Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.—LUDLOW—FOLA’s next feature film, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” a satirical comedy, will be screened in Heald Auditorium of Ludlow’s Town Hall on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Adam McKay in his directorial debut, starring Will Ferrell. The film is a tongue-in-cheek take on the culture of the 1970s, particularly the new Action News format. It portrays a San Diego TV station where Ferrell’s title character clashes with his new female counterpart.
Ron Burgundy is the famous anchorman for a local San Diego television station, fictional KVWN Channel 4. He works alongside his friends, whom he had known since childhood, on the news team: lead field reporter Brian Fantana, sportscaster Champ Kind, and meteorologist Brick Tamland. Station director Ed Harken informs the team that they have retained their long-held status as the highest-rated news program in San Diego, leading them to throw a wild party, where Burgundy unsuccessfully attempts to pick up a beautiful blonde woman, Veronica Corningstone. Harken later informs the team that they have been forced to hire Corningstone. After a series of unsuccessful attempts by the team to seduce her, she finally relents and agrees to a “professional tour” of the city with Ron, culminating in a sexual relationship. Despite agreeing to keep the relationship discreet, Ron announces it on air.
Corningstone is promoted to co-anchor, to the disgust of the team. The co-anchors become fierce rivals off-air while maintaining a phony cordiality on-air. Depressed, the news team decides to buy new suits, but Brick, who was leading the way, gets them lost in a shady part of town. Confronted by main competitor Wes Mantooth and his news team, Burgundy challenges them to a fight. When several other news teams converge onsite, a full-on melee ensues, only to be broken up by police sirens that cause them to flee. Realizing that having a female co-anchor is straining their reputation, Burgundy gets in another heated argument with Veronica, and they get in a physical fight after she offends him about his hair.
The rivalry between the two co-anchors continues, complicated by the impact of the rest of the nightly news staff as well as competition with other TV stations’ newscasters fills the remainder of the film. The ending of the film involves a major plot twist that will delight all viewers.
In keeping with town protocol for Covid-19, masks are requested of viewers as well as social distancing. Water will be supplied by United Church of Ludlow. For information, call 802-228-3238 or visit the FOLA web site, fola.us.
