Wine And Food Festival Preview: Food + Film At Alamo Drafthouse

You may not know it, but you've loved Fred MacMurray since childhood. Like the early careers of Kurt Russell and Jodie Foster, MacMurray was perhaps best known as a Disney contract player for his work in films like "The Absent-Minded Professor" and "The Shaggy Dog." But there's an impressive darker side to MacMurray's acting that can only be seen in his films with auteur Billy Wilder.

Last year, Fred's daughter Kate MacMurray presented the noir classic "Double Indemnity" at the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival to a sold-out audience. This year, she's returned with the 1960 Wilder classic "The Apartment," which may well be an even better film. The movie will be paired with the wines of MacMurray Ranch. The ranch was used for cattle by MacMurray during his lifetime, and when Kate inherited the property, she transformed it into a quality California producer of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The wines are uniformly excellent for their cost (we especially like the Pinot Gris), and have been served everywhere from the Drafthouse to The White House.

The food at 2007's "Food + Film" also looks very promising. The courses will be prepared by chefs from the Drafthouse, Asti, and Vespaio, thus we're guessing an Italian theme is happening. The Austin Chronicle's wine writer Wes Marshall will serve as host, and will ask Kate to tell stories about "The Apartment" as told to her by her father. This event will sell out, so purchase your tickets quickly.

Food + Film: "The Apartment"
Saturday, March 31st
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
6:30pm
$65 [tickets]