Saturdays with Arnold: Arnold Bennett’s Women

Join us at the Dudson Centre, in partnership with the Arnold Bennett Society for “Arnold Bennett’s Women.”

Born on Hope Street in May 1867, Arnold Bennett’s novels, short stories and self-help books are well known, especially in the local area. What’s less well known is that he had great success on the stage and in the cinema of the day.

Journalist and TV presenter Samira Ahmed, in June 2014, called him: “The Edwardian David Bowie… the most successful and famous British celebrity you’ve never heard of… his books sold in huge numbers, he was a figure of huge influence in politics and culture.”

From 1908 to 1913 he had five plays in the West End – three of which were running at the same time at one point – The Great Adventure (1913), an adaptation of Buried Alive, ran for over 673 performances and is still one of the longest-running plays in the history of the West End.

At this time he was earning more from his plays than from all his other writing.

There were ten silent film adaptations of Bennett’s work from 1914 onwards – most of these were adaptations of theatre versions of his books – through to his first original screenplay “The Wedding Dress” of 1920 and his last for the wonderful 1929 film “Piccadilly,” featuring Charles Laughton and Anna May Wong. His final screen collaboration was with director Alfred Hitchcock – abandoned when Bennett resisted it being re-worked as a talking picture.

Join us on Saturday 1st November for “Arnold Bennett’s Women.” While you’re here, why not pop into our lovely cafe for a brew and a bite to eat.

The Dudson Centre and cafe will open at 1:00 pm. The film will begin at 2:00 pm.