About us
People often ask me, "What IS a Classic Movie?". Well, one thing for sure is that it doesn't HAVE to be made before you were born AND it doesn't HAVE to be in B&W. It MAY be both but, on the contrary, it may have come out in 2023 at Christmastime, like Alexander Payne's The Holdovers. A Classic Movie is a GREAT *movie that stands the test of time but may not be truly appreciated in its own time, like **Frank Capra's *It's a Wonderful Life (1946).
MISSION STATEMENT: Let's get together and watch GREAT movies of ALL eras & genres on The Big Screen AND at small events at members’ homes!
Our goal is not JUST seeing the best movies of both the past AND today, but making time afterward to talk about them and perhaps even becoming Film Friends.
There will also occasionally be events related to other areas of the Arts and local culture.
And each year we have an Oscars Party!
Although based in Fenton, MO, we will host events throughout the Metropolitan area, on BOTH sides of the Mississippi AND Missouri Rivers, including both St. Charles County and Edwardsville, IL!
We are looking for an ACTIVE membership, which for us means you'll attend at least ONE event each year.
Please submit a recent "selfie" profile photo when you join so we can easily recognize you at our doorsteps and in public places. Profile photos are most effective when they include only one human being and when that human being is not wearing sunglasses =OR= a hat.
I hope you'll also consider supporting my wife, Shirley's, plant-based eating group: https://www.meetup.com/plant-based-stl/
Established Monday, 11/19/2018!
Upcoming events
8
Paul Thomas Anderson's PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2002) @ The ARKADIN/$9
Arkadin Cinema & Bar, 5228 Gravois Ave, St. Louis, MO, USSCHEDULE
6PM - Adam Sandler pre-show
7PM - PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2002)February 2026 Schedule
https://arkadincinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/February-2026.webpGeneral Admission - $9
5228 Gravois Avenue | St. Louis, MO 63116
Microcinema in the Heart of Bevo!
https://arkadincinema.com/events/
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Since this 50-seat theater DOES sell out its most popular events, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you buy your tickets online asap.There is NO FEE for this service.
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PLENTY of Public Parking a block closer to the Bevo Mill @ Walsh/Duke & Gravois!
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After the movie, we will gather in the lobby for lively, provocative, and insightful conversation--OR as close as we can come to that, anyway--HA!
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This film is screening as part of Arkadin’s February 2026 series, OFFBEAT ROMANCE, featuring quirky tales of oddballs in love.
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“One of the strangest and most beguiling romantic comedies ever made.” – Philadelphia InquirerChaos lurks in every corner of this giddily off-kilter foray into romantic comedy by Paul Thomas Anderson. Struggling to cope with his erratic temper, novelty-toilet-plunger salesman Barry Egan (Adam Sandler, demonstrating remarkable versatility in his first dramatic role) spends his days collecting frequent-flier-mile coupons and dodging the insults of his seven sisters. The promise of a new life emerges when Barry inadvertently attracts the affection of a mysterious woman named Lena (Emily Watson), but their budding relationship is threatened when he falls prey to the swindling operator of a phone sex line and her deranged boss (played with maniacal brio by Philip Seymour Hoffman, in a role you may recognize from Arkadin’s “Shut Up” intro). Fueled by the careening momentum of a baroque-futurist score by Jon Brion, the Cannes-award-winning Punch-Drunk Love channels the spirit of classic Hollywood and the whimsy of Jacques Tati into an idiosyncratic ode to the delirium of new romance.
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The Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.
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NOTE: On Rotten Tomatoes, this movie has a 79% on the Tomatometer and a 78% on the Popcornmeter.https://arkadincinema.com/event/punch-drunk-love-2002-w-adam-sandler-pre-show-6-pm/ [Includes Trailer]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch-Drunk_Love
https://www.scripts.com/script/punch-drunk_love_9603 attendees
Great Movie & Pot Luck @ Ken & Sophia's! | GREED (1924) ***SILENT MOVIE***
Chesterfield, MO TBD, TBD, Chesterfield, MO, USMovie + Pot Luck Dinner @ Ken & Sophia's Home in Chesterfield, MO, featuring Ken's NEW 100" Screen!
Their address will be group e-mailed to attendees 24 hours ahead of the event.
SCHEDULE
5:30PM: Show-up/Mingle
6PM: Eat
7PM: Movie - No one admitted after the movie starts
9PM: Discuss/MingleThe main course of the Pot Luck provided by Ken & Sophia will be both chicken AND beef chili. They will also likely provide a few beverages.
Please bring a complimentary side/dessert to share and document it here on THIS page.
