Tamar Jeffers McDonald Appears on Radio Kent!

Posted on September 27, 2013 by melodramaresearchgroup

Posted by Sarah

Melodrama Research Group founder Dr Tamar Jeffers McDonald (http://www.kent.ac.uk/arts/staff-profiles/profiles/film/t_jeffers-mcdonald.html) appeared on Radio Kent today to talk about her new book: Doris Day Confidential: Hollywood, Sex and Stardom.To listen to the programme, or indeed to re-listen, go to the BBC iplayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01gcjxh

The interview with Tamar begins about 2 hours into the programme.

For more details of the Doris Day Weekend at the Gulbenkian, please see previous posts on the blog.

REMINDER: Melodrama Events at the University of Kent on Sun 29th of Sept

Posted on September 25, 2013 by melodramaresearchgroup

Posted by Sarah

Just a quick reminder about the melodrama events that are taking place at the Gulbenkian Cinema at the University of Kent on Sunday the 29th of September. These are part of a Doris Day weekend to celebrate both the launch of Dr Tamar Jeffers McDonald’s recently published book on the star (see picture, left), and to showcase Day’s versatility as a performer.

A screening of Pillow Talk (1959) will take place on Friday the 27th of Sept at 6pm.

A singalong version of Calamity Jane (1953) is being shown on Saturday the 28th of Sept at 2.30 pm.

Melodrama Events On the 29th of September:

11 am: There is a free 30 min talk on melodrama by Dr John Mercer, Film Studies, City Birmingham University http://www.bcu.ac.uk/pme/school-of-media/applying-to-us/our-staff/john-mercer

11.30 am Magnificent Obsession screens.

For further details and to book your ticket go to:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/gulbenkian/cinema/films/2013/september/2013-09-magnificent-obsession.html

6.45pm: Dr Tamar Jeffers McDonald of the University of Kent (http://www.kent.ac.uk/arts/staff-profiles/profiles/film/t_jeffers-mcdonald.html) will introduce Alfred Hitchcock’s film The Man who Knew Too Much (1956). Tamar is the author of a forthcoming book on one of the stars of the film, Doris Day, and will speak about Doris’ darker films.

For further details and to book your ticket go to: http://www.kent.ac.uk/gulbenkian/cinema/films/2013/september/2013-09-the-man-who-knew-too-much.html

Do join us for some or all of these wonderful Doris and/or Melodrama Events.

Autumn Term Screening and Discussion Sessions Timetable

Posted on September 12, 2013 by melodramaresearchgroup

Posted by Sarah

All are welcome to attend our screening and discussion sessions in the Autumn Term.

These are due to take place in KS6 (Keynes, Seminar Room 6) from 4-7pm on:

9th of October (Week 2) Of Human Bondage (1934, John Cromwell,83 mins)

16th of October (Week 3) Rain (1932, Lewis Milestone, 94 mins)

30th of October (Week 5) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962, Robert Aldrich, 134 mins)

6th of November (Week 6) TBA

13th of November (Week 7) TBA

27th of November (Week 9) TBA

11th of December (Week 11)TBA

18th of December (Week 12) TBA

More details of the first 3 films, and confirmation of those due to screen later in the term, will be posted shortly.

For information on our new meeting place (including a handy map!), visit: http://www.kent.ac.uk/timetabling/rooms/room.html?room=KS6

Melodrama Events at the University of Kent on Sun 29th of Sept

Posted on September 9, 2013 by melodramaresearchgroup

Posted by Sarah

A reminder that the following exciting melodrama events are taking place at the Gulbenkian Cinema at the University of Kent on the 29th of September.

The first focuses on Douglas Sirk’s film Magnificent Obsession (1954).

11 am: There is a free 30 min talk on melodrama by Dr John Mercer, Film Studies, City Birmingham University http://www.bcu.ac.uk/pme/school-of-media/applying-to-us/our-staff/john-mercer

John is co-author, with Martin Shingler, of Melodrama : Genre, Style, Sensibility. London ; New York : Wallflower, 2004

11.30 am Magnificent Obsession screens.

The Gulbenkian website description of the film: “Based on Lloyd C. Douglas’ spiritual novel of the same title, churlish playboy Bob Merrick becomes indirectly responsible for the death of a much loved local doctor when he foolishly wrecks his speed boat. In trying to make amends, he falls in love with the doctor’s widow and must remake his life in order to win her love.”

For further details and to book your ticket go to:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/gulbenkian/cinema/films/2013/september/2013-09-magnificent-obsession.html

The Gulbenkian website’s description of the film: “A family vacationing in Morocco accidentally stumble on to an assassination plot and the conspirators are determined to prevent them from interfering. Includes a 5-10 minute introduction”

For further details and to book your ticket go to: http://www.kent.ac.uk/gulbenkian/cinema/films/2013/september/2013-09-the-man-who-knew-too-much.html

To see more details of Tamar’s book Doris Day Confidential: Hollywood, Sex and Stardom go to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doris-Day-Confidential-Hollywood-Stardom/dp/1848855826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378711364&sr=8-1&keywords=doris+day+confidential

CFP: The Melodramatic Moment, 1790-1820

Posted on September 6, 2013 by melodramaresearchgroup

Posted by Sarah,

I thought people might be interested in an upcoming conference on melodrama due to take place at the Institute of Historical Research in London in March 2014. The era it focuses on is a fair bit earlier than we have been examining, but I’m sure there is still much of relevance.

http://events.history.ac.uk/event/show/11430