Home > 37ºSouth Market > Program Archive > Adrian Wootton 2014
ADRIAN WOOTTON TALKS MAVERICKS, SPIES & TOUGH GUYS
Presented by MIFF 37ºSouth Market & Accelerator, Adrian Wootton returns exclusively to Melbourne for more of his acclaimed Illustrated Film Talks exploring the relationship between cinema and great modern cultural icons.
A former Director of the London Film Festival, British Film Institute and the UK’s National Film Theatre, Wootton is CEO of Film London & The British Film Commission, Director of the Crime Scene Festival, and a program advisor to the Venice Film Festival, London Film Festival and Italy’s Courmayeur Noir Fest. Wootton has also served as BFI Head of Exhibition, Director of Nottingham’s Broadway Media Centre and Director of the Bradford Playhouse. He contributes articles on screen culture to the Guardian and Sight & Sound, regularly broadcasts and reviews films on BBC Radio, was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by The University of East Anglia and is Norwich University Film & Media Visiting Professor.
Each lecture is $15 (MIFF passes not valid).
HUMPREY BOGART: Tough Guy & Romantic Hero
Thursday 07 August: 5pm to 6.30pm; Village Roadshow Theatrette at the State Library
A late developing actor, Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) went from second-rank, tough guy gangster roles to become one of the greatest romantic movie hero icons in the history of Hollywood Cinema. With a plethora of film clips, Wootton explores the life and career of Bogart and the behind-the-series stories of classic movies such as Casablanca, The Big Sleep & The African Queen.
PATRICIA HIGHSMITH: From Strangers to Ripley
Friday 08 August: 5pm to 6.30pm; Village Roadshow Theatrette at the State Library
One of the 20th century’s most influential crime and suspense novelists, the 20 novels of the reclusive and publicity-shy Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995) inspired numerous screen adaptations including Alfred Hitchcock famously filming her first novel Strangers on a Train and her series of Ripley stories about the charming and occasionally murderous thief, plus recent release The Two Faces of January. Examining the significance of Highsmith’s work, Wootton plays clips from some of the best film versions of her books (such as Purple Noon, American Friend and The Talented Mr Ripley) and footage of a rarely-seen documentary about her and recounts his own encounter with the legendary writer.
JOHN LE CARRE: Spy to Page to Celluloid
Saturday 09 August: 10.30am to 12 noon; Village Roadshow Theatrette at the State Library
Undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest living Spy thriller/espionage novelist, John Le Carre (aka David Cornwall) has critically-acclaimed and hugely-popular body of work that has spawned celebrated screen adaptations, ranging from 1965’s The Spy Who Came in From The Cold to Tinker Tailor Solider Spy and, most recently, A Most Wanted Man. Wootton looks at Le Carre’s own fascinating life (including a stint as a real life spy), his glittering career and the many classic filmed versions of his books and describes his own experiences meeting and interviewing Le Carre.
KATHARINE HEPBURN: A maverick’s diamond career
Sunday 10 August: 10.30 to 12 noon; Village Roadshow Theatrette at the State Library
With a career lasting more than 60 years, Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) was one of Hollywood’s greatest stars and the long-time on and off screen romantic companion of Spencer Tracey. In this Illustrated Film Talk, Wootton traces the life and sparkling career of this independent and strong-willed intelligent actress, who defied studio bosses and social convention, and plays clips from some of Hepburn’s greatest roles like Bringing Up Baby, The African Queen and On Golden Pond.
