Pencil This In: 'The Strange Love Of Molly Louvain' At The Patio Theater

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 22, 2014 5:30PM

Michael Curtiz's 1932 film The Strange Love of Molly Louvain benefits from the Hays Code envelope pushing cheap films Warner Brothers was known for at the time and stellar performances by Ann Dvorak in the title role and Lee Tracy as the cynical, amoral newspaper reporter who falls for her. But the film, based on a play by Chicago’s Maurine Watkins, doesn't serve Chicago's geography well; Hyde Park, long an oasis within the city, comes across as an inner-city hovel in the film.

The Northwest Chicago Film Society will screen The Strange Love of Molly Louvain 7:30 p.m. April 23 at the Patio Theater with Dvorak biographer Christina Rice introducing the film. Adding to the melodrama of the film is the realization this will be the last film screened at the Patio, which will close for the foreseeable future due to untenable operating costs including needing $50,000 to fix their air-conditioning system. This will be the last chance to enjoy a classic film in one of Chicago's iconic movie palaces for some time. (6008 W. Irving Park Rd.)

If you have an event for inclusion in "Pencil This In," please contact Tankboy (for A&E-related listings), Melissa McEwen (for tastings, dinners and food and drink-related events) or tips[at]chicagoist[dot]com.