<<< June 23 - July 2, 2006 >>>

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70mm, like many other motion picture formats such as Cinemascope and Cinerama in the 1950’s, was created as a way of prying folks away from those insidious small screen "idiot boxes" (i.e., televisions) that were starting to deplete the industry’s box office thunder. From Super Technirama 70 to Ultra Panavision to Dimension 150 and more, the 70mm large-screen format promised – and delivered – a Barnum-esque world of spectacular sights and 6-track sounds. If the movies were always larger-than-life, then 70mm movies were MUCH much larger! From 1955 to 1970 – the Golden Age of 70mm Filmmaking – there were nearly 60 Hollywood features shot in large format, with many more released in special engagements as 35mm-to-70mm blow-ups (which still offered superior sound and image quality to their 35mm counterparts). This time around we’re pleased to offer a screening of CLEOPATRA (the most recent restoration of a 70mm film), a family matinee of Robert Wise’s SOUND OF MUSIC; 70 mm action films including George Miller’s MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (in a 70mm blow-up print), Paul Verhoeven’s TOTAL RECALL, James Cameron’s TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY and many more great classic 70mm pictures!

Friday, June 23 - 7:30 PM
70mm Blow-Up Print! MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR, 1981, Warner Bros., 94 min. Hockey-mask wearing Lord Humongous whips his speed-freaks into a frenzy, while Road Warrior Mel Gibson tries to save the remnants of civilization, in director George Miller’s lean, mean, thrill machine – along with James Cameron’s ALIENS, the finest action film of the decade. A replica of the car in MAD MAX will be parked in front of the Aero tonight courtesy of Paul Miller.

Saturday, June 24 – 6:00 PM

Brand New Restored 70mm Print! CLEOPATRA, 1963, 20^th Century Fox, 248 min. Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) at attempts to secure her power as Queen of Egypt by charming Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and Mark Antony (Richard Burton) with whom she has a stormy love affair, but Egypt is finally integrated into the Roman Empire. Directed and co-written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, this epic historical drama of Queen Cleopatra of Egypt with spectacular sets and costumes has to be seen in 70mm in this latest restoration from 20^th Century Fox. Cleopatra's spectacular entry into Rome with her golden Sphinx pulled by thousands is a real cinematic moment!!

Sunday, June 25 – 3:00 PM

Restored 70mm. Print!! THE SOUND OF MUSIC, 1965, 20^th Century Fox, 172 min. Dir. Robert Wise. For many, THE SOUND OF MUSIC is the 70mm. experience, from the silent, sweeping shots of the Austrian Alps, to Julie Andrews suddenly bursting into song like a force of nature. An Oscar-winner for Best Picture and Wise’s flawless direction, THE SOUND OF MUSIC is a reason, a virtual commandment to go see movies on the Big Screen. Co-starring Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Anna Lee, Marni Nixon and Angela Cartwright, with a wonderful script by Ernest Lehman.

Thursday, June 29 - 7:30 PM
70mm. Print!! VERTIGO, 1958, Universal, 129 min. With its stunning visuals and gripping characters, director Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological suspense masterpiece VERTIGO continues to entrance audiences. Retired San Francisco police detective "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart) becomes obsessed with Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak), a troubled woman he is privately hired to follow. Tragedy ensues when Ferguson later stumbles upon Judy Barton (also played by Novak), a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to Madeleine…and his obsession spirals out of control.

Friday, June 30 - 7:30 PM

70mm Print! GHOST BUSTERS, 1984, Sony Repertory, 105 min. Dir. Ivan Reitman. Three para-psychologists, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Dan Aykroyd, versed in the occult start Ghostbusters, a company trapping ghosts, spirits and other supernatural spectors for money. Business starts picking up when Sigourney Weaver notices strange phenomena in her kitchen, like eggs frying themselves. Suddenly the Ghostbusters are called on to save the Big Apple. Come enjoy this goofy, quick-witted, special-effects blockbuster on the Big Big screen!

Saturday, July 1 - 3:00 PM

70mm Print! ANNIE, 1982, Sony Repertory, 126 min. Dir. John Huston. Young hotheaded orphan Annie (Aileen Quinn) is rescued from a cruel orphanage by a wealthy industrialist, Oliver Warbucks – the wonderful Albert Finney, but the wicked orphanage supervisor (Carol Burnett) tries to profit from the situation. A family musical with lots of movement, color, dance and music with sumptuous production numbers. Don’t miss the Story Hour at 2 PM at Every Picture Tells A Story. July Family Matinees -- Special Pass, Children: 5 Films for $25; Adult: 5 Films for $35. Individual tickets available for each screening at regular prices.

Saturday, July 1 - 7:30 PM
Double Feature 70mm Print!
TOTAL RECALL, 1990, Sony Repertory, 113 min. Future-time 2084: construction worker Arnold Schwarzenegger tries to escape his nightmares by taking a mind-vacation to Mars – trouble is, he’s already been there, in director Paul Verhoeven’s brutally surreal, wickedly funny adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale." Sharon Stone literally kicks out the jams as Arnold’s murderously sexy "wife" with help from über-villain Michael Ironside.

TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY, 1991, Sony Repertory, 136 min. "A violent movie about world peace" is how James Cameron described this high-octane sequel to the original TERMINATOR. Like his earlier ALIENS, T-2 is less a remake than a re-imagining of the first film -- here, Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger (in a muscular, understated performance) is an obsolete killer, sent back as guardian to Linda Hamilton and teenage son Edward Furlong. The strangely-elegant morphing effects of the T-1000 are dazzling -- but it’s Cameron’s uncanny blend of pop humor and visionary sci-fi that make TERMINATOR 2 the ultimate in Future Shock.

Sunday, July 2 - 6:30 PM
70 mm. Print!! LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, 1962, Sony Repertory, 216 min. The beautiful, near-godlike Peter O’Toole stars as the tortured Man Who Would Not Be King, T. E. Lawrence, who helped the Arabs revolt against European and Ottoman hegemony. Director David Lean’s epic is an absolute masterpiece – as close to perfect as a film can get. Featuring one of the finest casts in any motion picture: Omar Sharif (in his first major English-speaking role), Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Claude Rains and Alec Guinness as Prince Faisal. D.P. Freddie Young’s 70 mm. photography is rightly considered to be a work of genius, matched by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson’s screenplay, Maurice Jarre’s stirring score and John Box’s production design. Winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. "When you’re in the desert, you look into infinity … It makes you feel terribly small, and also in a strange way, quite big." – David Lean