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So will it be a case of same script different cast, or has this director got an entirely new vision?

Financial problems

The future of the Ipswich Film Theatre has caused a fair bit of drama over the last three years.  When the Conservatives took over at the town hall, they held a review of all arts services funded by the council taxpayer.

Since then, members of The Ipswich Film Society as well as the Ipswich Film Theatre Supporters have fought against any possibility of the town losing the theatre or changing so that it stops showing the sort of non-mainstream, cult and foreign films that regular customers love it for.

Some expressed fears that Hollywood's decision to open its tenure with 'The Simpsons Movie' didn't need subtitles.  For them the message was loud and clear - the Hollywood Film Theatre would be a commercial venture.

A little bit of politics

But when speaking with Councillor Judy Terry, she claimed that it's better to have the theatre, even if it will screen films like 'The Simpsons' rather than lose it altogether.

She also admitted that the Borough Council knew very little about running a theatre: "It was losing £84,000 a year, so we decided that it would be a good opportunity to seek a commercial partner who actually knew about running cinemas. This is the best way forward."

But is it really the best way forward? One of the issues believed to be the cause of the failure of the Film Theatre, was little awareness among the population that it was there. So what's changed?  Even if a variety of films is maintained, what's the point if no one knows this.

And I'm still racking my brain trying to make sense of why someone would want to see 'The Simpsons Movie', or any other commercial film here when they can see it at Cineworld in Cardinal Park.

Ipswich Film theatre goers wanted a completely different experience.  Now it seems that the Hollywood Film Theatre is trying to audition two very different types of actors, for the same role. I was left puzzled as to whom it was trying to attract.

Michael Hansel is the opening manager for the new Hollywood Film Theatre and he insists they're not just another 'Odeon'-style venue: "We have the Simpsons as our one commercial title, but we also have 'La Vie En Rose', 'The Flying Scotsman' and a revival of 'Casablanca', so there's a lot of variety there and we'll keep showing more 'art-house' and obscure movies."

Well, The Hollywood film Theatre is certainly providing an eclectic mix.

IFT supporters' fears

Dave Clare, who's the Chairman of the Ipswich Film Society, confirmed that management had worked closely with them trying to come to some kind of compromise.

Hollywood's owner Trevor Wickes has some interesting ideas up his sleeve. He plans to hold an Ipswich Film Festival, he now has a seven day opening (when it used to be closed on Sundays and Mondays) and East will meet East Anglia with new Sunday screenings of Indian Bollywood films from September.

And I'm sure the university students of the brand new UCS will find the location of the theatre convenient also.

Dennis Miller, who founded the ift supporters organisation, sums it up his feelings, but he's a bit wary: "I find it rather ironic that I now have to support a commercial operation, when what I've been fighting for is to keep commerciality out of it.

"But it is open, and will be showing films of the sort that we've had for the last thirty five years, and that has to be a good thing."

Read a 2006 feature on the IFT supporters organisation by clicking on the weblink on the right.  Also find out what's on by using the Hollywood Cinemas link>>