NAU’s College of Arts and Letters Classic Film Series continues its tradition of bringing quality films to campus, starting Tuesday, Aug. 31, with Charles Chaplin’s The Gold Rush. The free films will screen on Tuesdays throughout the semester at 7 p.m. in the Cline Library Assembly Hall.
This semester’s theme is “The Directors—Part 1: A History.” The films will focus on outstanding national and international directors as a tribute to film directors who have made a significant impact on cinema history.
“Directors are often considered the authors, or auteurs, of a film,” said Paul Helford, principal lecturer in the School of Communication’s Electronic Media and Film program. “The focus in the fall is a chronological look spanning from 1925 with Charles Chaplin up to 1994 and the introduction of Quentin Tarantino, whose dark comic thrillers revolutionized American cinema.”
Local film experts will contribute introductions before the films, while co-hosts Helford and Paul Donnelly will lead the post-screening conversation, adding to the viewer’s understanding of the experience.
Helford has been co-hosting the series since its inception more than five years ago.
“I’ve been a film fan all my life,” he said. Helford has taught film classes for more than 20 years to both high school and university students. He also produced and hosted a classic film television program in Eugene, Ore. At NAU, Helford teaches film studies and screenwriting courses.
Paul Donnelly, associate professor of religious studies at NAU, has recently joined Helford to produce the series. Donnelly has taught a Religion in Film class and has introduced films in the series for several years.
View a complete film schedule for the fall semester at nau.edu/filmseries.