Soundtrack Available: Music in American Film series poster (limited edition) by Clinton Reno. Click image for more info.
Do you ever feel like heading to the theater for a flick, but you’re not interested in anything playing at the local multiplex?
Hmmm….how about watching doves cry in the purple rain?
Say what?
No, I’m NOT crazy (at least not today) — I just took a little license with some very memorable Prince lyrics, or should I say….lyrics by The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.
(Does he still go by a symbol? Whatever.)
You see, I’ve got “The Purple One” on my brain because I just found out that the film version of his life story, Purple Rain, will be shown tonight (Thursday, July 9th) as part of a seriously cool weekly film series at the Wexner Center For The Arts.
The series is called Soundtrack Available: Music In American Film, and if you’re a film AND music lover like me, it definitely deserves your attention.
According to the Wexner Center website:
“Watch—and listen to—classic movies whose popular music soundtracks propel action, underscore emotion, heighten authenticity, and stay in our memories. Organized by Wexner Center Film Curator David Filipi, the Soundtrack Available series features films notable for their creative and thoughtful use of popular music as a cinematic element. Many spawned soundtrack albums whose impact equaled that of the films themselves.”
Series screenings are at 7:00 PM in the lower level Wexner Center Film/Video Theater, located at 1871 North High Street. Admission prices are: $7 general public, $5 Wexner Center member, students and senior citizens and $3 for children under 12 (unless otherwise indicated).
The film series runs through August 27th, and two of the selections (American Graffiti and O Brother, Where Art Thou?) will be shown for FREE, outside on the Wexner Center Plaza as a “Wex Drive-In” event. Come at 8 PM to claim your spot and get ready with drinks (cash bar), snacks, free popcorn and Jeni’s ice cream. The film begins at dusk.
John Travolta in Urban Cowboy
Many of the series screenings are double-features, with some wonderfully clever pairings. How about the August 6th showing of Urban Cowboy (who wouldn’t want to two-step at Gilley’s with John Travolta?) and The Graduate (Here’s to you “Mrs. Robinson”).
So go ahead and check out the entire series schedule below, I’m sure you’ll find more than a few flicks that will bring music to your ears.
(Ugh, sorry about that….couldn’t resist.)
Me? I will definitely be attending the July 23rd Wex Drive-In showing of
Ron Howard in American Graffiti
American Graffiti (Classic 50’s tunes with Ron Howard & Cindy Williams, pre-Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley), as well as the August 13th showing of one of my all-time faves, Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
Seriously folks, you got stoner surf-boy Sean Penn, stuck-up bikini-clad Phoebe Cates and good-girl next door Jennifer Jason Leigh — losing her virginity to the totally wrong guy — as Jackson Browne’s catchy “Somebody’s Baby” plays in the background.
Oh yeah….good times and great movie (and music) memories.
Now, if they had just decided to add a triple-feature with The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire….this chick would be one seriously happy gal.
Hey Wexner Center peeps, you listening?
There’s always next year….honestly, both Molly Ringwald and I would be thrilled.
For more information:
Wexner Center For The Arts Website
SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE: MUSIC IN AMERICAN FILM SERIES
