Fans of old movies will discover an embarrassment of riches playing in local theaters during October, from “Young Frankenstein” and “American Graffiti” to “Lawrence of Arabia.”
In addition to the usual suspects here, the Megaplex Theatres chain is adding a 10-film weekly cycle of golden oldies through December that will show over two days each week, with early and late matinee screenings each day — and the admission is just $1.50 (or if you purchase a pass for all 10, just a buck apiece).
• “Strangers on a Train” (1951, b/w). In this Hitchcock classic, a tennis pro (Farley Granger) with marital woes is approached by a fan (Robert Walker) who proposes they swap murders. Granger doesn’t take him seriously, much to his regret. (Monday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m., free, Tower Theatre)
• “Devil’s Brigade” (1968). This is a true World War II adventure about the formation of a joint American-Canadian commando unit tasked with infiltrating a Nazi mountain stronghold. William Holden and Cliff Robertson star. Filmed in Utah. (Tuesday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., SCERA Center for the Arts, Orem)
• “Young Frankenstein” (1974, b/w, PG). Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder’s best movie, this faithful, hilarious off-the-wall spoof of the early Universal “Frankenstein” films is one of the most quotable comedies ever. Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn and unbilled Gene Hackman are all in top form. Brooks is scheduled to offer a live introduction. (Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m., Cinemark Theatres)
• “Dr. Jack” (1922, b/w). One of Harold Lloyd’s less familiar silent gag-filled comedies casts him as Dr. Jackson, a kindly small-town physician who discovers an unethical doctor is overcharging a family after misdiagnosing their daughter. The screening includes live organ/sound effects accompaniment. (Thursday-Friday, Oct. 6-7, The Organ Loft, 7:30 p.m.)
• “American Graffiti” (1973, PG). Before “Star Wars,” George Lucas struck gold with this warm and funny coming-of-age nostalgia piece, a look at California teens in 1962 cruising the boulevard. The focus is on two pals (Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard) who contemplate heading to college, set against terrific vintage songs. Watch for Harrison Ford. (Sunday, Oct. 9, 2 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2 and 7 p.m., Cinemark Theatres)
• “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962). Winner of seven Oscars, including best picture (and the year’s No. 1 box-office hit), this superb David Lean epic delivers thrills, excitement, comedy and many memorable set pieces as it tells the true story of T.E. Lawrence. Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn all shine. (Monday, Oct. 10, and Wednesday, Oct. 12, Megaplex Theatres)
• “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines” (1965). This inventive, funny epic all-star comedy is about a 1910 London-to-Paris air race between eccentric international competitors in primitive planes. Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, Robert Morley, Terry-Thomas and Benny Hill are among the cast. (Tuesday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m., SCERA Center for the Arts, Orem)
• “The Locket” (1946, b/w). Mormon actress Laraine Day stars in this film noir thriller as a troubled bride-to-be whose past unfolds in flashbacks, revealing a pathology that began in childhood when she was accused of stealing a locket. Robert Mitchum co-stars. (Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m., free, BYU, Provo)
• “The Sound of Music” (1965). One of the biggest movies of all time, this adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in the true story of the Trapp Family Singers and their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria. (Monday, Oct. 17, and Wednesday, Oct. 19, Megaplex Theatres)
• “Rio Bravo” (1959). Howard Hawks directed this great Western about a stoic sheriff (John Wayne) and his deputy, formerly the town drunk (Dean Martin), guarding a prisoner in a small frontier Texas jail while his family plots to free him. Walter Brennan, Ricky Nelson and Angie Dickinson co-star. (Tuesday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m., SCERA Center for the Arts, Orem)
• “The Phantom of the Opera” (1925, b/w). This first version of the oft-told tale of a disfigured composer dwelling in the catacombs of the Paris Opera House is a silent classic and unquestionably Lon Chaney’s most famous role. The screening includes live organ/sound-effects accompaniment by Blaine Gale. (Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 19-21, The Organ Loft, 7:30 p.m.)
• “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939, b/w). Charles Laughton delivers a heart-wrenching performance as Quasimodo in this excellent adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel, and Maureen O’Hara (in her first Hollywood film at 19) is a stunning Esmeralda. (Tuesday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m., SCERA Center for the Arts, Orem)
• “Gone With the Wind” (1939). The most popular film of all time is still this great Civil War epic, led by Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara. Rhett loves Scarlett, Scarlett loves Ashley (Leslie Howard), Ashley loves Melanie (Olivia de Havilland) — and Atlanta burns. Even at nearly four hours there’s nary a lull. (Monday, Oct. 24, and Wednesday, Oct. 26, Megaplex Theatres)
• “The Tingler” (1959, b/w with one color sequence). Vincent Price stars in this corny but fun horror yarn about a pathologist discovering a parasite that develops on the human spine when one is frightened. (Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m., Tower Theatre)
• “Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls” (1962, b/w). Filmed in Utah, this low-budget horror flick tells of a young woman (Candace Hilligoss) who travels to Salt Lake City for a job as a church organist but finds herself haunted by ghostly figures. Embellished with snarky comments by the Rifftrax guys, veterans of “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” (Thursday, Oct. 27, and Monday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m., Cinemark Theatres)
• “I Married a Monster From Outer Space” (1958, b/w). Despite the campy title, this is a very good sci-fi/horror yarn, which owes something to “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” A young newlywed (Gloria Talbott) notices a dramatic change in the personality of her husband (Tom Tryon), along with other men in town. Yes, they’re alien impostors. (Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., free, BYU, Provo)
• “Ben-Hur” (1959). Winner of 11 Oscars, including best picture, this epic biblical tale holds up wonderfully, with Charlton Heston excellent in the title role and many memorable moments, capped by the still-thrilling chariot race. (Monday, Oct. 31, and Wednesday, Nov. 2, Megaplex Theatres)
• “That Touch of Mink” (1962). Cary Grant stars as a wealthy businessman who wants an affair and Doris Day as a career woman holding out for marriage in this cute romantic comedy (the fourth-biggest hit of 1962). Gig Young shines as Grant’s neurotic best friend, with Audrey Meadows, John Astin and New York Yankees' Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. (Tuesday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m., SCERA Center for the Arts, Orem)
Chris Hicks is the author of "Has Hollywood Lost Its Mind? A Parent’s Guide to Movie Ratings." He also writes at www.hicksflicks.com and can be contacted at hicks@deseretnews.com.