Submitted Photo “Stan & Ollie,” is the next feature film in the Opera House Cinema Series. It will be screened this Saturday and Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m.

The next feature film in the Opera House Cinema Series is “Stan & Ollie,” a warm biopic focusing on the late career and personal relationship of the legendary comedy duo. It will be screened this Saturday and Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m.

Laurel & Hardy, one of the world’s great comedy teams, set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy behind them, they face an uncertain future. As the charm and beauty of their performances shines through, they reconnect with their adoring fans. The tour becomes a hit, but Stan & Ollie can’t quite shake the specter of Laurel and Hardy’s past; the long-buried ghosts, coupled with Oliver’s failing health, start to threaten their precious partnership. Aware they may be approaching her swan song, they rediscover just how much they mean to each other. Starring John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan, “Stan & Ollie” is a portrait of the most tender and poignant of creative marriages.

Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal, calls the film “an endearingly modest, gentle film (that) say(s) so much with such eloquence about a professional partnership… about the mysterious business of being funny; and about the toll taken by the passage of time.” Moira MacDonald, in the Seattle Times, calls it “a sweetly charming good time.” Brian Lowry, in CNN.com, calls it “an ode to friendship, it’s something no one who has ever laughed at the pair should miss.” Richard Roeper, in the Chicago Sun Times, says “thanks to the subtle brilliance of Reilly and Coogan, even someone who’s never heard of Laurel and Hardy would likely see how magical these two were together.” Rated PG for some language and for smoking, “Stan & Ollie” runs one hour, 37 minutes.

The Opera House Cinema Series is sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank. Tickets are available at the door for $7 (adults), $6.50 (seniors & Opera House members) and $5 (students) the night of each screening. A book of 10 movie passes is available for $60 at the door or online at www.fredopera.org. Thanks to the generous support of an anonymous donor, the first 20 SUNY Fredonia students at each screening are admitted free. For more information, call the Opera House Box Office at 679-1891.

The Opera House is equipped with individualized closed captioning headsets for the deaf as well as with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or Opera House staff member.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.