Films of Director Robert Wise Featured at Kansas City Public Library

p>The Kansas City Public Library screens a free film series dedicated to director Robert Wise on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. throughout January 2012 in the Stanley H. Durwood Film Vault at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.

Wise got his Hollywood start as a film editor on Citizen Kane, and then branched out into directing. Turns out he was good at just about everything he touched, from musicals to sci-fi and horror, so-called "problem" pictures, historic epics, romance, and much more.

The film line-up on Mondays includes:

January 2         The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Not Rated

January 9         Two for the Seesaw (1962) Not Rated

January 23       I Want to Live! (1958) Not Rated

January 30       The Andromeda Strain (1971) Rated G

The film line-up on Saturdays includes:

January 7         Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) Not Rated

January 14       Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) Not Rated

January 21       Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) Not Rated

January 28       The Sand Pebbles (1966) Not Rated

Library film blogger Bob Butler provides an introduction to every film (along with critical commentary) prior to every screening; these program notes are posted on From the Film Vault - located at kclibrary.org/film-blog.

Butler will offer a personal welcome and introductory comments ahead of the January 7 and January 28 screenings.