This affectionate farce from François Truffaut about the joys and strife of moviemaking is one of his most beloved films. Truffaut himself appears as the harried director of a frivolous melodrama, the shooting of which is plagued by the whims of a neurotic actor (Jean-Pierre Léaud), an aging but still forceful Italian diva (Valentina Cortese), and a British ingenue haunted by personal scandal (Jacqueline Bisset). An irreverent paean to the prosaic craft of cinema as well as a delightful human comedy about the pitfalls of sex and romance, Day for Night (1973; 1 hour, 56 minutes) is anchored by robust performances and a sparkling score by the legendary Georges Delerue.

This film series is presented in celebration of the 1973 opening year of the Manton Research Center building.

Free.

Image: Day for Night, François Truffaut, 1973