WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Missouri State University-West Plains’ annual film series will continue at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, with the showing of the award-winning classic feature film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” at the West Plains Civic Center theater.

The free showing is part of this year’s “Flashback Film Series:  The 60s” sponsored by the University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department.  This film also serves as the series’ tribute to Black History Month, organizers said.

Released in 1967, this ground-breaking film features Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as Matt and Christina Drayton, the affluent parents of a daughter who puts their liberal beliefs to the test when she falls in love with a black man, portrayed by Sidney Poitier.  Directed by Stanley Kramer, the film gives a positive representation of the controversial subject of interracial marriage, which was still illegal in several states at the time the film was made.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” was Tracy’s last film, and although he struggled with health issues throughout its filming, he believed in its message so strongly that he insisted on completing the project, film series organizers said.  He died just 17 days after filming ended.

The movie was nominated for numerous awards, including 10 Academy Awards – among them nominations for best actor (Tracy), best actress (Hepburn), best director (Kramer) and best picture.  It won the Oscars for best actress (the second Oscar of Hepburn’s career) and best original screenplay.  The movie is rated PG.

The showing will be followed with a discussion session led by Dennis Lancaster, assistant professor of letters and director of the Missouri State-West Plains’ William and Virginia Darr Honors Program, and per course English faculty member Dave Malone.

For more information about the annual film series, call the U/CP Department office at 417-255-7966 or visit the department’s website, http://wp.missouristate.edu/ucp/.