The Pursuit of Happiness


Follow the evolution of the pursuit of happiness in the movies from My Man Godfrey to The Pursuit of Happyness. EPPC Resident Scholar James Bowman, film and cultural critic of the American Spectator and author of the books Honor: A History and Media Madness, will host his fourth annual summer movie series.

The series will take place on successive Tuesday evenings between June 22, 2010 and August 3, 2010 from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m at the Hudson Institute.

Pizza, popcorn, candy, and drinks will be provided for free.

TO REGISTER:

E-mail your name and phone number, along with a list of the dates you would like to attend, to [email protected].

[EPPC’s past summer movie series are archived online: “Crime and Punishment” (2009), “Isn’t it Romantic” (2008) and “The American Movie Hero” (2007).]

MOVIE SERIES SCHEDULE:

  • June 22: My Man Godfrey (1936)
    directed by Gregory La Cava, starring William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Alan Mowbray, Mischa Auer, Gail Patrick and Eugene Pallette
    [James Bowman’s introductory remarks: audiotext]
  • June 29: Christmas in July (1940)
    directed by Preston Sturges, starring Dick Powell, Ellen Drew, Raymond Walburn, William Demarest, Ernest Truex and Franklin Pangborn
    [James Bowman’s introductory remarks: audiotext]
  • July 6: Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
    directed by John Huston, starring Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt, Walter Huston, Bruce Bennett, Barton MacLane and Alphonso Bedoya
    [James Bowman’s introductory remarks: audio | text]
  • July 13: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
    directed by H.C. Potter, starring Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas, Louise Beavers and Jason Robards Sr.
    [James Bowman’s introductory remarks: text]
  • July 27: About Schmidt (2002)
    directed by Alexander Payne, starring Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, Howard Hesseman and Len Cariou
    [James Bowman’s introductory remarks: text]
  • August 3: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    directed by Gabriele Muccino, starring Will Smith, Thandie Newton and Jaden Christopher Syre Smith
    [James Bowman’s introductory remarks: text]

Note: Some movies may not be appropriate for children and younger teens.