He tilts at windmills in the Oscar-nominated musical “Man of La Mancha”
“Somewhere in la Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember, a gentleman lived not long ago, one of those who has a lance and ancient shield on a shelf and keeps a skinny nag and a greyhound for racing.”
So begins Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote," considered by many to be the first modern novel.
Published in the early 1600s, "Don Quixote" revolves around an aging nobleman whose obsession with medieval chivalry inspires him to set off in search of adventure. Dubbing himself "Don Quixote de la Mancha," he saddles up his horse Roscinante, recruits simple-minded farmer Sancho Panza as his squire and designates a local serving girl as his lady love, Dulcinea.
In 1972's "Man of La Mancha," based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Cervantes (Peter O'Toole) recreates the story of "Don Quixote" in a dungeon during the Spanish Inquisition.
With the help of his faithful manservant (James Coco), who acts out the role of Sancho Panza, the author reenacts the mad knight's quixotic quest and his dedication to "The Impossible Dream." (Sophia Loren co-stars as Dulcinea).
Watch "Man of La Mancha" at 2 p.m. Saturday at the library's community room, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. This screening is free and open to the public.
"The Me Decade: The 70s in Film" screening series continues July 28 with "Saturday Night Fever."
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