The Webster Film Series, now a classic St. Louis event, was created over frustration with the city’s theaters.
In 1979, The Webster University Film Society decided to respond to the slim selection of films offered in local theaters. A small group of professors and students in the society began the Webster Film Series as a way to screen classic, foreign and independent films that would otherwise not be seen in greater St. Louis. Off the Wall, Derick May’s 1981 documentary about the Manhattan Project, and The Haunting of M, Anna Thomas’s gothic horror story, were among the first films screened.
Today, the responsibility for film selection falls on Mike Steinberg, series director for the Webster Film Series.
“He receives screeners from distributors and independent filmmakers,” said James Harrison, program director for the Webster Film Series. “He often develops a theme for each calendar.”
This month, the film series has commemorated the celebrated Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman with its “Remembering Ingmar Bergman” series. Already, Smiles of a Summer Night and Through a Glass Darkly have appeared on the schedule as a part of this retrospective. There will be a showing of Bergman’s 1982 coming of age film Fanny and Alexander on Thursday, Feb. 28, to close the series.
Webster is also screening a number of cult films at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood) as part of its “Strange Brew” film series. On March 5, Schlafly shows Zardoz, the 1974 science fiction flick starring Sean Connery, and on April 2, the series hosts Robocop, Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 action flick.
Boasting a dedicated following and a growing reputation, the Webster Film Series has attracted a number of high-profile guests, among them legendary filmmakers Charles Burnett, John Waters and Ken Burns.
In May 2006, actor and independent filmmaker Crispin Glover appeared at the film series in support of his surrealist cult film What Is It?
A traveling film, viewable only as part of Glover’s continuous screening tour, What Is It? drew a large crowd.
“He stood for a brief question-and-answer session following the film, which consisted of about one question and a series of answers by Crispin that lasted well over an hour,” said Harrison.
Following the film, Glover treated fans with an autograph session.
“The line began at the stage and ran around the theater with 100-plus eager fans waiting for their moment,” said Harrison. “Crispin obliged by posing for pictures, signing everything from books to breasts and engaging in conversation with every single person that stepped before him until the wee hours in the morning.”
Special guests this year include director Esther Robinson for a showing of her film A Walk into the Sea: Danny Williams and the Warhol Factory on March 2, and Reverend Billy and Savitri D., around whom Rob VanAlkemade’s documentary What Would Jesus Buy? focuses.
Films are screened in Moore Auditorium at Webster University (470 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves) unless otherwise noted. Tickets are $6 at the door for the general public and $5 for students with valid school ID. More information about the upcoming slate of screenings can be found at webster.edu/filmseries.
