WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Missouri State University-West Plains’ annual film series will continue at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, with the showing of “The Outsiders” at the West Plains Civic Center theater.

The theme for this year’s series is “A Novel Idea” and features films whose stories originated from literature, organizers said.  Admission is free.

Released in 1983 and based on S.E. Hinton’s ground-breaking novel of the same name, “The Outsiders” tells the story of class warfare in a small town.  Members of the financially struggling “Greasers” and more affluent “Socials” collide in a series of fateful events that eventually escalate to murder and vengeance and forever alters the lives of the town’s youth.

This film adaptation is brought to life by a young all-star cast reads like a “who’s who” of 1980s teen film idols, including C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise and Diane Lane.  It is directed by Academy Award-winning writer and director Francis Ford Coppola.  The film is rated PG-13.

Vickie Driskell, public relations specialist at the university, will facilitate discussion following the film’s showing.

This is the 15th year for the film series, hosted by the University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department.  Movies will be shown at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday night in February.

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