Thursday Afternoon Film Series at Williamsburg Library Theatre

Resolve to start the New Year by attending four classic films at the Williamsburg Regional Library’s Thursday Afternoon Film Series. Films are shown each Thursday beginning at 2 p.m. in the Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St. They are free of charge and tickets or reservations are not required. Call the Adult Services Department at (757) 259-4050, or visit www.wrl.org/programs for more information.

Jan. 7 – King Kong (1933)
Twice sequeled but never equaled, this 76 year-old classic about a big ape brought low by a beautiful blonde remains one of the greatest adventure films ever made. Rife with iconic images, it’s relentlessly thrilling, and the groundbreaking special effects are still impressive. Hugely popular right from the start, “King Kong” saved RKO studios from bankruptcy and established distinguished film industry careers for directors Merian C. Cooper and Ernest Shoedsack.

Jan. 14 – The Third Man (1949)
A hack writer looking for an old friend in Postwar Vienna is ensnared in a black market racketeering scheme that leads to murder in this outstanding noir thriller. Joseph Cotten stars alongside Alida Valli and Orson Welles. Graham Greene wrote the screenplay, Carol Reed directed and Anton Karas provided the zither-centric musical score.

Jan. 21 – Casablanca (1943)
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman reignite an old love affair, fight Nazis and make a heartbreaking sacrifice in this superb film, which is second on the American Film Institute’s list of Greatest American Movies of All Time. Michael Curtiz directed and the impressive supporting cast includes Claude Rains, Paul Henreid, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, with Dooley Wilson on piano crooning “As Time Goes By.”

Jan. 28 – All About Eve (1950)
This deliciously catty film about a ruthless ingénue’s (Anne Baxter) attempt to supplant an established Broadway star (Bette Davis) was nominated for 14 Academy Awards and won 6, including Best Picture.