For Immediate Release
February 7, 2024

CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS THE WILLIAMSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY 150TH ANNIVERSARY FILM SERIES 

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute presents a film series in celebration of the Williamstown Public Library’s 150th anniversary throughout March and April. The films in this series explore the transformative power of reading. All films are free and screened at 6 pm in the Clark’s auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center. 

Films in this series include:

March 7
The NeverEnding Story (1984)

Bastian ducks into a book’s story to avoid school bullies, only to be saddled with a great responsibility. As he imagines himself as the story’s hero, reading becomes an engine for his maturation and growth. (Run time: 1:32)

March 14
The Princess Bride (1987)

Rob Reiner’s film version of William Goldman’s charming novel pits true love against inconceivable odds. A boy home sick from school grudgingly allows his grandfather to read him a dusty storybook—which is how we meet the innocent Buttercup, who is about to marry the nefarious Prince Humperdinck although her heart belongs to Westley. The wedding plans are interrupted in a tale full of romance and hilarious spoofery. (Run time: 1:38)

March 21
Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

Adapted from the Ray Bradbury novel and directed by Francois Truffaut, Fahrenheit 451 imagines a future society that has banned all reading material. Firemen work to keep the fires at the temperature that paper burns. However, after one of them meets a book-loving girl, he begins to rethink his work and his whole world. (Run time: 1:52)

March 28
84 Charing Cross Road (1987)

A New York City bibliophile writes to the manager of London bookshop Marks & Co. in search of titles she has been unable to turn up locally. He responds politely, and over the course of two decades a long-distance friendship evolves. David Jones’ film version beautifully illustrates the powerful bond of reading. (Run time: 1:40)

April 4
Adaptation (2002)

In Spike Jonze’s Adaptation, Charlie Kaufman is a confused Hollywood screenwriter overwhelmed by self-loathing and the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother. While struggling to adapt Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief for a film, Kaufman’s life spins from pathetic to bizarre. (Run time: 1:54)

Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 549 0524. 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 some 300,000 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]