Magdalen Monday Movies - Magdalen College

Magdalen Monday Movies is a film club that runs every Monday during term time. We have a different theme each term. The club runs in conjunction with the Oxford Film Studies Network.

Our curator, Peter Kessler, introduces each film. Sometimes we have guest speakers, and occasionally we follow screenings with interviews with the director. We also have a regular strand called ‘Desert Island Movies’, where a celebrity guest takes us through their personal favourite films.

This is all provided for free. Everyone is welcome to come along – but booking via our Eventbrite page is a good idea.

You don’t need to be a member of Magdalen College. Magdalen Monday Movies is open to everyone over the age of 18: students, academics, members of the public. So please feel free to bring your friends and family.

We also offer everyone free popcorn, because that’s (partly) what going to the movies is all about. And we even provide a full Content Warning page.

Our new season starts on October 13th. This term our Eras Tour is going back in time with a season entitled Pre-War German Cinema: the Hollywood that Might Have Been. Book now and join us for nine weeks of film-going fascination.

Mon 13 Oct, 7pm: Der Müde Tod (1921) – plus film studies talk on Fritz Lang’s earliest work
Mon 20 Oct, 7pm: Der Letzte Mann (1924) – plus film studies talk on Murnau’s life and career
Mon 27 Oct, 7pm: HALLOWE’EN SPECIAL! Häxan (1922) – plus live musical accompaniment from Hugo Max
Mon 3 Nov, 7pm: Trouble in Paradise (1932) – plus film studies talk on Lubitsch’s career
Mon 10 Nov, 7pm: Metropolis (1927) – plus film studies talk on Lang’s later German works
Mon 17 Nov, 7pm: Sunrise (1927)
Mon 24 Nov, 7pm: M (1931) – introduced by Rose Butler, Programmer for Picturehouse Cinemas
Mon 1 Dec, 7pm: Mädchen in Uniform (1931)
Mon 8 Dec, 7pm: Die Bergkatze (1921)

Plus special features this term…

STEPHEN FRY’S DESERT ISLAND MOVIES: Sun, 2 Nov, 7.15pm

Following our two wonderful first castaways, Mike Newell and Stewart Lee, we are thrilled to welcome Stephen Fry. Stephen Fry is a comedian, actor, author, polymath and Oscar Wilde obsessive. And he’s here, live and in person! Come and find out which six films he would take to his desert island.

MENSCHEN AM SONNTAG (1930), with Professor Erica Carter: Sun 26 Oct, 7pm

Prof Erica Carter discusses Menschen am Sonntag followed by screening. Subtitled ‘a film without actors’, Menschen am Sonntag featured amateurs whose normal day jobs meant they could only take part in filming on Sundays – hence the title. A groundbreaking film created by Robert Siodmak, Billy Wilder and Fred Zinnemann, all of whom went on to massive careers in the States.

HAMLET (1920), with Professor Judith Buchanan: Sun 16 Nov, 7pm

Prof Judith Buchanan discusses Hamlet (1920) starring Asta Nielsen, followed by screening plus live musical accompaniment from Seb Carrington. It’s Hamlet, but not as you know it. Danish actress Asta Nielsen formed her own production company to make this astonishing film. She also played the main part, and portrayed Hamlet as a woman. More daring and original than most productions you’ll ever see on a stage.

Online talk: THE ALIEN FRANCHISE. With Issy Price. Wed 19 Nov, 5pm

Film studies talk: Issy Price, postgraduate in Film Studies, presents a paper on the Alien franchise. Issy Price was awarded a First in Film Studies from Royal Holloway College, and has contributed to podcasts on Film as well as guest introducing for Magdalen Monday Movies. If you thought the Alien movies were just about Sigourney Weaver fighting monsters with too many teeth, prepare to see science fiction from a whole new perspective.

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