What we’re about
Harrogate Film Society (HFS for short) has been bringing the best in world cinema to Harrogate since 1955. We usually screen our films at Harrogate Odeon, giving audiences comfort and a full cinematic sound and vision experience.
HFS is run entirely by volunteers and has a strong committed core membership, but we are keen for new members to join us. You will find a warm welcome and a real mix of film fans and enthusiasts - we are not a stuffy bunch of clever clogs!
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Seeing a film on your own with HFS is better than missing out! Don't be shy, just turn up on the night and say hello to any of the friendly committee members (we should be wearing name badges) - we will be happy to have a chat and welcome you to the gang.
We have expanded our social media presence, via facebook, with our own page and a group too, threads, bluesky, instagram and we are still on X too as well as meetup. Joining our meetup group is free and you can join this meetup group regardless of whether you have paid our annual HFS membership fee / mini-membership fee or not (see website for current prices).
You are welcome to attend any of our events - tickets for these can usually be purchased online in advance via our website or at the event from our desk in the lobby at the Odeon. Please note that a yes RSVP on Meetup does not obligate you to attend any event, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE YOU A PLACE AT THE EVENT IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID FOR A TICKET VIA THE HFS WEBSITE.
You do not need to purchase tickets in advance for our standard film nights (though it does just save you queueing in the Odeon lobby to pay) but it is RECOMMENDED that you book and pay for tickets in advance via the HFS website for any of our special events, art season, or classic cinema, particularly where these may sell out.
The majority of our films are screened in Screen 2 (upstairs with 200+ capacity) and occasional events are screened downstairs in Screens 3 or 5. The downstairs screens have different capacity levels but also have some wheelchair access for a limited number of guests. Please get in touch via the HFS website to reserve a space if required. ALL seating at ALL events is unreserved, so rock up and sit wherever you like.
If you want to join our mailing lists and get more regular updates, please get in touch via contact.harrogatefilmsociety@gmail.com
Perhaps this meetup group could be the first step on your journey to becoming a full member and supporting our society?
Follow the link below for more information or to buy tickets from the Film Society website.
Home | Harrogate Film Society
Upcoming events
1
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
ODEON Harrogate, East Parade, Harrogate, GBhttps://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest | 1975 | 18 | Dir. Milos Forman | US | IMDb 8.7 | 133 minutes
Certified Brilliance! A Timeless Gem!
Our 50th Year anniversary film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975) is on every list of top films. Based on the novel by Ken Kesey and the award-winning play of the same name. Interestingly, Kirk Douglas starred in the play in 1963 and also bought the film rights.
An inspired decision as this was the first film since “It Happened One Night” (1934), to win all five of the top Academy Awards. Best picture, best actor (Nicholson), best actress (Louise Fletcher), best director (Milos Forman) and best screenplay (Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman).
Randall P Mc Murphy is often described as Nicholson’s best performance and it is one of the high points, in a long career of enviable rebels. His characters quite often stand for freedom, anarchy, self-gratification and bucking the system, and often they also stand for generous friendship and a kind of careworn nobility. These characteristics are deployed to maximum effect in the persona of Mc Murphy, a psychiatric in-patient.
Nurse Ratched, played to perfection by Louise Fletcher, is a much more interesting, more ambiguous and nuanced character than in Ken Kesey's novel. However, her fleeting impulses of genuine concern and compassion, only serve as a small distraction from the power battle that plays out between herself and Mc Murphy.
With stunning performances from the supporting cast, Danny de Vito brilliantly reprises the role of Martini, from the off-Broadway stage play.
Brad Dourif, buzzing with tremulous energy, controlled with consummate skill, knows when to internalize and uses his innate sensitivity to find the right tone and tempo in the role of Billy.
Will Sampson’s Chief also deserves special mention, from his quiet brooding, yet warm, presence throughout the film, to the magnificence of the sad yet uplifting ending, which has quite deservedly achieved iconic status.
In an unusual and highly progressive move, a number of the cast were real patients from Salem Oregon, the mental health facility, where this low budget masterpiece was filmed. Forman also rehearsed and shot the film in this facility. Actors spent time with patients and then stayed in character during their lunch breaks. Many slept at the institution. When Nicholson arrived, just a week before shooting, he could barely tell the two groups apart. This reinforces and emphasises our common humanity and the viewer is invited to see the characters as variations on ourselves.
There are some aspects of the film that may be at odds with modern sensitivities, however some of the themes and issues explored here are as relevant now as they were 50 years ago.
· Screen 2 upstairs - Unreserved seating
· Doors open 7pm
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.30pm
· Free parking available at the Odeon
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby
Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Our mini-Membership costs just £30 for the remaining 7 films and just £18 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.
Tickets for non-members will be available for this film the weekend before the screening.2 attendees
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