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Ken talks about GREED:
Von Stroheim’s original film was over nine hours long. He showed it once to a select group of friends. Like other great directors who didn’t pay attention to the studio system, he lost control of his work. The studio cut the film to be two hours and three minutes long. The shortened version is considered one of the great Films of all time. Following its release, Von Stroheim disowned it and never spoke of it again. Like Buster Keaton and Orson Welles, he lost control over the making of his own films.Jerry requested this film. It will be shown on a 100-inch 4K high definition television screen. Hopefully, this will be the first such evening event at my house. Hope to have a monthly event. I plan to have a drawing to select who will be the next person to choose a film to be seen by the group.
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Based on McTeague, an 1899 novel by Frank Norris.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McTeague
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Norris***
Greed is a 1924 American silent psychological drama film written and directed by Erich von Stroheim and based on the 1899 Frank Norris novel McTeague. It stars Gibson Gowland as Dr. John McTeague; ZaSu Pitts as Trina Sieppe, his wife; and Jean Hersholt as McTeague's friend and eventual enemy Marcus Schouler. The film tells the story of McTeague, a San Francisco dentist, who marries his best friend Schouler's girlfriend Trina.
NOTE: On Rotten Tomatoes, this movie has a 96% on the Tomatometer and a 90% on the Popcornmeter.
https://www.allmovie.com/movie/greed-am6968 [Includes Trailer!]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed_(1924_film)6 attendees
Buster Keaton's THE GENERAL (1927) @ Chase Park Plaza Cinema | $5.00@
Chase Park Plaza Theater, 212 Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, MO, USPark in the Park Plaza Parking Garage, 46 Maryland Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63108, bring your parking ticket in, get it validated by the theater staff, and PARK FREE!
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Chase Park Plaza Cinemas ARE EXCLUSIVELY RESERVED SEATING!Here's what's CURRENTLY available:
https://booking.chaseparkplazacinema.com/seats/7/136803000065
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The Chase charges $1.50/ticket fee to purchase seats online, and I'm too frugal (CHEAP!) to pay those, so I'll be buying my ticket the day of the Event.
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After the movie, we will gather in the lobby/food court for food and/or drinks & lively, provocative, and insightful conversation--OR as close as we can come to that, anyway--HA!
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Johnnie loves two things: his train and the lovely Annabelle Lee. When the Civil War breaks out, he enlists as a soldier, but it is decided that he is too valuable as an engineer. Annabelle thinks it is because he is a coward. When Union spies capture Johnnie with Annabelle on board, Johnnie "The General" must rescue both his loves.NOTE: On Rotten Tomatoes, this movie has an 92% on the Tomatometer and a 92% on the Popcornmeter.
Release dates:
December 31, 1926 (Tokyo)
February 5, 1927 (New York City)https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-general-am6848?a0c347aa74d43a32098828ce305f1aae [Includes trailer]
https://www.chaseparkplazacinema.com/movies/108016-the-general-1927/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_General_(1926_film)6 attendees
Thursday Night Movies | STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR (1940_Film Noir/New-To-Me)
Jerry & Shirley's House, 63026 - Exact address will be sent to attendees 24 hours before the event, Fenton, MO, USWelcome to Thursday Night Movies @ Jerry & Shirley's!
This movie fits into the "Film Noir, new-to-me movies from ALL eras & genres" category, but some of these movies will be PRE-Code, some will be NEW Classic, and some will be 3D.
GENERALLY, this will be a regularly occurring Event on the LAST Thursday every other month.
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This Event will take place at our home near GRAVOIS BLUFFS in Fenton, MO. Our address and directions to it will be e-mailed to each attendee via MeetUp 24 hours ahead of the event. We'd prefer to have a home e-mail address and/or cell# (that we will keep confidential) for each person who attends one of our Home Events, so please consider providing one asap--THANKS!SCHEDULE
6:30PM: Show-up/Mingle
7PM: Movie begins - No one admitted after the movie starts
9PM: Discuss/Mingle
10PM: Jerry & Shirley go to bed!Jerry & Shirley will provide some air-popped popcorn, a variety of sodas [Coke, Sprite, Diet Pepsi, etc.], Hot Chocolate (with/without Irish Cream), and maybe more! If you're of a mind to and haven't done so already, please post your Movie Food/Beverage Contribution To Share in the Comments section below.
Contributions are NOT required.
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Wikipedia
Stranger on the Third Floor is a 1940 American film noir directed by Boris Ingster in his directorial debut and starring Peter Lorre, John McGuire, Margaret Tallichet, and Charles Waldron, and featuring Elisha Cook Jr. It was written by Frank Partos. Modern research has shown that Nathanael West wrote the final version of the screenplay, but was uncredited.It is the film now most commonly cited as the first true film noir.
NOTE: On Rotten Tomatoes, this movie has an 86% rating on the Tomatometer and a 63% rating on the Popcornmeter.
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-766VRy4ls
https://www.allmovie.com/movie/stranger-on-the-third-floor-am40872
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_on_the_Third_Floor
https://www.scripts.com/script/stranger_on_the_third_floor_189645 attendees
Past events
546
Group links
Members
70
