • Ticket Info

      Tickets: $8.50/ticket adults; $6.25/ticket student, seniors, military; $5.75/ticket Belcourt members, children

      Info Phone: (615) 383-9140

      Buy tickets

    • Dates & Times

      Dates:
      September 14-September 29, 2008

      Times:
      Showtimes TBA

    • NOTE: We do our best to ensure the accuracy of information, however, it is a good idea to visit the official website or call the venue for possible schedule changes.

    • Venue Info

      Belcourt Theatre

      2102 Belcourt Avenue Nashville, TN 37212

      Full map and directions

    • Accessibility Info
      • Wheelchair Access
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