During the rainy January season, Clinton Street Theater is hosting its fourth annual “Color & Sound” series, featuring bright films with big music. This year’s series includes a range of titles, from modern favorites like Scott Pilgrims vs. the World to classics like Singin’ in the Rain.
The series will also pay tribute to Udo Kier, who passed away in November, with a screening of the late actor’s starring role in Swan Song Friday, January 9, 7 pm. In the film, a formerly flamboyant hairdresser (Udo Kier) takes a long walk across a small town to style a dead woman’s hair.
Other films, like Zoot Suit and Mississippi Masala will benefit immigrant rights organizations. Luis Valdez’s film based on his stage production of the same name is a fictionalized version of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial, which resulted in the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots across Los Angeles. Proceeds from the Saturday, January 10, 7 pm screening benefit Pueblo Unido PDX.
Mississippi Masala, presented by Portland Panorama and benefiting Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC), screens Saturday, January 31, 7 pm. In the film, the vibrant cultures of India, Uganda and the American South are blended and simmered into a rich and fragrant fusion feast in Mira Nair’s luminous look at the complexities of love in the modern melting pot.
There will also be a rare evening of 16mm film prints from the Scopitone-era, shown on loan from the Nyback Archive. One of the last iterations of movie jukeboxes, Scopitones enjoyed a brief but explosive moment in the sun in the early 60s. This is a rare opportunity to experience a magnetic soundtrack on film, which is as hi-fi as film can be. Celluloid Jukebox: Scopitone-a-Go-Go plays Thursday, January 29, 7 pm.
For additional details on these shows, tickets, and the full lineup of upcoming shows, visit cstpdx.com.