Tyler Clegg, who works at the American Exchange Hotel and Bellotti's Restaurant in Sutter Creek, is one of the many employees who help set up the free movie nights, which take place the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the hotel's banquet room. Photo by: Bethany A. Monk From left, American Exchange Hotel and Bellotti's Restaurant employees Chris Garbarini, Jim Swink, Kristie Estrada, Tyler Clegg and Paul Abbott are among the several employees who helped come up with a list of classic movies to show at the hotel's free movie nights. Photo by: Bethany A. Monk

What, anyway, was the big deal about the little black bird?

"(It's) the stuff that dreams are made of," says Humphrey Bogart, as Sam Spade in the 1941 classic, "The Maltese Falcon," as he gently clasps the statue in the last scene from the movie.

"The Maltese Falcon" is based on the novel of the same title by Dashiell Hammett, first published in 1929, and was the breakthrough film for Bogart. The film, directed by John Huston, is among the slew of classic films that will play for free two Wednesdays a month at the American Exchange Hotel in Sutter Creek. This Wednesday, the hotel will show "Roman Holiday," beginning at 7 p.m. Successive movie start times will be 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Audience members who take advantage of these free films can enjoy these classic movies on the hotel's 12 foot retractable screen in the hotel banquet room.

"When (audience members) come, we will have a little write up of the film with a synopsis, and a place where they write in requests for upcoming movies," Bruen said. "There are tables in the back of the banquet room set up for those who wish to dine while watching the movie," he said. These guests are waited upon by Bellotti's Restaurant staff.

"It's nice. They can eat, drink, have a glass of wine," Bruen said. The hotel showed "Charade," its first film, on March 11. "A few guests had a full meal," he said. Dining during the movie is completely optional, he added.

Guests may also bring in their own food, such as popcorn or other items, to the free movies. Bruen said he hopes the hotel can offer popcorn to guests in the future. When asked how long the hotel will be offering these free movies, Bruen said they'll be available as long as there's a demand.

About 10 people showed up for the first movie night; the banquet room has enough space for up to 55 guests.

Hotel and Bellotti's Restaurant staff collaborated and came up with a list of the first movies to be shown, Bruen said, adding that future movies will be based on audience requests.

All movies are family friendly, he said.

"The subject matter is lighter and there's not as much violence," Bruen said when asked what he likes about classic films. "They also bring us back to times when things were more respectable - they get people's minds off of things going on today."

Movie synopses (from Turner Movie Classics) and the upcoming schedule for the Free Movie Night series at the American Exchange Hotel include:

"Roman Holiday," starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn

A runaway princess in Rome finds love with a reporter who knows her true identity.

Directed by William Wyler; released in 1953.

Duration: 118 minutes. (Black and white).

"The Maltese Falcon," starring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor

Sam Spade, a hard-boiled detective, gets caught up in the murderous search for a priceless statue.

Duration: 100 minutes. (Black and white.)

"Gaslight," starring Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman

A newlywed fears she's going mad when strange things start happening at the family mansion.

Directed by George Cukor; released in 1944.

Duration: 114 minutes. (Black and white).

"Notorious," starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman

A U.S. agent recruits a German expatriate to infiltrate a Nazi spy ring in Brazil.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock; released in 1946.

Duration: 103 minutes. (Black and white).

"Breakfast at Tiffany's," starring George Peppard and Audrey Hepburn

A young writer gets caught up in a party girl's carefree existence.

Directed by Blake Edwards; released in 1961.

Duration: 114 minutes. (Technicolor).

"Topper," starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett

A fun-loving couple returns from the dead to help a henpecked husband.

Directed by Norman Z. McLeod; released in 1937.

Duration: 98 minutes. (Black and white).

"To Catch a Thief," starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly

A retired cat burglar fights to clear himself of a series of Riviera robberies committed in his style.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock; released in 1955.

Duration: 106 minutes. (Technicolor).

Bruen said that aside from "Roman Holiday," which will be shown this Wednesday at 7 p.m., the other movies, which will all be shown, do not have their particular Wednesday show date set in stone yet.

For more information, or to find out which movie is playing, call 267-0242.