I come by my obsession with movies honestly: it’s been in my blood a long time. I’m a third-generation movie brat, heavily weighted on my mother’s side. My grandmother was a founding member of the Writer’s Guild of America and my grandfather designed gorgeous, historically accurate men’s costumes; “Shane” was the last film he did. My mom is Sheila Benson, who was the L.A. Times Film Critic for ten years,* and I met my husband, who works as a film publicist, when we were happily slaving away at the Mill Valley Film Festival. I’m one of those irritating yet useful people whom relatives call to ask obscure trivia questions they can’t think of, like an itch they can’t scratch. (I give them the answer, they thank me, and hang up. Happens all the time.) And, I have to confess, I have a picture of myself with Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands hanging in my office. (I was the Unit Publicist on that movie, providing me with sweet memories and my single coolest moment in my children’s eyes. And yes, Mr. Depp is a divine human being.) So when it comes to something like programming Outdoor Movie Night, it’s never simple. Thinking about it consumes my every waking moment. What do you choose? What do you leave out? Every selection carries repercussions (how offbeat can you go and still get away with it? Will “Buckaroo Banzai” be offended if you go with “Mystery Men”?) But mostly it’s tremendous fun, because I get to share my love (an insufficient word in this context) of movies with residents of, and visitors to, Calistoga, and potentially cause hundreds of people to show up, plunk themselves down and laugh – or be awestruck — in all the same places I do. A sobering responsibility, but I know that my choices can actually improve someone’s visit here. If, because of me, they end up on a blanket in a Calistoga field on a perfect, starry summer evening seeing Barbara Stanwyck twirl Henry Fonda around her pinky in “The Lady Eve” for the first time, I know their stay, dare I say their lives, will be enhanced just a bit.
Originally handed a list of movies to take us through the end of the year compiled by my boss, Rex, (no slouch in the movie department himself; we regularly try out movie references on each other, the more bizarre the better, and are impressed when the other one actually gets it. (Anyone can play; try your luck with these: “Does the rolling help?” “Let’s go to the place near the thing where we went that time,” “You didn’t get a second opinion for something called a brain cloud?”**) With his choices too narrowly 1980’s & ‘90’s for me, and with his blessing, I tossed most of them out and came up with my own first pass at a short list for summer movies. They had to be fun, no question, but not all comedies. They needed to be something you’d always wanted to see, or were eager to see again. They should stretch across as many decades as possible (I’m always astonished to hear someone say, “Wow, that was really good for a black-and-white movie!” Oh yeah? I’ll convert you yet!) There’s definitely a maximum acceptable length to consider. (“The Great Escape”? Beyond classic, but also a butt-killing 3 hours long.) I debated with myself. Movies that stormed the list at dinnertime were crossed off by morning. (“Blazing Saddles”? Too predictable.) I called a few select friends whose taste in movies I trust to weigh in. I polled my kids, my husband (a quarterback in this sport in his own right) and my mom – always worthy and wacky but critical, if you’ll pardon the pun, to consult. (You want offbeat, quirky choices? She’s your man.) My co-workers who are also hosting these screenings would lobby for the movie they wanted on their particular night (just trust me, I say: you’ll love it!) There was always Just One More Perfect movie jockeying for position. At a certain point you have to commit, and start promoting the program, confidently sending your movie list into the world, like a mother with charming but awkward children that you know people will love once they meet, or re-meet, them. Because movies you love are not things you see once and remember fondly. Some, like “Galaxy Quest,” or “Steamboat Bill Junior” (or anything by Preston Sturges) can be seen every six months or so, because they’re so good you always find new things in them to love. (No matter how many times you’ve seen Tom Hanks dance to “Come Go With Me” in “Joe Versus the Volcano,” it’s still perfection, every single time.) And there’s a special satisfaction when I overhear someone come into the Chamber saying, for example, how excited they are to see “Silverado” again (a Western in the lineup is crucial and “Silverado” honors the most iconic ones while still holding its own. And seeing Linda Hunt flirt with Kevin Kline is a delicious twist only Larry Kasdan would have thought of.)
So come join us at the movies at the Merchant Property this summer. Celebrate the indescribable joy of sharing a great movie with a whole bunch of friends and strangers. We’ll have the popcorn waiting. And if you discover a movie that you really loved, and had never seen before… Go ahead. Make my day.
*and has the scars and stories to prove it, including a love letter from Steven Spielberg for her review of “E.T.”
**I’ll put you out of your misery if I must, but will lose respect for you in the process. Ask Rex. Bonus points if you get all three!
| Eden Umble is the Events & Public Relations Coordinator for the Calistoga Chamber & Visitors Center. |
Here’s the summer lineup for Calistoga’s Outdoor Movie Night:
sponsored by Calistoga Beverage Company
- May 15: SILVERADO 1985 (PG-13)
- June 5: MYSTERY MEN 1999 (PG-13)
- June 19: TIME BANDITS 1981 (PG)
- July 3: AMERICAN GRAFFITTI 1973 (PG)
- July 17: HELP! 1965 (G)
- August 7: GALAXY QUEST 1999 (PG)
- August 21: STEAMBOAT BILL JUNIOR 1928 (G)
- September 4: WAR GAMES 1983 (PG)
- September 18: THE LADY EVE 1944 (PG)