Sidekicks! A hero’s witty bon mots would be echoing through an empty room without a sidekick to soak them up… Comic relief would be unprovided… The unsung second bananas of film are getting their due at the Denver Public Library, however, with their Fresh City Life event, Sidekicks: Cinema’s Brilliant B-String Film Series.

Tonight (Sept. 1) from 6-9PM at the Denver Library’s main branch downtown, the featured film will be The Man Who Came To Dinner, starring the great Bette Davis as the sidekick to main character Sheridan Whiteside.

In the comedy classic of stage and film, Whiteside (a popular radio personality) shows up to a fancy dinner, breaking his leg on the host’s doorstep. He proceeds to take over the house, not just for dinner, but for an extended, aggravating stay.

Based on a famous friend of the original writers of the play who did something similar (sans the leg break), Davis chose the part after a string of starring roles that cast her as the villain in order to create a lighter screen personality for herself.

The films are free events, and continue for a few more weeks. Next week’s film, The Wizard of Oz, features perhaps the most recognizable non-headlining trio in cinema.

Bring your own sidekick and enjoy!