Top Hat - Taunton Film Festival – Opening Night!

Join us on Wednesday 9 September at 6pm at Wyndham Hall, Taunton (next to the Museum) for a magical evening of 1930s glamour!

We’re showing TOP HAT starring the legendary Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers!

The evening celebrates Taunton’s own cinematic heritage, linking back to the opening of the Gaumont Palace Musical Hall in 1932.

🎶 Blitz Time Sally will perform favourite songs from the 1930s before the film!

Sept 9th: TOP HAT (1935)

‘Top Hat ‘ is the first film in our festival - showing on September 9th. We chose this because it’s considered to be a significant film in the history of Hollywood cinema.

‘Top Hat ‘ was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in its second year, 1990, as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film has also been recognized by the American Film Institute on various lists commemorating the best of American cinema; the film appeared on their list of the twenty five greatest film musicals at number 15, and irving Berlin’s "Cheek to Cheek" appeared on their list of the one hundred greatest songs of American cinema.

Fred Astaire was a strict perfectionist who combined creative routines with perfect grace and rhythm. He gave Ginger Rogers, his famous partner ‘class’ whilst she gave him ‘sex appeal’ - a perfect combination! The Taunton Film Festival celebrates our town’s rich cinema heritage while showcasing the exciting vision of the Gaumont Palace Project. Bringing people together through great films, the festival aims to enhance Taunton’s cultural offer, attract new audiences and build support for the future regeneration of the historic Gaumont Palace as a vibrant community arts and entertainment venue.

Come and step back into the golden age of cinema!

Lights. Camera. Taunton!