June 5, 2008
Coming Soon to a Green Near You
This seems to be the summer to see James Bond outdoors. Not only are there three neighborhood film festivals showing nothing but Bond films all summer long, but Screen on the Green just released the schedule for their 9th year of films on the National Mall, and who should be heading up the list but Mr. Shaken-Not-Stirred himself. What, was MGM offering a discount on print rentals this year? At least it's a Connery flick; if SotG decided to give D.C. a fourth screening of Moonraker, it might be cause for revolt.
Of course, for Screen on the Green, good programming is nice, but it's sort of secondary to the whole experience anyway, lazing away a summer evening on the Mall under the stars with a picnic, a blanket, and an old movie flickering away on a screen with the Capitol dome looming in the distance. The feeling of community bears the distinctive stamp of a sort of Capra-esque Americana, shattered only on unlucky occasions when a group of interns on the blanket behind you decide to be loudly drunk through the whole film. Even so, aside from the repetitive nature of the first pick, it's a good lineup. There's a classic comedic thriller from the aforementioned Mr. Capra. A timely political satire about a presidential senatorial candidate who, according to the film's tagline, is "Too Handsome. Too Young. Too Liberal." A brilliant Billy Wilder film that more than earns its status as one of the greatest comedies ever made. And finally, Marlon Brando picking up a hefty paycheck for a five minute role as an alien.
We'll be covering these in more detail in future Popcorn & Candy columns, but here's the calendar:
Monday, July 14: Dr. No
Monday, July 21: The Candidate
Monday, July 28: Arsenic and Old Lace
Monday, August 4: The Apartment
Monday, August 11: Superman
Movies begin around sunset, which the website claims is at 8 p.m., but longtime attendees know that's not really the case. Start times are closer to 9, after they show the classic Warner Brothers cartoon and the traditional HBO intro, during which everyone is strongly encouraged to do the HBO dance. Still, it's recommended that you get there reasonably early if you want a good spot; last year, all the films we went to were well attended and the Mall was pretty full from up near the screen all the way back to the projection booth. Also, alcohol is prohibited, but still widely consumed; if you're going to bring it, just don't be that guy. You know what we mean. Also, leave the tall chairs at home, because the back of your head is never going to be as interesting for the people behind you as you might hope.
If the Bond festivals and Screen on the Green and the drive-in up the road aren't enough for you, there's yet another outdoor movie option that recently released their schedule, the little series in Stead Park on P Street NW, between 16th and 17th. Their schedule is up now on Facebook. Screenings are the final Thursdays of June (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), July (The Wizard of Oz), and August (The Goonies).
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It's a shame they can't show a back-to-back performance with that classic of granny porn "Loosnic and Old Arse."
Robert Redford plays a Senate candidate, not a presidential candidate. I know, I know, being pedantic. Your original point still stands.
thank you Baby Jesus! finally some good movies at SOTG. those old (pre 1973) black and white movies should be rounded up and put on the moon. my special ball sack cooling underpants will be ready to go come July.
Thanks for the correction; I appreciate a little well placed pedantry, particularly when I mix up the facts. It's been too long since I've seen the movie and I've got presidential politics on the brain.
silly question, but can you bring dog along?
. . . bears the distinctive stamp of a sort of Capra-esque Americana . . .
That's actually how I would describe Dick Donner's 1978 Superman. Pointing out Brando's big payday for a small role -- albeit one that was revived (with Brando!) for Bryan Singer's confused, if ambitious, Superman Returns -- feels like kind of an unwarranted slag. I mean, they got Gene Hackman, too, and Mario Puzo to write the first draft of the script!
Clearly they were attempting to buy some credibility with a mainstream audience, and money was no object. It worked, albeit mostly because of the brilliant unknown they cast as the alien in the boots and the cape! (Unlike Brando and Hackman, Chris Reeve didn't get name-above-title billing.)
This is the best SotG lineup I can recall. Viva summertime.
that should read, "a dog", not Dog the bounty hunter.
Ooooh, Redford back when he was cute and not all botched up w/plastic surgery. I'll be there, sweatin' to the oldies, so to speak.
Isn't Stead Park undergoing construction?
Chris- I was just having some fun, no slag intended. I'm actually a big fan of the original Superman, and think Brando did some fine work as Jor-El.
sixfive- Standard National Mall rules apply, so dogs are welcome, just keep 'em leashed.
jur777: yeah, it is, but just the south end of the park. not the field on the north end.
@sixfive:
Yes, you can bring your dog. I, for one, will be bringing both my Irish Wolfhound and my St. Bernard. They love the cinema.
I never go to Screen on the Green. I tried once, but it gets dark out too late in the summer, there are bugs, and I can never get comfortable - not to mention the humidity and thunderstorms.
There's also the Reel Affirmations outdoor film festival at the Hillwood Mansion. I went last year and it was awesome! There's a picnic basket competition and the mansion is beautiful. Check it out:
http://www.reelaffirmations.org/
Second that on Divas Outdoors; the outdoor films at Hillwood. You haven't lived until you sit next to a 6 ft. Doris Day impersonator during a screening of Pillow Talk.
Excellent lineup. The Candidate is one of my favorite political flicks.