The Sand Pebbles
November 9, 2007 - Los Angeles, CA

Following the success of The Sound of Music, director Robert Wise chose to film Robert McKenna's prize-winning 1962 novel, The Sand Pebbles--an ambitious choice for a director at the peak of his career. Shot in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the film combines historical sweep and intimate human drama in several parallel stories, all revolving around U.S. Navy machinist's mate Jake Holman (Steve McQueen). Holman is a skillful but fiercely independent sailor who joins the "sand pebble" crew of the U.S.S. San Pablo, a Navy gunboat patrolling the Yangtze River on the eve of the Chinese revolution in 1926. The San Pablo's inexperienced captain (Richard Crenna) obsessively defends the Navy's mission--however unnecessary or unwanted--to protect American missionaries and businessmen, blind to the more dangerous implications of American involvement with China's opposing political factions.  The Sand Pebbles is presented in collaboration with 20th Century Fox and Ascent Media Group.

Ama Girls (1958) and Letter From an Unknown Woman (1948)
October 14, 2006 - Anchorage, AK

Ama Girls (1958):  Ama Girls was the thirteenth of seventeen “People and Places” featurettes made by Walt Disney between 1953 and 1960, and was the third Disney live-action short subject to win an Academy Award for the Disney studio.  The 29-minute featurette was released by Buena Vista in Technicolor on July 9, 1958, directed by Ben Sharpsteen, written by Dwight Hauser and narrated by Winston Hibler. In 1961, the film was also released as a 16mm educational film under an alternate title: Japan Harvests the Sea.  At the 31st Annual Academy Awards, the film won the Academy’s Best Documentary (Short Subject) award, beating out Employees Only, Journey Into Spring, The Living Stone and Overture. Print courtesy of The Walt Disney Company.

Letter From An Unknown Woman (1948): “By the time you read this letter, I may be dead,” reads aging bon vivant Louis Jourdan from a letter found in his tiny hotel room. With tousled hair and a tux tired from yet another night of meaningless flirtation, he’s startled by these opening lines and suspends his preparations to flee a duel in order to read the history of a love affair that he can’t remember.  Joan Fontaine delivers one of the best performances of her career, vulnerable and yearning without lapsing into sentimentality—and ultimately showing a hidden strength as she risks all for one more moment with the love of her life.” (Amazon.com) Print courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

Beyond the Rocks
December 1, 2005 - Austin, TX

In conjunction with the Ransom Center, the Nederlands Filmmuseum and Milestone Films, AMIA presents Beyond The Rocks (1922) starring Gloria Swanson and Rudolf Valentino. Lost for decades, a print of this important film was recently discovered in a collection donated to the Nederlands Filmmuseum. Martin Scorsese calls it “a cause for celebration… a testament to the extraordinary artistry of silent cinema.” The film will be introduced jointly by Giovanna Fossati, responsible for the restoration, and Elif Rongen-Kaynakci, responsible for the archival research, both from the Nederlands Filmmuseum.

Major Dundee
April 13, 2005 - Los Angeles, CA

The first major studio epic film to be directed by Sam Peckinpah, Major Dundee would also prove to be the first in a long line of works the director would not be allowed to complete because of clashes with the producer and studio. By restoring twelve minutes of recovered footage, the new Extended Version of the film clarifies plot points and adds a more tragic dimension and depth to the character of Dundee, and an alternative soundtrack* - bringing the film as close as possible to the director's original vision.  Major Dundee is presented in collaboration with Sony Pictures and UCLA's Moving Image Archive Studies program.

The King and I
November 12, 2004 - Minneapolis, MN

Only two films were ever made in CinemaScope 55, Carousel and The King And I, both in 1956. Even at that time audiences saw The King And I in prints made from a 35mm reduction negative. Newly restored, this is a rare chance to see the film in its original aspect ratio on the big screen.  In addition, the original stereo soundtrack has been faithfully recreated in 4-track Dolby Digital stereo. Ann and her King have never looked or sounded this incredible, as they sing and dance their way through such Rodgers and Hammerstein classics as “Shall We Dance” and “Getting to Know You.” Print courtesy of 20th Century Fox, with special thanks to Schawn Belston, who will introduce the film and discuss the restoration.

In A Lonely Place
November 21, 2003 - Vancouver, WA

In conjunction with the Ridge Theatre and Sony Pictures Entertainment, AMIA is pleased to present a very special screening of a restored 35mm print of In A Lonely Place.  Released in 1950 (the same year the Ridge Theatre opened its doors), In A Lonely Place stars Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame, and Frank Lovejoy in the story of an embittered Hollywood scriptwriter facing a murder charge.  The Ridge will present this classic film in its original picture and sound formats.  The restoration of the film involved digitally recreating over a dozen sections because of deterioration and damage to the original negative.  The restored version also has been exhibited at the London Film Festival and the Museum of Modern Art