Commentary by Domenick Scudera, Professor of Theater

Born Yesterday stars Judy Holliday as Billie Dawn, an unpolished former chorus girl with a talent for gin rummy who discovers her full potential will the help of a journalist (William Holden).

Commentary by Lynne Edwards, Professor of Media and Communication Studies

The World, the Flesh, and the Devil stars Harry Belafonte as Ralph Burton, the last man on earth…that is, until he meets a white woman played by Inger Stevens. Shot on location in New York City and featuring empty streets that resemble our current pandemic crisis, the film confronts racism in a way that is rare for a science fiction film and incredibly relevant for the contemporary moment.

Commentary by Margie Connor, Administrative Assistant in the Departments of History and English

In this episode, Margie Connor talks about the deeply personal reasons why One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest matters to her. Miloš Forman’s 1975 film about the conflict between the individualism of Randle McMurphy and the infamous Nurse Ratched’s rigid enforcement of institutional regulations stars Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, and Will Sampson and won five Academy Awards.

Commentary by Rich Wallace, Professor of Environmental Studies

Never Cry Wolf is Carroll Ballard’s 1983 film about a scientist who has been sent to study wolves but ends up learning more than he imagined about himself and his place in the world. With gorgeous cinematography by Hiro Narita and a compelling personal narrative, this adaptation of Farley Mowat’s nonfiction book remains remarkably relevant to the questions in the Ursinus Quest and to Professor Rich Wallace’s life and work.

Commentary by Nzadi Keita, Associate Professor of English and African American and Africana Studies

Julie Dash’s poetic 1991 feature Daughters of the Dust documents the lives of the fictional Peazant family on the eve of their departure from the Sea Islands for the North in 1902. Concentrating primarily on the rich and varied experiences of women, it was the first film directed by an African American woman to receive widespread theatrical distribution in the United States. Dr. Keita shares stories of her own experiences seeing the film and points audiences toward thoughtful viewing strategies in her commentary on this important work. Daughters of the Dust was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 2004.