Eva Marie Saint to speak at Plaza Film Festival
Oscar®-winning actress Eva Marie Saint, will present and discuss two of the films that showcase her talents – Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 chase thriller, North By Northwest and Elia Kazan’s 1954 drama On The Waterfront. The two films will open the Plaza Classic Film Festival’s premiere evenings, August 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Ms. Saint won her Best Supporting Oscar® in her screen debut performance in On the Waterfront working alongside Marlon Brando and Karl Malden and distinguished herself over a long career on stage, in television and feature films. She is perhaps best known for her role as the cool, sophisticated and conflicted secret agent at the heart of Hitchcock’s definitive chase film, North by Northwest.
“Ms. Saint’s career contains performances that show an amazing versatility. The two films featured this year are proof of her adaptability and range,” states festival artistic director Charles Horak. The films join some 80 other titles to be celebrated during this year’s festival and Ms. Saint will take part in on-stage conversations about her life, career and the making of these two films prior to their screening in the Plaza Theatre’s 2,000-seat restored auditorium.
Eva Marie Saint joins special guest Tippi Hedren at this year’s 11 day festival. A special event includes Al Pacino performing his show, Al Pacino-One Night Only on August 4, 2012 at the Plaza Theatre.
In addition to the film programming at this year’s festival, a major art exhibition Designing Woman: Edith Head at Paramount, dedicated to the work of famed costume designer Edith Head will run at the adjacent El Paso Museum of Art from July 14 to September 9, 2012.
The exhibit will include 40 costumes designed by Ms. Head during her tenure at Paramount, along with personal papers and costume design sketches, and an adjunct exhibit, Reel Glamour: Jewelry from the Paramount Archive, will display important screen-worn adornments from 50 years of Paramount classics.
“The Plaza Classic Film Festival has become a destination for film lovers from across the country, and the art exhibition will add another layer of depth to this year’s great film programming,” Horak added.
The festival has begun rolling out its 2012 film selections with more than 30 titles already announced, among them, a 70th Anniversary screening of Casablanca, the North American Premiere of the restoration of Samson and Delilah, the first Best Picture Oscar® winner Wings, along with a number of important recent restorations: To Kill A Mockingbird, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Nothing Sacred and An American in Paris.
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Festival Passes are on sale now for $200 through the El Paso Community Foundation, (915) 533-4020. Each pass-holder will receive expedited entry to all festival screenings, invitation to the opening night reception for the Edith Head exhibit, entry to the festival’s opening night VIP screening and reception, discounts at area restaurants and more.
Film entry fees range from free to $8. Each pass holder will also receive a $25 discount on Al Pacino – One Night Only tickets which range from $65 to $125.
