Psycho follows Marion Crane as she steals $40,000 from her employer’s client and takes off across the country. When she stops for the night at an out-of-the-way motel she encounters Norman Bates, a young man who is psychologically dominated by his mother. You probably know what happens next, and if you don’t, I’m not going to tell you. In 1960 Alfred Hitchcock asked people who had seen the movie to keep its surprises secret, and insisted that no one would be admitted into the theater once the movie had begun.

Psycho features Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, Vera Miles as her sister Lila, Martin Balsam as Detective Arbogast and Anthony Perkins in one of the screen’s iconic performances as Norman Bates. The American Film Institute rates Psycho as the greatest thriller of all time, and as the fourteenth-best American movie of all time. They rate the score, by Bernard Hermann, as fourth-best of all time–it’s so good that orchestras sometimes perform it by itself. The movie was nominated for four Oscars, including best director and best art direction (the Bates Motel is almost a character itself).

The showing is on Thursday, January 10 at 7 PM. All seats are $8. Getting to the theater early is always a good idea–for a choice of seating and to order freshly-made food and drinks. You are strongly advised to buy tickets in advance at the box office or online.

Cerrito Classics is showing an extra classic in December (see also “Come celebrate Cerrito Theater’s 75th anniversary on Dec 13th.”)

A heart-warming story set in small-town America in the 1940’s, “A Christmas Story” tells how 9-year-old Ralphie has to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB-gun is the perfect Christmas gift for him.  The stars are Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, and Darren McGavin. Based on the memoir by Jean Shepherd, ” In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.”

Ralphie’s visit to Santa may be the most surprising and original Santa scene of any movie.  It’s Christmas, with a twist.  Don’t miss it!

Pick up your tickets now–at the box office–or order online.  All seats are $8.00.

Did the “Battle of the Sexes” exist in 1949? One wouldn’t think so, given the rosy image of family togetherness that prevailed in the 1950’s. Yet “Adam’s Rib” dives right into those shark-infested waters.

Was there chemistry between Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn? The real-life couple here portrays husband-and-wife lawyers, battling over a case in which a jealous but seemingly incompetent woman is accused of trying to murder her husband.

Tracy is the prosecutor, Hepburn the defense lawyer, and they bring their courtroom battles back home with them, dramatically but comically disrupting their idyllic home life. Judy Holliday (“Born Yesterday”) plays the accused woman on trial, bringing hilarious poignancy as only she could.

The Oscar-winning script, written by husband-and-wife team Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon, crackles with wit but never lets us forget that this isn’t just a battle over equality but also a love story.

Tracy and Hepburn were never better, and this is a film not to be missed.

The showing is on Thursday, November 8, at 7pm. All seats are $8. Getting to the theater early is always a good idea-for a choice of seating and to order freshly-made food and drinks. You are strongly advised to buy tickets in advance at the box office or online.