Back From The Dead!

Cleaning the marquee at 814 W. Grace Street

The James River Film Society is sponsoring the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Biograph Theatre at the former Lee Art Theater on February 11th. The Biograph was Richmond’s repertory movie theater that opened in February 1972 and closed in the fall of 1987. This is where many Richmonders saw their first Goddard or Truffaut film and still many movie goers have a soft spot in their heart (or is it their head) for this cinema venue.

The James River Film Society has the particulars:

On its 40th anniversary, the Biograph Theatre, or perhaps something akin to its reanimated spirit, will serve up a pair of highly acclaimed films as a double feature to kick off a three or more part series titled “The Golden Age of Repertory Cinema.”

In other words, the James River Film Society will present “Breathless” (1960) — a 50th anniversary restoration 35mm print no less — and “Lonely Are the Brave” (1962) at the VCU Grace Street Theater on Saturday, February 11, 2012. The event will be a fundraiser for the volunteer run nonprofit James River Film Society and an opportunity to officially launch its campaign to establish a small storefront cinema in downtown Richmond.

This splendid on-the-lam twin bill is guaranteed to make viewers think no less than twice.

Still, in 2012, is it safe to throw another Biograph party?

Perhaps … we’ll see.