P.O.V. Film Series Screens ‘Make Way For Tomorrow’ at Tapp’s Arts Center

The Point of View Film Series continues to roll out its fantastic slate of 2014 titles this month as we present Leo McCarey‘s “Make Way For Tomorrow” (1937). If you‘ve never seen or heard of this exceptional film you are not alone. This unsung early golden era masterpiece, depicts themes still common today: aging parents, family frustrations and financial uncertainty. No surprise then that the film did not attract mass audiences. “Make Way For Tomorrow,” however, deserves to be seen. Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi play a couple in their late sixties, who due to financial hardship lose their home to foreclosure. When none of the couple‘s five children have the space, means, or heart to take them in, the parents are forced to separate for the first time in their long marriage. Each sent to live with a different child, the conclusion of this tale is both heart wrenching and unforgettable. It is notable that McCarey refused to change the ending despite studio pressure. Over the years the film‘s reputation has grown in stature. Orson Welles called it ‘the saddest movie ever made’ and a film that ‘could make a stone cry.’ The great Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu used it as his inspiration for “Tokyo Story” (1957)). In 2010 “Make Way For Tomorrow” received its highest honor yet when it was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry. If you can see only one P.O.V. title this year make sure it is “Make Way For Tomorrow.” Make Way For Tomorrow is the twelfth screening in the P.O.V. Series which meets monthly in the Skyline Room of Tapp’s Arts Center to discuss films of varying eras, styles, and genres from around the world. Our couch seating is limited; please feel free to bring your own pillows, cushions, or chairs. Admission: $5.00