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The Film Programs of the Detroit Film Theatre, Michigan Theater, and Redford Theatre

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Looking Back

March 1981

Step back in time to see what area movie theaters were presenting in March 1981. Film titles are linked to the Internet Movie Database.

For more information about these theaters, see Cinema Treasures or Water Winter Wonderland.

The Detroit Film Theatre spanned the globe with films from Japan (Empire of Passion), Germany (The Left-Handed Woman) and Brazil (Bye Bye Brazil). Movie critic Jack Mathews of the Detroit Free Press described Bye Bye Brazil as "uplifting, life-affirming and frequently very funny in the midst of its melancholy tale."

The DFT also showed Tristana, directed by Spanish surrealist Luis Buñuel. On Sundays, DFT visitors enjoyed a series of 3-D movies, including Phantom of the Rue Morgue, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and a martial arts film, Dynasty.

The Classic Film Theatre of the Michigan Theatre (not yet "er") treated Ann Arbor audiences to such films as Jules and Jim (1962, France), The Quiet Man (1952), The Godfather: Part II (1974) and George (Star Wars) Lucas's 1971 science fiction film, THX 1138. The CFT also presented a feature length package of Warner Brothers Cartoon Comedies on Saturday, March 7.

The Michigan provided space for other film organizations, including the Motor City Theatre Organ Society (A Streetcar Named Desire), the Michigan Community Theatre Foundation (On the Town), the Cinema Guild (The Pink Panther) and the Ann Arbor Film Co-op (Rebecca).

At the Redford, film lovers admired Busby Berkeley's dramatic choreography in Gold Diggers of 1933. With the Academy Awards show coming up, Redford audiences enjoyed Humphrey Bogart's Oscar-winning performance in The African Queen (1951). In between the movies, internationally known organist Hector Olivera performed on March 14.

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