Free Movies! They're Out There

I was enjoying a rare Friday off and trying to decide what movie I was going to go see. While cleaning off my desk I discovered a calendar of events for the month of May sent to me by the UCLA Film Archives. After reviewing the brochure, I noticed a series of films beginning May 1st, set in North Africa. The series was in conjunction with a museum exhibit co-sponsored by the UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies. After scanning the film titles, I saw the magic words, free screening. Free Screening! Six nights of free screenings! I was very excited.

I looked at my watch, 6:00, called a friend to go with me, in vain, and then jumped in my car and took off. In the screening room, at the Hammer Museum in Westwood, I arrived with 10 minutes to spare. I saw 1930’s Morocco and 1936’s The Garden Of Allah, both with Marlene Dietrich. In the first film, it was fun to see a young, tall, lanky and very cocky, Gary Cooper as the Legionnaire who wins Marlene Dietrich’s heart. The next film was a melodramatic, Technicolor Film with Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer. It also starred a very young Basil Rathbone, looking quite handsome in his turban and robes.

There was a good turnout to this event and I even spotted Quentin Tarantino and Peter Bogdanovich in the audience. Some of these films are so rare, that when they are screened, the true aficionados come out in droves. These are not the first stars I’ve seen at UCLA’s screenings, once I sat behind Dustin Hoffman.

The reason I am writing about this event is to illustrate the abundance of opportunities out there. Whether it’s at a library, museum, or cultural center, there are many screenings available, and sometimes they are free. You just have to keep your eyes open, and sign up on a lot of mailing lists.

In the summer I particularly like to go to some of the outdoor screenings. Sitting on the lawn, under the stars, with a mini cooler full of snacks, sharing the experience with like minded people, is a nice evening out. So don’t let the economy get you down. There are plenty of fun things to do with little, or no money, and I’ll do my best to point them out. So, there is no excuse not to get out of the house and see a movie, you can thank me later.