The Great Gatsby; A special 50th anniversary screening that was filmed in Newport
The Great Gatsby: A special 50th anniversary screening that was filmed right here in Newport
I spoke with the Jane Pickens operations manager, Alex Whitney on why ‘The Great Gatsby’ is so special to locals, the joy of using their new projector and the exciting season for the beloved historic theater.
by Veronica Bruno for WUN
The Jane Pickens Theater (JPT) Film and Event Center is a beloved gem rich in culture and history, right in the heart of downtown Newport, R.I. In what has become an annual tradition, the venue will be presenting a special screening of the 1974 “The Great Gatsby,” starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, on Dec. 13, to mark the 50th anniversary of the film’s release.
The 1974 version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel has unique ties to Newport, with Rosecliff and the Marble House having been used as the locations for Gatsby’s estate.
“The exterior of Gatsby’s mansion, and the grounds were at Rosecliff and Marble House,” Whitney explained in detail about the landmarks. The scene of Gatsby (Redford) and Daisy (Farrow) dancing alone was also filmed in the “Gold Room” of Marble House. “You can still meet people in Newport that were down here at the time, that remember them shooting, and remember Robert [Redford being] down here. And there are still locals who remember meeting him when he was around. And I think Robert Redford is also no stranger to Newport, I believe he used to frequent down here.”
Part of its great draw is how JPT balances new releases with plenty of screenings of movie cult classics. It’s this unique blend of cinematic and local heritage that makes the showing of “Gatsby” an annual staple at the Jane Pickens Theater​. Whitney said that the film has been shown almost every year since it changed owners 20 years ago. “It’s become a real tradition here.”
Whitney also observed several connections between the world that Fitzgerald paints and the elegance of the City by the Sea.
“There’s this opulent lux world that’s portrayed in the movie, and Newport has its history of that as well. So there’s kind of a connection, both on the filming level and the spirit of the film that is recognizable to many Newporters, just from the history of our town.”
JPT’s new laser projector
The “Gatsby” screening was originally schedule for last month, but had to be rescheduled due to a malfunctioning projector, which ended up being a blessing in disguise.
“The version we’re showing is a 4k restoration,” Whitney said. The upgraded projector was installed a few weeks ago, replacing their original digital apparatus from 13 years ago. “And it really makes a difference when you see that version, especially on our new projector, which is a laser projector, so it’s super bright, super crisp, and you’re really gonna notice that.”
Whitney said that the original critical response may have had an issue with some of the movie’s melodramatic elements, but he now feels that they have aged gracefully. “I think it’s aged really well, in the sense that the melodrama has ceased to feel like melodrama and has kind of just become classic,” he added, admitting to having had a crush on a young Farrow from the movie.
I had the opportunity to see the new projector in action myself, at the screening of the noir classic, “Sunset Boulevard,” and the cinematic experience was an impressive improvement.
A theater with a history
JPT isn’t just any old theater, it contains an incredible rich array of history dating back to 1834, and eventually evolved into a beloved independent theater in 1922. A few of the most historic films—such as the “Dracula” that just showed during the Halloween season—played at the theater originally. JPT is also the only movie theater on the island, after the closing of the multiplex in Middletown earlier this year.
“It was a Russell Warren design building. It was a church for about 75 years, and then it was briefly a vaudeville theater around the turn of the century,” explained Whitney about the history of JPT. “And then it became the Strand Theater for like 60 years. A lot of Newport old timers still know it as The Strand. And then in the late ‘70s, it was named after Jane Pickens. She was a local actress and a singer, and she was also kind of a local celebrity in Newport.”
Under the ownership of Kathy Staab for the past 20 years, the theater has become a hub for film enthusiasts, musicians, classic films, and fun live events. Whitney, who has been with the theater for a decade and its operations manager for four years, said he was proud of the communal heart it provides for cultured locals. It’s the kind of delightful theatrical venue where you can take in a vintage screening of the original 1931 “Dracula” paired with live accompaniment, or the summer staple party screening of “Jaws” with a live band and beach volleyball, or this past fall’s Merchant Ivory weekend (one of the highlights for me).
The “Sunset Boulevard” screening played to a packed house. I also noticed that there were several younger attendees in the audience, something I mentioned to Whitney.
“I think there’s something special, particularly to the younger generation. I think these people grew up on these movies, but have never had the opportunity to experience them in a cinema, and the cinematic experience is just a totally, totally different animal. This is something we really feel passionately about preserving because it’s a community experience,” he elaborated.
A busy holiday season and future projects
This December will feature a litany of festive offerings like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Love Actually,” and a special “Miracle on 34th Street” event including live music and a pop-up shop this upcoming Tue, Dec. 10. “We’ve got a real awesome holiday lineup where it’s gonna be the busiest December we’ve ever had.”
Whitney says they want to bring more artist talks to the theater as well, including one with an acclaimed cinematographer that he’s hoping to get for next year. “That would be amazing,” Whitney added.
The Great Gatsby showing will be Fri, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. JPT’s holiday lineup continues through Dec. 23, with lots of fun options, including “Elf” and the big “Christmas Vacation” party the following week.
SPONSORED BY
