loAJly/O Archives _ Please Post ITie Metropolitan FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Museum of Art New York, N.Y 10028 212 879 5500 AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE FILM PROGRAM, "PARIS/NEW YORK", TO OPEN AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM ON MARCH 26 The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Cinematheque have announced that an exhibition of film, called "Paris/New York", will be shown at the Museum from March 26 through May 7. The program was created by the late Henri Langlois, who died in Paris on January 12. Mr. Langlois was the founder-director of the Cinematheque Francaise of Paris and Artistic Director of the American Cinematheque. Commenting upon the six week season, Thomas Hoving, Director of the Metropolitan, said: "Since the first successful exhibition of films from the Cinematheque Francaise at the Metropolitan in 1970, we have looked forward to further joint programs with it and with the American Cinematheque, its representative in America. The death of Henri Langlois, founder-director of the Cinematheque Francaise, is a serious loss to all those who cherish and have a respect for the art of film. I am certain, however, that his work will be carried on by others, and I anticipate for the future further exhibitions such as the forthcoming one at the Metropolitan." The program, "Paris/New York", will present American films about New York and French films about Paris, and will trace the depiction of these two urban centers during the eighty year page 2 development of motion pictures. Films included in the series will be: Louis Feuillade's FANTOMAS serial from 1914, a Pearl White serial subtitled THE MYSTERY OF NEW YORK, Marcel L'Herbier's L'INHUMAINE, designed by Fernand Leger, and PRIX DE BEAUTE, directed by Pabst and Genina and starring Louise Brooks. The American premiere of a unique eight hour marathon about Paris will open the series on March 26. This special program was created by Henri Langlois from excerpts of films produced from 1894 to the present. Approximately 40 films, some of which have never been seen before in this country, and some of which have not been seen since their original release, will deal with the cities of Paris and New York. The films will be shown on Tuesdays at 4:00, 6:00 and 8:00 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. The films will be presented in the Metropolitan's Junior Museum Auditorium, which is convenient to the Museum's 81st Street and Parking Garage Entrances. General admission is priced at $2.50; admission for students is $1.50. Tickets for the marathon will be $5.00 each. Details concerning ticket sales will be announced in early March by the Museum. Dick Hyman will provide musical accompaniment for all silent movies is the series. Mr. Hyman, who has played with Lester Young, Red Norvo and Benny Goodman, recently conducted the orchestra of the New York Jazz Repertory Company on a tour of the Soviet Union, playing the music of Louis Armstrong. page 3 Langlois' theme, "Paris/New York", was chosen to celebrate the fact that the motion picture was created in 1894 in the United States and France simultaneously, by Edison in America and the Lumiere Brothers in France. Both countries have been dominated by the two great metropolitan centers of Paris and New York. Throughout the years, Langlois felt, the two cities have emerged as living characters in many films. The Cinematheque Francaise was established in 1934 by Henri Langlois, and has grown into the largest and most influential of film archives. With resources including over 60,000 film titles and literally thousands of film-related books, periodicals, photographs, designs and costumes, the Cinematheque has become almost legendary ia scope. Langlois' influence has been felt in countries around the world through his encouragement of young film-makers and his conviction that film as an art form should be preserved and studied. Recognizing his unique contribution in preserving film and making his archives available to all, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded him an "Oscar" in 1974. The Metropolitan Museum first played host to the Cinematheque in 1970 by presenting "Cinematheque at the Metropolitan", an exhibition, unprecedented in its scope, featuring 70 films. "Paris/New York" is underwritten by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Deerfield Foundation, the William and Mary Greve Foundation, the Harris Foundation, page 4 the H. J. Heinz II Charitable and Family Trust, the Nosutch Foundation, the Billy Rose Foundation, and a number of private contributors. The American Cinematheque and The Metropolitan Museum of Art acknowledge the kind cooperation of Blackhawk Films, La Cinematheque Francaise, Columbia Pictures Corporation, the Cecil B. DeMille Estate, Paramount Pictures Corporation, the Mary Pickford Corporation, Mr. Raymond Rohauer, Time-Life Multimedia and United Artists Corporation. Musical instruments are provided by the Baldwin Piano Company. (END) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION please contact Gail Cummings Docktor or Gary Farmer at The American Cinematheque, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street. New York. N.Y. 10028. Tel: (212) 879-5674. February 1977 .