Cinema Under the Stars has begun its new 2007 summer season with unique screenings under the open skies. Don’t worry about the weather ” shows are experienced on a radiant-heated patio in reclining seats. Screenings run every Thursday through Sunday, with a different classic each week. Showtime is 8:30 pm.
Keanu Reeves, allegedly a graduate of the Cigar Store Wooden Indian School of Acting, plays romantic in Alfonso Arau’s “A Walk In the Clouds.” As a traveling salesman, he befriends a pregnant girl and pretends to be her husband to save her humiliation. Thursday, June 21 and Friday, June 22.
Cary Grant stars with the luscious Grace Kelly in 1955’s “To Catch a Thief.” Grace never looked lovelier and neither did Cary! He’s a suspected jewel thief and she’s the Paris Hilton of the day. Filmed on the glorious Riviera by Alfred Hitchcock. Kelly gave up the movies to become Princess Grace of Monaco. Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24.
“The Third Man” made a huge impression on audiences in 1949 and spurred a hit song, the “Third Man Theme” played on a zither by Anton Karas. Mysterious, atmospheric and suspenseful, this Orson Welles classic was filmed in Vienna with Joseph Cotten playing a naïve fiction writer looking for his old friend Welles. Alida Valli added European beauty to the film. Thursday, June 28 and Friday, June 29.
The month of June is rounded out with a Jim Carrey movie, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Carrey and Kate Winslett are estranged lovers who wipe their minds clean of romantic memories. This oddball movie also stars Mark Ruffalo and Kirsten Dunst. Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1.
The July 4 holiday weekend gets off to a good start with “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” with Harrison Ford, Sean Connery and River Phoenix. Connery is Ford’s dad, and he tags along to find the Holy Grail. Lots of action and laughs. Thursday, July 5; Friday, July 6; Saturday, July 7; and Sunday, July 8.
Barbara Stanwyck does a heck of a job playing a tough dame in Billy Wilder’s “Double Indemnity.” She meets smarmy insurance salesman Fred MacMurray and schemes to murder her husband to collect the money. A wonderful period 1944 film noir, with the excellent Edward G. Robinson. Thursday, July 12 and Friday, July 13.
“Hitch” has nothing to do with Mr. Hitchcock, but it does star affable Will Smith as a date doctor who trains helpless nerds to woo their girlfriends. Kevin James is very funny and Eva Mendes gives Smith a run for his money. Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15.
In 1999, Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones made “Entrapment,” a neat little crime caper. Zeta-Jones plays an insurance investigator who goes underground to catch dashing art thief Connery. Thursday, July 19 and Friday, July 20.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is the film author Truman Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe for, but instead Audrey Hepburn was cast and became an icon in this bittersweet role. Sexy George Peppard plays a struggling writer who falls for Hepburn, natch! Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22.
“The Lady Vanishes” is one of the great old Hitchcock black-and-white mysteries. Campy English governess Dame May Whitty boards a train and disappears. Involved in all the intrigue are Michael Redgrave (Vanessa and Lynn’s father), Paul Lukas and British favorite Margaret Lockwood in this 1938 classic. Thursday, July 26 and Friday, July 27.
The month is rounded out with an adventurous roller-coaster ride through the Columbian jungle. Michael Douglas and whiskey-voiced Kathleen Turner are “Romancing the Stone” as they search for her sister in the bushes in this 1984 hit. Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29.
August kicks of with that perennial favorite, “Dazed and Confused” with Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Joey Lauren Adams and Parker Posey. It’s the last day of school when the film takes a look at the agony and ecstasy of teen life. Thursday, Aug. 2 and Friday, Aug. 3.
All movies are shown at Cinema Under the Stars, 4040 Goldfinch St. in Mission Hills, part of Tops Salon. Call (619) 295-4221 for information.