Newtown Cultural Arts Commission continued its Sunday Cinema Series with two screenings of the film Casablanca on Sunday, July 19, at Edmond Town Hall.

Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC), in collaboration with Edmond Town Hall and with support from the Law Offices of James O. Gaston, was able to showcase Director Michael Curtiz’s 1942 classic film, which stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

NCAC member Jennifer Rogers spearheads the commission’s Sunday Cinema Series, which strives to bring Newtown “the best loved, most enduring films,” according to its website. Ms Rogers said was pleased that both the 4 and 7 pm showings were well attended with enthusiastic moviegoers.

Ms Rogers also said she was pleased to see crowds with diversity in age. She said she believes in the importance of cultural literacy among younger generations, and that classic movies, like storied literature, play a huge role in this.

Ms Rogers said that since the film appeals to all ages and was released before World War II was over, it becomes a point of multi-generational dialogue.

Before each Sunday Cinema Series showing, Ms Rogers entertains the audience with some pre-show trivia, helping spark some of that potential dialogue. She shared facts regarding the film with the crowd on Sunday. For example, many actors playing Nazi Germans and Gestapo officers were actually German-Jewish refugees who went on to become actors, she said.

Mr Gaston, whose law offices helped sponsor both screenings of Casablanca, told the audience before the show that, like the flagpole, the Edmond Town Hall and events like the Sunday Cinema Series screenings are an important staple to the town.

The next event in the series will be two showings of the 1959 film Some Like it Hot, featuring Marilyn Monroe, on Wednesday, August 19. Screenings will be at 1 and 7 pm, and tickets are $2 each.