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What is “cool”? According to the Mildred Kemper Art Museum’s exhibit, “Birth of Cool: California Art, Design and Culture at Mid-century," it's James Dean, James Stewart and Carey Grant. The museum, located on Washington University’s campus, is hosting a film series called “Some Like It Cool” at the Tivoli in conjunction with the exhibit. The films being screened are Rebel Without A Cause, Anatomy of a Murder and North By Northwest.
Although each film’s lead character is radically different, all epitomize the image of “cool” that emerged back in the golden days of Hollywood. James Dean plays Jim Stark, the classic misunderstood teenager who gets bullied by classmates but gets the popular girl in the end; James Stewart is Paul Biegler, a small-town lawyer who, knowing his client is guilty, tries to get the jury to believe the scenario he creates. And Cary Grant plays Roger Thornhill, a handsome and witty New York advertising executive forced into a spy game in which he inevitably wins over the beautiful Eva Marie Saint.
This series runs December 9-11; the exhibit runs through January 5. The films start at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. For more information go to kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu. —Alex Bates, Fall Intern
