February 24, 2026

CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS SERIES OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK FILMS

Williamstown, Massachusetts—This March and April, the Clark Art Institute screens a series of films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, widely regarded as the master of suspense and one of cinema’s most influential filmmakers. A presentation and talkback with film scholar Will Schmenner, head of public programs, follows each screening.

All film screenings are free and take place in the Manton Research Center auditorium on select Thursdays at 6 pm. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0570. For more details, visit events.clarkart.edu.

HITCHCOCK FILM SERIES

March 19

Rear Window (1954)
For this classic thriller, Hitchcock took a hard-boiled detective story by Cornell Woolrich and mixed it with a love story by screenwriter John Michael Hayes. The story concerns world-class photographer L.B. Jefferies (James Stewart), who has broken his leg. Confined to his wheelchair and bored out of his mind, Jeffries takes to spying on his neighbors. He begins to suspect, without any proof, that Mr. Thorwald (Raymond Burr) may have murdered his wife. Jefferies’s point of view, limited to his camera lens and window, echoes the framing of the film itself, drawing the audience into his growing obsession. (Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes)

March 26
North by Northwest (1959)
This story is a classic Hitchcock variation on the theme of the innocent man wrongly accused. Cary Grant transitions from standard issue advertising executive to accidental spy with the ease that only he possesses. Eva Marie Saint brings a seductive intelligence to their cat-and-mouse romance. Featuring perhaps the most iconic of Hitchcock’s chase sequences—man versus crop-dusting biplane—this is not to be missed. (Run time: 2 hours, 16 minutes)

April 2

Vertigo (1958)

Scottie Ferguson (Jimmy Stewart), recently retired from the San Francisco police force, is approached by a college acquaintance to spy on his wife, Madeleine Elster (Kim Novack). His college friend is worried for his wife’s mental health. Scottie finds himself hypnotically drawn to Madeleine; he, too, feels afflicted, suffering from vertigo caused by the trauma that forced him to retire. With Bernard Hermann’s acclaimed score and imagery that invokes a dizzying vortex, Vertigo is Hitchcock’s dark masterpiece. (Run time: 2 hours, 9 minutes)

ABOUT THE CLARK

The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March. From April through December, admission is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (65+), $10 for young adults (18–25) and college students, and free for all visitors under 18. Admission is free year-round for Clark members. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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