Rehoboth film society and library to present 'The Fighter' April 9

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society and the Rehoboth Beach Public Library invite film and literary enthusiasts to a screening of “The Fighter," beginning at 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, in the upstairs community room at the library. “The Fighter" is an absorbing drama based on “The Mexican” by Jack London.

This screening is part of the monthly Read a Movie series in which audience members are invited to read a short story in advance of the screening, and then gather to watch the film version and engage in lively discussion about how the film compares to its original inspiration.

London wrote “The Mexican,” a short story, during the Mexican Revolution while living in El Paso. The piece, based on a real-life character, was originally published in 1911 in the Saturday Evening Post. The film version, released in 1952, stars Richard Conte, well known for his role in "The Godfather" in 1972, as Filipe, who travels north from his home in Mexico to seek vengeance for wrongs committed in his village by soldiers of a corrupt government.

The tale unfolds on two fronts, in Mexico where Durango (played by Lee J. Cobb) leads revolutionaries in constant need of arms, and in El Paso, Texas, where Filipe is motivated to enter the boxing ring in hopes of winning cash purses that will finance the weapons needed to help the overthrow of President Diaz’s regime. Directed by Herbert Kline, the film also features Vanessa Brown, Frank Silvera, Roberta Haynes, and Hugh Sanders.

The popular Read a Movie series meets on the second Wednesday of every month at the Rehoboth Beach Public Library. After the film is screened, the audience members share thoughts about how well - or not so well - the story was expanded to the big screen. The Read a Movie series is open to the public and is free. To receive the stories in advance, call the Rehoboth Beach Film Society at 302-645-9095 or call the Rehoboth Beach Public Library at 302-227-8044.

For more information on this series, other events, or to become a member of the RBFS, go to www.rehobothfilm.com.