Times Herald-Record, December 5, 2008
Screenings: 'It's a Wonderful Life,' 'What Would Jesus Buy?' 'The Linguists'

Germain Lussier

If it's after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, entertainment in the Hudson Valley turns to three staples.

There are "A Christmas Carol" and "The Nutcracker" onstage and "It's a Wonderful Life" on the big screen.

The movie has its first holiday screening at 8 p.m. Friday at the Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie.

In a story that sounds as if it could be set in the present, Jimmy Stewart is George Bailey, a selfless man whose debts have him considering suicide. Just before he's about to literally take a plunge, a ghost named Clarence falls to Earth to try and convince George not to kill himself. He does so by showing George what life would have been like had he not been born.

The result is a heartwarming tale for the whole family that has become an integral part of holiday tradition across the world.

Besides the screening this week, the film is also playing at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 20 at the Lafayette Theater in Suffern and 7 p.m. at The Salvation Army, 35 Cedar St., Kingston.

Also related to this time of year, the film "What Would Jesus Buy?" documents a church that travels the country exposing the commercial evils of Christmas. The film is screening at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Muddy Cup, 305 Main St., Poughkeepsie, as part of the "Give Peace a Film" series sponsored by the Dutchess Peace Coalition. Admission is free. Call 876-7906.

The Paramount Center, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill, is playing a small, buzzed-about film called "The Linguists" at 3 p.m. Sunday. Directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller and Jeremy Newberger, it follows a group of academics who travel the world documenting some of the incredible 7,000 worldwide languages. Suffice to say, the film isn't all in English; however, the filmmakers will translate plenty when they do a Q&A after the film. Admission is free. Call 914-739-2333.

Finally, the new holiday classic "The Polar Express," starring Tom Hanks is playing at 2 and 4 p.m. Friday-Sunday at ShowTime Cinemas, 1420 Route 300, Newburgh. Tickets are $2. Call 566-6611.