Jack Wrather: A Legacy of Film and Friendship with Alan K. Rode and Steven C. Smith presented by the Rancho Mirage Cultural Commission

Event Details

This is a Premier Program. All residents of Rancho Mirage or donors who contribute $100 or more annually to the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory Foundation can take advantage of priority seating for Premier programs by arriving early.

The City of Rancho Mirage Cultural Commission is proud to present a new season of special events for our residents to experience and enjoy. All events are free and open to the public (plan to arrive early for performances as seating may be limited). For more information or questions, email programming@ranchomiragelibrary.org.

This short documentary, Jack Wrather: A Legacy of Film and Friendship, tells the remarkable story of the Texas oil millionaire who produced film noir classics; built and owned the original Disneyland Hotel; produced hit TV series like Lassie and The Lone Ranger; and with his wife, movie star Bonita Granville, were successful hoteliers in their beloved Palm Springs. Join us for the first public showing of this new film, a critically acclaimed special feature accompanying the Film Noir Foundation's home video release of 1947 thrillers The Guilty and High Tide (Flicker Alley, 2022).

The screening will be introduced by the documentary’s producers, Alan K. Rode and Steven C. Smith. After the documentary, Alan and Steven will share stories from the golden age of film noir; and discuss their most memorable encounters with such stars as Kirk Douglas, Richard Widmark, and Ernest Borgnine. They will also answer your questions in what is guaranteed to be a lively Q&A.

Alan K. Rode is a biographer and film scholar. He produces and hosts cinema events and has appeared in, produced and written numerous documentaries about classic Hollywood. Alan is the executive producer and host of the annual Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival which has taken place in Palm Springs for over 20 years. His latest book, Blood on the Moon and the Birth of the Noir Western, is due for publication in early 2023.

Steven C. Smith is an award-winning biographer and four-time Emmy-nominated producer, whose work includes documentaries on several noir classics. Steven has written about the music of noir in two biographies: Music by Max Steiner: The Epic Life of Hollywood’s Most Influential Composer, and A Heart at Fire’s Center: The Life and Music of Bernard Herrmann.

Event Type(s): Film

Presenter: Alan K. Rode & Steven C. Smith

Aaron Espinosa, Library Director

(760) 341-7323 ext. 734

AaronE@ranchomiragelibrary.org