It could be billed as the quintessential Malibu experience: a fundraiser featuring wine, hors d’oeuvres and a classic movie under the stars on the beachfront lawn of Malibu’s historic Adamson House. It all happens on Sunday, Sept. 11, when Malibu Film Society kicks off its 8th season by partnering with California State Parks and Malibu Adamson House Foundation.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with volunteers hosting short tours of the Adamson House during the catered reception. At 7:30 p.m., “The Maltese Falcon” will be shown, with audience-style seating provided on the lawn overlooking the Malibu Pier.
Scott Hillman, president of the Malibu Film Society, said he couldn’t think of a better way to open the new season.
“MFS is thrilled to be able to offer such an incredible event for our community,” Hillman said. “We’re celebrating the 75th anniversary of a classic film at an amazing venue, and it’s all to help maintain one of the most important pieces of Malibu history. It doesn’t get much better than that, and the team at State Parks and the Adamson House Foundation could not have been more supportive.”
Lynette Brody, Malibu sector superintendent for California State Parks, said in a phone interview, “I like the fact that this is going to be a community event; and that they’re showing a film from the same time period as when the Adamson House was built.”
“The Maltese Falcon” is an Oscar-nominated film of many firsts. It was Humphrey Bogart’s first leading role; playing San Francisco private eye Sam Spade made him a star. The movie also featured John Huston as both screenwriter and first-time director. But most importantly, the movie is widely acclaimed as the first major “film noir” — a type of filmmaking defined by French film critics as “a movie marked by a mood of menace, pessimism and fatalism.”
Brody said State Parks is underwriting a large part of the event because it’s “really important” to get the community involved with and more aware of what’s happening at the Adamson House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a California Historical Landmark.
The Spanish colonial revival-style home was built in 1929. It features Moorish influences and is located on a large oceanfront property between Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach. It was owned by the daughter of Malibu’s founding family — Rhoda Rindge — and her husband Merritt Huntley Adamson. The house is notable for its extensive use of tiles manufactured by the Rindge’s own Malibu-based tile factory, Malibu Potteries. The state bought the property in 1968.
All funds raised by the Malibu Film Society event will go toward the Malibu Adamson House Foundation volunteer and interpretive programs, and restoration projects.
Admission is $50 for members of MFS, $60 for their guests, and $75 for non-members. The price includes a parking shuttle service, the catered reception, docent-led tours of the historic home and admission to the movie. Tickets are on sale now at MalibuFilmSociety.org.