WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Missouri State University-West Plains’ annual film series will continue at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, with the showing of Academy Award-winning comedy “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” at the West Plains Civic Center theater.

This year’s series is celebrating Missouri State-West Plains’ 50th anniversary by featuring films from 1963, the year the campus was established, organizers said.  Admission is free.

Directed by Academy Award-winner Stanley Kramer, “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” stars Academy Award-winner Spencer Tracy and some of the eras most recognizable comedic talents, including Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Phil Silvers and Jonathan Winters.

In this madcap comedy adventure, recently released convict Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante in a cameo role) has just been released from prison and is eager to reach the $350,000 he hid in a California park before being sent to the “slammer.”  In fact, he’s too eager to reach the money, and he crashes his car off the cliff of a winding road.  Witnesses from four nearby vehicles try to help him, but instead, he reveals to them where he’s hidden the money.  When they fail to agree on sharing the cash, they all take off on a rambunctious race across the state to see who reaches it first.

The film won the 1964 Oscar for best sound effects and was nominated for best cinematography for color films, best film editing, best original song, best musical score and best sound.

Dennis Lancaster, director of the William and Virginia Darr Honors Program at the university, will facilitate discussion following the movie’s showing.

This is the 14th year for the film series, hosted by the University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department.

For more information about the annual film series, call the U/CP Department office at 417-255-7966.