…New York’s parks and piers offer free films all summer long.
By Nancy Mandell
There have been days this summer when the only appealing destination was an air-conditioned movie theater. But even senior ticket holders pay a pretty price for the privilege. So, before the season escapes us, it’s time to consider a different kind of film-going—one that offers a wide variety of films in a variety of scenic venues that share two significant elements in common: The movies are free, and the seats are outdoors, under the stars. From river to river, from uptown to down, New York is truly a summer film festival.
Perhaps the best-known of the city’s outdoor screening rooms is Bryant Park, where a huge screen shows film classics to savvy movie-lovers who arrive as early as 5 p.m. to enjoy picnic suppers on the lawn. The Monday-night screenings begin at dusk, and the schedule for the remainder of the summer is:
August 2
Roman Polanski’s 1968 shocker Rosemary’s Baby, starring then newcomer Mia Farrow with John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon and Ralph Bellamy.
August 9
The Goodbye Girl — (1977) Neil Simon’s romantic comedy starring Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason.
August 16
12 Angry Men—Sidney Lumet directed this 1957 masterpiece with Henry Fonda as the holdout juror in a tense murder trial.
August 23
Bonnie and Clyde—This benchmark 1967 film stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the iconic bank robbers who savaged the Midwest with the help of a supporting cast that won Estelle Parsons an Oscar.
Central Park Film Festival
For the eighth consecutive summer, this late August series focuses on movies with a New York theme. Rain or shine, screenings start at 8 p.m.; gates open at 6:30 p.m. at the Mineral Springs, just north of the Sheep Meadow, mid-park at 69th Street. The schedule for this year’s “Iconic New York” is:
Tues., August 24
Fame— the 80s musical that follows talented teenagers at a Performing Arts High School in New York City.
Wed., August 25
The Taking of the Pelham 1 2 3—This remake of the classic 1970s thriller about a daring subway hijack stars John Travolta and Denzel Washington.
Thurs., August 26
Saturday Night Fever—the Brooklyn to Broadway disco classic that made Travolta a star.
Fri., August 27
King Kong— the cult classic starring a giant gorilla and the Empire State Building
Sat., August 28:
Viewers’ Choice—Visit www.7online.com through August 15 to vote for either Serendipity, a romantic comedy with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, or Manhattan, a classicWoody Allen-Diane Keaton angst-ridden romantic comedy. (For the record, we’ll take ‘Manhattan’!)
RiverFlicks for Grown-ups
Showing blockbusters from the 2009 season, this festival’s theme is “I Still Know What You Saw Last Summer!” The Wednesday evening screenings start at 8:30 p.m. at Pier 54 (14th Street/Hudson River).
August 4—Julie & Julia
August 11—Public Enemies
August 18—Star Trek
Summer on the Hudson
There is limited seating on Pier 1 (70th St.) in Riverside Park South where the following films begin at 8:30 p.m.
Wed., August 4—Big Fish
Wed., August 11—Stranger than Fiction
For a more complete summer schedule of films shown at various locales throughout Manhattan and the Boroughs, visit: http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/free_summer_movies
