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Friday, April 18, 2008
Dayton’s 2008 classic film series
Since I was unable to review any of today’s new movies, it’s time instead to talk about yesterday’s old movies - and by that I mean this year’s Ultra Cool Films Series at Dayton’s Victoria Theatre.
Those modern-day blockbusters are fun and all (sometimes, anyway), but my favorite summer movies are the classics Victoria plays each year.
All of the films in this year’s lineup are readily available on DVD. In fact, that’s true most years, but I say, so what? People can pop in a DVD anytime, but there’s nothing like seeing these movies on the big screen, with the very appreciative crowd Victoria usually draws. I strongly recommend catching at least one of these films.
In most cases, each movie plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Here is your preview of coming attractions:
June 27-29 - The King and I: As great as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals are, they didn’t always translate into great movies, but this is one of the better efforts, thanks in no small part to Yul Brynner’s indelible, Oscar-winning portrayal of the king. That’s Audrey Hepburn, uh, I mean Natalie Wood, no, I mean Marni Nixon doing Deborah Kerr’s vocals.
July 4-6 - Lawrence of Arabia: If you can make it to only one of the movies at Victoria this year, make it this one. Because if you haven’t seen this in a theater, you haven’t really seen it at all, hi-def or no hi-def. You can commemorate director David Lean’s 100th birthday to boot.
July 11-13 - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: It’s no Some Like It Hot or even The Seven-Year Itch, but this remains one of Marilyn Monroe’s most vibrant movies. For extra grins and giggles, have fun when the movie mentions a town called Dayton. Fun fact: Marni Nixon dubbed some of Marilyn’s high notes.
July 18-20 - Cool Hand Luke: Say it with me now: “What we got he-ah is, fail-yuh to communicate.” And what I also have is a failure to see this movie. I will rectify that this July.
July 25-27: Little Women: This is the 1949 movie of the Louisa May Alcott classic starring June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor and Janet Leigh. I would have preferred to see the excellent 1933 George Cukor film with Kate Hepburn, but I haven’t seen this one, so I’ll give it a chance.
Aug. 1-3 - Doctor Zhivago: More David Lean. It’s hip these days to say this film hasn’t held up very well over the years, but Lara’s theme and that gorgeous photography still work for me, so call me square.
Aug. 8 - Sabrina: Here’s where the pattern varies a bit. This week is Audrey Hepburn week, with a different film playing each day. This one is a wonderful gem directed by Billy Wilder, and co-starring Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. Maybe Bogie wasn’t so happy about the movie, but Audrey will make you forget that, if you’re aware of it at all.
Aug. 9 - Charade: It’s not very imaginative to call this the best Hitchcock film Hitch never made, but that’s still the best description of this terrific thriller nonetheless. Stanley Donen directed Audrey and Cary Grant. Check out the very cool title sequence, designed by Maurice Binder, who would go on to do the James Bond movies.
Aug. 10 - Roman Holiday: It introduced Audrey to the world and won her an Oscar. What else do you need?
Aug. 15-17 - Hello, Dolly! - This film came from the period when movie musicals were huge and elephantine and out of style. In fairness, I haven’t seen this yet, so I’m hoping it’s closer to Funny Girl than, say, Camelot.
Aug. 22-24 - A Hard Day’s Night: The selection of this film brings back major pangs of nostalgia for me; Victoria (or Victory, as it was called in the 70s) was the first place I can remember seeing a movie. OK, the movie I saw then was Yellow Submarine, but this one’s even better.
A refrain you will commonly hear at this series is, “They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.” Maybe not, but they do show ‘em.
Passbooks containing 10 tickets usable in any combination are $24; individual tickets are $4.75. Details on how to get them are here. Get a lot out of life. Go out to a classic movie. I’ll see you there.
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