Ooh la la: “Bob le Flambeur” and the French twist

The Library of Congress Packard Campus reaches way back into its Culpeper film archives this weekend for classic showings in black-and-white.

The Friday Night Foreign returns to the theater on Mount Pony tonight with a French selection: “Bob le Flambeur” (Mondial, 1956). It means he’s a high roller. Everyone owes Bob (Roger Duchesne) something, and it’s probably an understatement to say he’s the king of cool. And yet Bob has a dark past as a bank robber and an even darker addiction to gambling. Needing cash, he plans one last job, and it all falls apart.

The climax of “Bob le Flambeur,” inspiringly directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, involves a twist so surprising that Roger Ebert said it “approach(es) cosmic irony.” Oh, mon. 1 hour, 38 minutes, English subtitles.

The Saturday silent matinee at 2 p.m. is a live-action version of “Peter Pan” (Paramount, 1924), released nearly three decades before the Walt Disney one.

The story’s the same, though — it’s all about a little boy who doesn’t want to grow up. Based on the children’s classic by J.M. Barrie, with accompaniment by house musician Andrew Simpson. 1 hour, 45 minutes.

This weekend on Mount Pony

Friday night: “Bob le Flambeur” (Mondial, 1956): French with English subtitles

Saturday, 2 p.m.: “Peter Pan” (Paramount, 1924): silent with live music by Andrew Simpson

Reservations: Call Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., (540) 827-1079 ext. 79994.

Movies in the theater at the Library of Congress Center for Audiovisual Conservation on Mount Pony screen Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.