7/8/21 - 8/1/21 BIG LAUGHS ON THE BIG SCREEN: Comedy Masters at the Aero Theatre All shows at the Aero Theatre!
ABOUT THE SERIES Plan your long-awaited return to the theatre and re-experience the communal joy of cinema with “BIG LAUGHS ON THE BIG SCREEN,” a month-long celebration of comedy’s greatest filmmakers. From screwball, to satire, slapstick, black comedy and more, this series features comedies from around the world, ranging from the earliest works of cinema to modern classics. Share gut-busting laughter with us at our opening screening of the classic French comedy PLAYTIME, featuring Jacques Tati’s hilarious alter-ego Monsieur Hulot. Next, we pay tribute to two masters of satire, Mel Brooks and Spike Lee, who both take aim at the entertainment industry in their stinging, yet hilarious films THE PRODUCERS and BAMBOOZLED. Carl Reiner and Preston Sturges, two trailblazing comic filmmakers of their eras, take center stage on Saturday, beginning with THE JERK, whose hero’s journey is a hilarious riff on the title character’s story in THE GREAT MCGINTY. Then experience some of the greatest slapstick of all time, as Jackie Chan meets one of his cinematic inspirations, Buster Keaton, in a program with the 1922 short “Cops” and POLICE STORY. And don’t forget to bring the kids to our Sunday matinee of Charlie Chaplin’s timeless silent film MODERN TIMES. Week two kicks off with Billy Wilder’s classic comedy romp, SOME LIKE IT HOT starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Then we make a trip to the 90s with a Penelope Spheeris awe-inspiring double bill of WAYNE’S WORLD and BLACK SHEEP. We’re not worthy! On Saturday the 17th, outrageous Messiah figures take center stage in two irreverent comedies, MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN and Robert Downey’s little seen gem GREASER’S PALACE. Next, we pay tribute to the “Lubitsch touch” with a matinee screening of TO BE OR NOT TO BE. And on Sunday evening, special guest Jonah Hill joins us in person to present one of his favorite comedy films, Albert Brooks’ DEFENDING YOUR LIFE. The series continues on July 21st with a classic Hollywood double feature of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY & THE AWFUL TRUTH presented by author Jeremy Arnold. On Thursday, we welcome filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich to a Q&A to discuss his romantic screwball comedy WHAT’S UP, DOC?, and the following day we pay tribute to the action comedies of Martin Brest, MIDNIGHT RUN & BEVERLY HILLS COP, and proudly host a special live virtual Q&A with the filmmaker. The weekend continues with a glorious Coen Brothers 35mm triple feature of THE BIG LEBOWSKI, A SERIOUS MAN & BURN AFTER READING on Saturday. And on Sunday we invite the family to our Looney Tunes Matinee Program, and then close out the weekend with a wild double feature of two incredible Japanese comedies: Yasujirō Ozu’s fart-joke-ridden GOOD MORNING and Juzo Itami’s hilarious food & sex mashup TAMPOPO. Our final weekend kicks off on Thursday with the underappreciated Mel Brooks’ gem THE 12 CHAIRS, set in 1920s Soviet Russia. The following night we are thrilled to welcome star Alicia Silverstone and filmmaker Amy Heckerling to talk about their beloved 1995 film CLUELESS. And on Saturday, we pay tribute to legendary filmmaker Robert Townsend, as he joins us for a screening of his hilarious satire HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE. On Sunday, we close out the month with a matinee of the Howard Hawks screwball HIS GIRL FRIDAY and we end with an unexpected double feature, which pairs one of the greatest black comedies of all time, Stanley Kubrick’s DR. STRANGELOVE, with the lesser known, yet equally audacious 2010 film from Christopher Morris, FOUR LIONS. Our “BIG LAUGHS ON THE BIG SCREEN” series continues in August! Stay Tuned!