Swinging Roman Cinema

A quartet of masterworks from one of the most glamorous and creative moments in film history, introduced by Shawn Levy, author of Dolce Vita Confidential. Some of the era's most important directors, stars, and movies, seen and described in the context of Italy's amazing recovery from World War II and its meteoric rise to global dominance in the film, fashion, and lifestyle of the '50s and early '60s. Discussion to follow each screening.

The Bicycle Thief

Thursday, September 13, 10:00 PM

35mm print! Free for Hollywood Theatre Members. This kicks off our "Swinging Roman Cinema" series, hosted by Shawn Levy, author of Dolce Vita Confidential.

The Bicycle Thief (1948): Vittorio De Sica's Oscar-winning drama introduced the world to a new type of filmmaking: shot on location, using non-professional actors, and telling stories of real, hardscrabble life. A father, a son, …

Il Boom

Wednesday, September 26, 10:00 PM

Playing as part of our "Swinging Roman Cinema" series, hosted by Shawn Levy, author of Dolce Vita Confidential.

Il Boom (1963): 15 years after depicting Rome as an impoverished wasteland, Vittorio De Sica captures the go-go economy of Italy's economic revival (AKA "Il Boom") in a dark comedy about a man (Alberto Sordi) willing to do anything to keep up with the times. Rare…

Il Sorpasso

Wednesday, October 10, 10:00 PM

Playing as part of our "Swinging Roman Cinema" series, hosted by Shawn Levy, author of Dolce Vita Confidential.

Il Sorpasso (1962): In Dino Risi's breezy, acidic road comedy, a playboy (Vittorio Gassman) and a scholar (Jean-Louis Trintignant) become unlikely travel buddies, traversing the heights of Italy's wondrous heyday but always skirting close to the edge of the illusion a…

I Vitelloni

Saturday, October 13, 10:00 PM

35mm print. Playing as part of our "Swinging Roman Cinema" series, hosted by Shawn Levy, author of Dolce Vita Confidential.

I Vitelloni (1953): Federico Fellini's great breakthrough film about a group of provincial lads toying with adulthood, half-stuck in childhood, and only dimly aware of the dazzling world about to unfold around them. A coming-of-age film for the ages -- touching…