Classic or no, Fathom Events slate a film fan delight

Above : Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck star in the 1953 William Wyler film “Roman Holiday.” (Photo/Fathom Events)

I have at least two friends who love nothing more than watching classic films. One is a noir and Western freak, the other a fan of independent cinema, especially of movies released in the ’70s.

Both should be somewhat excited about the collection of films that Fathom Events will be screening in area theaters over the next year under the title Big Screen Classics .

Of course, Fathom Events has a fairly broad definition of the term “classic.”

For example, the 1953 William Wyler-directed romance “Roman Holiday” is indeed a classic – no matter what you might think of a princess (played by 24-year-old Audrey Hepburn) improbably “falling in love” with an American news reporter (played by 37-year-old Gregory Peck).

As would a few other films, such as “Casablanca” and “The Birds.”

But “Rain Man”? “Hairspray”? “Groundhog Day”? Enjoyable, sure. But classic? That’s a stretch.

As for “Roman Holiday,” it’s scheduled to celebrate its 70th anniversary by screening Sunday and the following Wednesday at two area Regal Cinemas theaters, NorthTown Mall and Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Stadium.

Sunday’s screenings are set for 1 and 7 p.m., Wednesday’s solo evening screening at 7.

A.H. Weller wrote this all those years ago in the New York Times: “It is a contrived fable but a bittersweet legend with laughs that leaves the spirits soaring.”

Writing in 2003, Ty Burr wrote this for the Boston Globe: “The film itself is a classic of romantic wish fulfillment, exactly the sort of beautiful lie that Hollywood specialized in.”

As always, you now get to add in your two cents.