Spend a Weekend with Freeport Native Spencer Tracy May 4, 2012

Freeport, IL – Spend A Weekend With Spencer Tracy, from May 4 to 6th, when the Lindo Theatre brings to its screens and to the community four of Freeport favorite son’s finest films. Locals are justly proud of the iconic actor’s achievements in over 70 movies, crowned with back-to-back Best Actor Oscars. Tracy spent a good part of his youth in Freeport, IL, where both of his parents were born and are buried.
The Lindo’s A Weekend With Spencer Tracy presents films featuring a range of roles that highlight the actor’s versatility, from romantic comedy lead to inspiring priest to fiery defender of Darwinism. Admission for the entire series is $20 or $5 per movie. Tickets are available at the Lindo Theatre box office, located at 115 S. Chicago Avenue in downtown Freeport. The Festival kicks off on Friday evening, May 4th, at 7 PM with “Captains Courageous” and concludes on Sunday, May 6th, at 1 PM with the screening of “Inherit the Wind.”

“Spencer Tracy is a local treasure, and we are proud to bring his legacy of great films to our screens, starting with A Weekend With Spencer Tracy this May,” says Jami Spelman, Lindo Theatre General Manager.

Schedule for Freeport Film Festival’s A Weekend with Spencer Tracy:
Fri. May 4th at 7 PM: “Captains Courageous” (1937)
Freddie Bartholomew is Harvey Cheyne, a spoiled brat who is used to having his own way. A prank onboard an ocean liner goes awry and Harvey ends up overboard. Lucky for him, he’s picked up by a fishing boat heading out for the season. When his attempts to bribe the crew to return to port early fail, he’s stranded on the boat. Forced to adapt to the ways of the fishermen, he also learns important lessons about the real world. Tracy won his first of two back-to-back Best Actor Oscars for his role. Starring: Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, Melvyn Douglas, Freddie Bartholomew
Sat. May 5th at 1 PM: “Boys Town” (1938)
Spencer Tracy was originally reluctant to take on this role, based on the real-life priest Father Edward Flanagan. Flanagan starts “Boys’ Town” against all odds after hearing a story told by a convict, who says if he’d only had a friend as a child he wouldn’t have led a life of crime. An opponent of the severe approach to juvenile delinquency, Flanagan wants to create a safe haven for the boys to turn their lives around. Much of the film focuses on Flanagan's attempts to influence one boy, Whitey Marsh, who will become a hoodlum if he doesn't change his ways. When Whitey is implicated in a bank robbery, it puts all of Boys Town at risk. Throughout it all, Flanagan has to fight prejudice in those who believe delinquents should just be locked up, and the never-ending shortage of money to accomplish his goals. Tracy won his second Best Actor Oscar for this role, and the film received multiple nominations including Best Picture, Director and Screenplay. Starring: Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Henry Hull

Sat. May 5th at 7 PM: “Woman of the Year” (1942)
This was the film that first brought Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn together onscreen. Tracy plays Sam Craig and Hepburn is Tess Harding, rival reporters who fall in love and get married. All is not roses: when Sam comes to resent Tess’ hectic lifestyle, tempers flare and their relationship is strained. Can rival scribes find marital happiness? Fast paced and laced with humor, the sparks fly between the two. Winner of the Oscar for Best Screenplay, the film also garnered a Best Actress nomination for Hepburn. Starring: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Fay Bainter

Sun. May 6th at 1 PM: “Inherit the Wind” (1960)
Teacher B. T. Cates is arrested for teaching Darwin’s Theory of Origin of the Species to his students. He is defended by famous trial lawyer Henry Drummond, while golden-tongued orator and fundamentalist politician Matthew Brady prosecutes. The film is a thinly disguised rendition of the 1925 Scopes “Monkey Trial,” where featured debates between defense attorney Clarence Darrow and prosecutor William Jennings Bryan are taken largely from the court transcripts. Riveting and contemporary, the film garnered Spencer Tracy a Best Actor nomination for his work as Henry Drummond. Starring: Spencer Tracy, Frederic March, Gene Kelly, Dick York
For further about the Freeport Film Festival and A Weekend With Spencer Tracy, please visit www.celebratefreeport.com.