Flicks on the Bricks 2024 Series | Political Comedies with Beth Accomando

The Athenaeum’s outdoor movie series, Flicks on the Bricks makes it possible for you to enjoy classic movies that you love while enjoying the beautiful summer night on the patio of the Athenaeum. In August, film critic and scholar Beth Accomando will return to host Flicks on the Bricks. This year, she has chosen four political comedies.

Thursday, August 8, 8 PM » The Great McGinty (1940)

Dan McGinty has great success in his chosen field of crooked politics, but he endangers it all in one crazy moment of honesty.

Told in flashback, Depression-era bum Dan McGinty is recruited by the city’s political machine to help with vote fraud. His great aptitude for this brings rapid promotion from “the boss,” who finally decides he’d be ideal as a new, nominally “reform” mayor; but this candidacy requires marriage. His in-name-only marriage to honest Catherine proves the beginning of the end for dishonest Dan…

Thursday, August 15, 8 PM » Dr. Strangelove (1964)

An unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.

Thursday, August 22, 8 PM » The Candidate (1972)

Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.

Thursday, August 29, 8 PM » Election (1999)

The high school Class President election is approaching and it looks like Tracy Flick is going to win, unopposed. However, teacher Jim McAllister has other plans. He convinces jock Paul Metzler to run, sparking off an interesting chain of events.