By Brittney McLaws
The Harold B. Lee Library houses one of the nation''s largest motion picture archives, and this January, the archive will open its doors to the BYU community for the fifth straight year.
'We''re very excited to show these to the student body and to people in the surrounding community,' said James D''Arc, director and curator of the The Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series. 'We''re pleased that we''re beginning our fifth year, and with a bang.'
The motion picture archive has been around for 30 years. However, the films were not available to BYU students and the Provo community until the library remodel created a venue for the archive to feature its unique collection.
What makes the series particularly unique is that most of the featured films have a connection to the archive.
For example, when the series showed a Jimmy Stewart film they also showed home movies from the actor''s own collection. Often, the series will also show preview collections to accompany the films, invite their faculty to introduce the film and provide program notes with further background on the films.
'We strive to make this a very special and unique experience in addition to seeing the film itself,' D''Arc said.
The rare films, made from the original negatives, were acquired in many different ways. Some of them accompanied the film prints collected by the archive. Others were copies given to the actors and actresses by the producers. And some have been acquired through private collectors.
'We are one of the few surviving archival film series programs in the United States,' D''Arc said. 'This is a rare opportunity for students, faculty, and members of the surrounding community to see these films, in film format, in a theatrical setting.'
The series has become popular among students and people in the surrounding community. Others go to great lengths to attend. One man drove from Evanston, WY to see a Laurel and Hardy screening.
Due to the series'' growing popularity, seats to the show are hard to come by and veterans know to arrive early.
Students love the series for a variety of reasons. Not only is it a unique experience free of charge, but it provides wholesome and clean entertainment.
'My favorite was the Glen Miller story because even though it was kind of old it was hilarious, they just had some good, down right, clean humor,' said Shelley Nebeker, a sophomore from Eagle River, Ala.
Students also enjoy the opportunity to see these movies as they were intended to be seen.
'It was really fun to be able to watch an older movie on a big screen,' said Amber Leavitt, a junior from Lewiston, Idaho.
The film series kicks off its season Thursday with the crime hit, 'Angels with Dirty Faces,' featuring James Cagney, Pat O''Brien and Humphrey Bogart. Doors open to the library auditorium at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:00 p.m.