Film critic Jack Garner to receive George Eastman Medal of Honor

Nov. 9 event salutes Garner for his support of the motion picture arts; film series Jack Garner Selects screens throughout November and December

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — George Eastman House International Museum of Photography & Film will honor national film critic Jack Garner with the George Eastman Medal of Honor, in appreciation of his support of the motion picture arts. The award will be presented in a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, in the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House followed by a film personally chosen by Garner, On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, US 1954, 108 min.). After the screening Garner will answer audience questions and talk about his life in the movies.

The George Eastman Medal of Honor is awarded for meritorious service to the advancement of the principles embodied by George Eastman. The medal is being created by artist Leonard Urso, with support from Dawn and Jacques Lipson. Garner will be the second recipient of this honor. The inaugural George Eastman Medal of Honor was bestowed upon Congresswoman Louise Slaughter in 2006.

Tickets for the presentation and screening are $10 ($8 members and students) are available online at eastmanhouse.org, at the Eastman House admissions desk and Dryden Theatre box office, or by calling (585) 271-3361 ext. 295. (Please note: the general admission ticket is for orchestra-side or balcony seating.)

Pre-Event Reception
A pre-event reception at the Eastman House is open to the public. Tickets are $75 and include center-orchestra seating for the Medal of Honor presentation and film screening. Tickets are on sale now at eastmanhouse.org, the Eastman House admissions desk and Dryden Theatre box office, or by calling (585) 271-3361 ext. 214.

Honorary Committee
The honorary chairman of the event is Ted Curtis, former chairman of the George Eastman House's Motion Picture Acquisitions Committee and trustee emeritus of the Museum. Members of the eventÕs Honorary Committee are Senator James Alesi, Anthony Bannon, Mary and Whitney Christian, Ralph J. ÒBuzÓ Code III, Mayor Robert Duffy, Sonia & Matthew Garner, Kevin Gavagan, Mark Hare, Rooney Hargrave, Michael Kane, Dana Kimberly, Dawn and Jacques Lipson, James A. Locke III, Gap Mangione, James Memmott, Daniel M. Meyers, Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle, John A. Nugent, Marianne and David Oliveiri, Joyce and John Perelli, Senator Joseph E. Robach, Peggy Savlov, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Erica & Ben Tremble, Glenn William, and Sandy and Tom Witmer.

About Jack Garner
A friendly, familiar, and informed authority on the movies, Jack Garner retired in June after 28 years as staff film critic of RochesterÕs Democrat and Chronicle and 20 years as the nationally syndicated chief film critic of Gannett News Service. A fixture in Rochester journalism since 1970, he was part of the team that won a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Attica prison rebellion in 1971. GarnerÕs first film review was the original Star Wars in 1977. He has since traveled the globe, interviewing stars and directors including Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Quentin Tarantino, Woody Allen, Sophia Loren, and silent film legends Lillian Gish and Louise Brooks. He continues to write a popular weekly column for Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle and has joined the Motion Picture Acquisitions Committee at George Eastman House. Garner and his wife, Bonnie, have been married for 34 years and have three children and four grandchildren.

Film Series: Jack Garner Selects
In celebration of Jack Garner, the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House is offering a film series throughout November and December, titled Jack Garner Selects. The series, curated by Garner, features his favorite titles and reflects his tastes in cinema Ñ ranging from sentimental favorites (American Graffiti) to award-winning classics (The Bridge on the River Kwai) to guilty pleasures (King Creole). All films, unless otherwise noted, are $6 general admssion/$5 students/$4 members.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 A salute to Jack Garner with screening of On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, US 1954, 108 min.) (Special admission prices apply.)

8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14
Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, US 1989, 120 min.)

8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21
The Bridge on the River Kwai (David Lean, UK 1957, 161 min.)

8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
(Stanley Kubrick, UK 1964, 93 min.) New 35mm print!

7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25,
American Graffiti (George Lucas, US 1973, 112 min.)

8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28
Cries and Whispers (Ingmar Bergman, Sweden 1973, 106 min., Swedish/subtitles)

8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5
Amarcord (Federico Fellini, Italy 1974, 127 min., Italian/subtitles)

8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec 12
King Creole (Michael Curtiz, US 1958, 116 min.)

7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16
Members' Movie Night
The Man Who Would Be King (John Huston, US/UK 1975, 129 min.) Free to members.

8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.19
The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, US 1955, 93 min.)

7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28
Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, US 1954, 112 min.) (Double feature w/ North by Northwest)

7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30 and 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31
A Hard Day's Night (Richard Lester, UK 1964, 85 min.) (Double feature w/ Yellow Submarine)

For a full film calendar, please visit dryden.eastmanhouse.org.

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