About Films on the Hill
Films on the Hill is a volunteer-run film society, and the only venue in the Washington, D.C. area showing exclusively "old" films (i.e. films from the 1910s to the 1950s). All films are 16mm and most are original prints. We provide a combination of well-known classics and also more unique fare, some of which have seldom if ever been shown in our area in any format. See our list of past film programs.
Films on the Hill shows approximately three films per month; both sound and silent films. Some silent films have live piano accompaniment by Ray Brubacher or Robert Israel, others have recorded music. Most shows begin with a short film or cartoon and we are the only theater in the area doing this on a regular basis. Programs during the past years have included a mini-Zorro series in 2001, a series of W.C. Fields films, a series of film noir, swashbucklers, comedies, musicals, westerns, films celebrating the Cary Grant centennial, early 1920s Technicolor films, and a special series highlighting child stars. Some of our more unusual films have included those by F.W. Murnau, Maurice Tourneur and Fritz Lang and films starring Pola Negri, Lon Chaney, William S. Hart, and Tom Mix. In December of 2003 we showed all aviation films to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight, ending with a program of short films which included documentaries, newsreels and the first fiction film to feature an airplane in the plot. Other favorites include a series of films set in World War I submarines, Titanic films on the anniversary of that disaster, films featuring the San Francisco earthquake on the 100th anniversary, Burt Lancaster's swashbucklers, and a series featuring Austrian composers and directors. Our Halloween shows are always popular as are the Charlie Chan films. Special guests have included relatives of W.C. Fields and Tom Mix. Some of our short films have included cartoons with Felix the Cat, and 2-reel comedies with Charley Chase, Laurel and Hardy and the Our Gang kids.
We participate in other D.C. film events and took part in the Environmental
Film Festival in March of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. In October 2001 we hosted the Cary Grant fan club. During November and December 2001 we took part in the Marlene Dietrich Centennial film series with five films, each demonstrating a different aspect of her career. In July 2003 we took part in the Slapsticon Festival of early comedy.
Concessions are available at all our film shows: freshly made popcorn, candy
bars, sodas and water. We have the best prices in town on concessions:
everything is $1.00.
Admission for all films is $5; discount passes are available.
We welcome feedback from our theater patrons, please join our e-mail list or contact us by e-mail.
Thank you and we hope to see you at the movies.
FILMS ON THE HILL is a project of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.