Time running out to request dinner invitation
Preparations for a three-day event celebrating the filming of
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film,
”
Vertigo,
”
are moving along, but organizers are looking for more help.
Time running out to request dinner invitation
Preparations for a three-day event celebrating the filming of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, “Vertigo,” are moving along, but organizers are looking for more help.
Fund-raising Chair Donna Guerra Howe, who came up with the idea for the event, said that she is still looking for volunteers – especially someone who can head-up organizing the live auction. There is already an auctioneer, but the organizers still need help setting up the auction of Hitchcock and film memorabilia, as well as some help with set up and clean up.
The event marks the 50th anniversary of the filming of “Vertigo” – Howe and other committee members have already been planning for more than six months. The weekend celebration will be October 5-7 in Mission San Juan as well as elsewhere around the town.
One of the weekend’s features, a fund-raising dinner for the Mission will be limited to 300 people. Anyone who wants to attend the dinner needs to contact Howe by the end of April for an invitation. The dinner will be $150 per person.
The weekend will also feature a screening of the classic film and a Mass in memory of Hitchcock, his wife, Alma, and his family.
Vertigo was filmed in 1957. It starred Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak and tells the story of a San Francisco detective who suffers from an intense fear of heights and his obsession with a beautiful woman who may or may not be possessed by a dead ancestor. Many consider the picture to be Hitchcock’s finest and most personal work, and it was designated as “Culturally Significant” by the library of Congress.
The film’s climax takes place at the top of Mission San Juan in a faux bell tower that was created especially for the film. The tower was destroyed in a fire at the turn of the century. Hitchcock added the bell tower using special effects in post-production. Still, the moment went down in film history and to this day is one of San Benito County’s claims to fame.
“The Mission is very special to me and my family, my husband and I were married there 35 years ago,” Howe said. “I’m also a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock films, especially Vertigo, so to be able to bring those two things together is wonderful.”
To volunteer or request a dinner invitation, e-mail Howe at bd*****@ao*.com.
