It’s amazing to think that generations of readers might never have known Boris Pasternak’s Nobel Prize-winning story of Doctor Zhivago had it not been for one Italian publisher who bravely smuggled the manuscript out of the USSR in 1957.

In celebration of its 50 year anniversary of publication — and the 41st anniversary of the film’s release — Edmond Town Hall will screen David Lean’s 1965 epic film adaptation in the theater at 45 Main Street on Sunday, January 31. Screenings will be at 3 and 7 pm. 

The film sweepingly portrays Yuri Zhivago’s journey from a respected and admired physician and poet (pre-WWI), to one of the underutilized, downtrodden masses created by the Russian Revolution and Civil War.

Omar Sharif plays the doctor, who marries Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin), yet is undeniably drawn to Lara (Julie Christie). As the war tears his life apart, the doctor takes his family on the run, narrowly escapes the mysterious Strelnikov (Tom Courtenay), and is unable to protect Lara from the grip of a brutal politician, Victor Komarovsky (Rod Steiger). 

Film Series Coordinator Jen Rogers says she was struck “by how demoralizing it is to be stripped of all self-expression and control over your life.

“Yuri’s poetry is mocked as ‘self-indulgent’ after the war, and is condemned by Soviet censors as antagonistic to the Communist agenda, forcing him to flee Moscow with his family to the Ural Mountains,” Ms Rogers added.

Doctor Zhivago won five Academy Awards, including Best Music Score (remember “Lara’s theme”?) for Maurice Jarre, Best Writing-Adapted Screenplay for Robert Bolt, and Best Cinematography for Freddie Yong. Its five Golden Globe Awards span every major category including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.

Doctor Zhivago is rated PG-13, and it has a running time of three hours, 30 minutes. Tickets are $2, and will be available at the box office immediately preceding each screening.

The film series is presented by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, and sponsored by Event Services, Inc.

The next film in this series will be An Affair to Remember on Thursday, February 18.

For more information, visit the Sunday Cinema Series on Facebook or visit NewtownArtsCommission.org.