THIS DAY AND AGE (1933) in 35mm

Special Features: Introduction by film historian Kim Luperi

When a beloved shopkeeper is gunned down by a gangster (Charles Bickford) running a protection racket, a high school student who witnesses the murder quickly discovers the limits of the legal system when it comes to confronting powerful criminals. This provocative social commentary, remarkably bold for its time, delivers a startlingly pro-lynching message. In control of city government for a day, the teens launch a vigilante campaign to purge the town of organized crime. In a chilling climax, they force a confession from the gangster they have already deemed guilty. The film showcases director Cecil B. DeMille’s masterful handling of narrative and large-scale crowd scenes. Contemporary critics noted its thematic parallels with Fritz Lang’s M, although in stark contrast, Lang’s film condemns mob justice, while DeMille’s appears to endorse it. Banned in several European countries (though not in Nazi Germany), THIS DAY AND AGE drew criticism for what many saw as its “fascist tendencies.” DIR/PROD Cecil B. DeMille, SCR Bartlett Cormack. U.S., 1933, b&w, 86 min. NOT RATED

Run Time: 86 Minutes

Opening Date: Friday, November 07, 2025

Genre: Drama

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