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SCRANTON — Throughout decades of American film, the cocktail has played a starring role. Some of Hollywood’s most iconic movies have featured alcoholic drinks that have become as memorable as the characters who held them. As part of a series of events that Scranton’s Everhart Museum has held in conjunction with its exhibit “To Your Health: The Science Culture & Art of the Cocktail,” the newest will examine the placement of cocktails in classic films.
An evening of Movie Clips & Cocktail Tasting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Everhart Museum. Amy Everetts, director of development and marketing for the museum, said the event is currently at capacity but anyone interested should register for the waiting list in the event of cancellations. She said the Everhart will hold monthly adult gathering featuring cocktails and food due to the overwhelming response the museum has seen.
The event features five movie clips and cocktail samplings from several eras of American film such as the French ‘75 from “Casablanca” and the White Russian held by The Dude throughout several scenes in “The Big Lebowski.”
Nezka Pfeifer, curator at the Everhart, said some of the cocktails hold cultural significance that reach beyond the films.
“A lot of them have a history prior to the movie that they are featured in,” Pfeifer said. “A lot of these cocktails already were classics at the time and many of them were cemented as classics during prohibition with people being able to access them in speakeasies and private cocktail parties. So, some of these have a pretty long history to them. I think the French ‘75, particularly.”
The curator said other cocktails have taken their place in American lore with a little help from Hollywood.
“Others are iconic because of … just think of James Bond, the way he orders his martini. That started with the whole franchise of the James Bond films, but Daniel Craig did his own twist, so the martini he asks for specifically in Casino Royale, he actually tells them how to make it in the clip.”
According to Pfeifer, the event is happening at a significant time of year, relative to the history of alcohol in America.
“Dec. 5 was the repeal of Prohibition in 1933,” Pfeifer said. “Obviously, we’re not going to do it on the 5th itself, but Dec. 3 is the closest date we thought would work best, so we’re honoring the repeal of the prohibition amendment that night as well.”
The event is part of a movement to make the Everhart more accessible to everyone, Pfeifer said.
“We’re trying to create different levels of programs so we can offer a variety of pricing levels. We know that not everybody can afford to come to some of the more expensive ticket events, which are often fund raisers, but we do want to make things accessible to people who might not have come to a museum event before.”
