For Immediate Release
December 12, 2023

CLARK ART INSTITUTE HOSTS
NEW RESTORATIONS FILM SERIES 

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute hosts a new film series, New Restorations, throughout January and February, featuring a rich group of classic films that have been recently restored to provide an exceptional viewing experience. All films are free and screened at 6 pm in the auditorium of the Manton Research Center. Accessible seating is available.

This year’s lineup includes:

January 18
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Directed by Wallace Worsley, 1923

This is the film that made Lon Chaney a legend and paved the way for Universal’s enduring legacy of golden-age gothic horror. Quasimodo, the inarticulate, deformed bellringer of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, sacrifices his life to save Esmeralda, the girl who befriended him, from his evil master Jehan.

January 25
All That Money Can Buy (aka The Devil and Daniel Webster)
Directed by William Dieterle, 1941

In this Faustian gothic fantasy down-on-his-luck 1840s farmer Jabez Stone (James Craig) makes a deal with the devilish Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston). It brings him a fortune but leads to his life—and his moral center—unraveling. In the meantime, the lauded orator Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) is wooed by Mr. Scratch to sell his soul in exchange for the presidency.

February 1
Force of Evil
Directed by Abraham Polonsky, 1949

Unscrupulous lawyer Joe Morse (John Garfield) consolidates a numbers racket and partners with ruthless gangster Ben Tucker (Roy Roberts). As a fitting backdrop for this noir tale of moral corruption, the production team looked to the stark New York paintings of Edward Hopper.

February 8
The Bus
Directed by Haskell Wexler, 1965

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in the Summer of 1963 was a defining moment of the civil rights movement, representing one of the largest human rights rallies ever recorded in the United States. This documentary brings a sociological sample of March participants into sharp focus.

February 15
Drylongso
Directed by Cauleen Smith, 1998

An incisive look at racial injustice is embedded within this lovingly handmade buddy movie/murder mystery/romance. Alarmed by the way young Black men around her are dying, brash art student Pica (Toby Smith) attempts to preserve their existence in Polaroid snapshots. Along the way she befriends a woman in an abusive relationship (April Barnett) and experiences love, heartbreak, and the everyday threat of violence in nineties Oakland, California.

Admission to the Clark is free through March 2024. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

Press contact: [email protected]