If you miss the experience of seeing movies at the drive-in, or never had it at all, the fifth annual Chicago Outdoor Film Festival is a perfect substitute. The festival will show seven films this year, all classics.
The films are shown on a giant screen in Grant Park, while hundreds of people gather in lawn chairs and blankets to gaze up at the stars of the past.
This year, those stars include Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and the late Marlon Brando, in such films as "His Girl Friday," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," and "Guys and Dolls." The seven films range from a musical to an alien invasion thriller, and provide a window into the time period they were made. For instance, the main plot of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (showing on Aug. 10) is about aliens replacing human bodies with their own, but it speaks to the Cold War era politics of the 1950s. "His Girl Friday" (showed July 13) is a screwball comedy set in a newspaper, but it is also about gender roles and female empowerment in the 1940s. The other films include:
"The Birds" – July 20 – the classic Alfred Hitchcock horror film
"Mr. Smith goes to Washington" – July 27 -– a great performance by Stewart, who goes to Washington to fight political corruption.
"Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" – August 3 - has a great cast (Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, whose performance won the Oscar, and Spencer Tracy), and is about parents who disapprove of the race of their daughters fiancé.
"Roman Holiday" – Aug. 17 - Audrey Hepburn’s debut lead performance; a light and fun romance.
"Guys and Dolls" – Aug. 24 - showcases Brando’s range when he performs in a musical with Frank Sinatra.
The schedule is for all the films to start at sunset, around 8:45 p.m. Get there early if you can, to ensure a good spot and because there will be a Mickey Mouse cartoon, as well as shorts from independent filmmakers in the Chicago area shown before the feature.
Admission to these films is free. The 34 by 50 feet screen sets before a gorgeous view of the Chicago skyline. This makes for some great images, whether you are concentrating on the screen, or taking in the whole atmosphere of the event. An outdoor festival like this is rare for movies; it is like a great outdoor concert, but with a much better visual show. Enjoy the films!
Photos courtesy of the Mayor's Office of Special Events
REMAINING SCHEDULE
July 13: 8:58 p.m. "His Girl Friday"
July 20: 8:53 p.m. "The Birds"
July27: 8:46 p.m. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
Aug. 3: 8:38 p.m. "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
Aug. 10: 8:28 p.m. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"
Aug. 17: 8:18 p.m. "Roman Holiday"
Aug. 24: 8:07 p.m. "Guys and Dolls"
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