By popular demand, the Columbia Theatre for Performing Arts has brought the Silver Screen to Hammond once more. 

Columbia Theatre Director Roy Blackwood explored the possibility of what it would take to bring movies back into the theatre like days in the past. 

According to Blackwood, people would come up to him or his tech-director and say, “Geez, I remember going to movies here as a kid and it would be great to have movies here again and what would be the possibility?” 

Blackwood explored the idea of what it would take to play movies in the theatre again and responded to the community’s request by investing in a digital projector to screen digital remakes of movies. 

The next movie to be played at the Columbia Theatre will be Fritz Lang’s silent 1927 film “Metropolis.”

This film takes place in Metropolis, a city of the future divided into two classes. One class is of managers and planners who live above the Earth in skyscrapers. The other class is made up of workers who toil underground as slaves to Metropolis’s ten-hour clock. “Metropolis” set the pace for where sci-fi movies are today.

“‘Metropolis’ is the grand-daddy of all sci-fi movies,” said Blackwood. “It was ground breaking. Without that movie, the contemporary sci-fi movies would not exist in the form they do. There had to be some ground breaking artistic form done in the cinema for that genera to even develop and that was the movie that got it started.” 

The movie “Metropolis” touches on issues that are still prevalent today.

“The other thing that happens with ‘Metropolis’ is that they deal with social issues and economic issues so it is not just a pretty movie,” said Blackwood. “It is something that is tackling very weighting societal issues and I think, and most people that see this movie will agree, that those issues are still as relevant today as they were in 1927.”

Though a person may still be able to enjoy the feature without background information, more of an appreciation can be expected with basic knowledge of “Metropolis.”

“It can be a joy on many levels so just take it at face value,” said Blackwood. “It is quite entertaining and people will understand the importance of it. If they come in a little prepared, with a little background information, then they are going to have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the film.”

According to Blackwood, the community has been pleased with the series and he will continue it next year. Blackwood invites those who like film to let the Columbia Theatre know what kind of films, even by title, that may be enjoyable for the next season. 

“We are still putting together next season, so there is room for this kind of feedback and input from the community,” said Blackwood. “We would very much like our films to reflect the community interests so we would like to get information from them on what they would like to see. They could call us at the theatre at 543-4366. They can go online on our Facebook page and ‘like’ us and leave feedback that way. They can call us or connect with us on social media.”

To learn more about the Columbia Theatre or watch a preview of “Metropolis,” visit their website at columbiatheatre.org.