The American Cinematheque re-opened the landmark 1922 Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on December 4, 1998, following an extensive restoration and renovation of the historic movie palace. In celebration of our 20th anniversary at the Egyptian Theatre, we will present the Los Angeles premiere of the Museum of Modern Art's new digital restoration of ROSITA starring Mary Pickford, directed by Ernst Lubitsch. ROSITA, out of circulation for decades, will be accompanied by The Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, directed by the renowned musicologist Gillian Anderson, who reconstructed the film’s original score by working from a cue sheet preserved by the George Eastman Museum. This event marks Anderson’s return to the Egyptian 20 years after she conducted on the night of the grand re-opening of the theatre.

ROSITA is famed as the single collaboration between two of the giants of the silent screen, the director Ernst Lubitsch and the star Mary Pickford. Pickford brought Lubitsch to Hollywood from his native Germany to work with her on his first American film. Pickford, in the title role, plays a beloved peasant street singer and dancer in mythical Spain. She catches the eye of the lascivious king (Holbrook Blinn) with her songs satirizing the monarch. Her destitute family encourages her in the flirtation for their benefit, but Rosita is in love with Don Diego (George Walsh), who has been sentenced to death by the King.

Restoration funding provided by the Louis B. Mayer Foundation, Mary Pickford Foundation, RT Features, The Film Foundation and the Celeste Bartos Fund for Film preservation. The restoration was accomplished from elements of the last known surviving nitrate print found at Gosfilmofond in Russia and from elements from several archives.

On display, will be items pertaining to Mary Pickford’s personal life and career, which will include original promotional items for Rosita (from the collection of Chris and Angie Schneider).

Read more about Rosita here.

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