Chicago Outdoor Film Festival in Grant Park
Summer Films Under the Skies Near the Lakefront
Apr 17, 2009
The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival returns for 2009 for the free outdoor event at Grant Park on the Lake Michigan Fest lakefront. People gather early to watch classic films on the gigantic screen in the great outdoors under the city skyline and open skies. Movie nights are at sunset on Tuesdays from July 14 through August 25 at Butler Field in Grant Park. Featured this year are Sunset Boulevard, Duck Soup, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Born Yesterday, Psycho, Young Mr. Lincoln and Tootsie.
Chicago Outdoor Film Festival Films for 2009
Sunset Boulevard, July 14 at 8:58 pm: Sunset Boulevard is a cynical look at Hollywood by Director Billy Wilder. The story looks at aging former silent screen legend Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) who hires Joe Gillis, a penniless writer (William Holden) to craft her comeback film. Classic lines from this film include “I am big, It’s the pictures that got small,” and “All right Mr. DeMille, I am ready for my close up.” Sunset Boulevard stars Gloria Swanson and William Holden. Sunset Boulevard was made in 1950 and runs 111 minutes.
Duck Soup, July 21 at 8:52 pm: Duck Soup is a classic Marx Brothers comedy and spoof of war movies. Stars are The Marx Brothers and Margaret Dumont. Duck Soup was made in 1933 and runs 70 minutes.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on July 28: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a movie based on a play by Tennessee Williams that portrays the family life of a turbulent Southern family. Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor) escaped poverty to marry into a wealthy family ruled over by “Big Daddy” Pollit (Burl Ives) . Maggie’s husband Brick (Paul Newman) is an aging football star who neglects his wife and is indifferent to his brother’s ambition to control the family fortune. In the meantime, Big Daddy is unaware that he has cancer. Cat on the Hot Tin Roof stars Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives, Judith Anderson, Jack Carson, Madeleine Sherwood, Larry Gates and Vaughn Taylor. This 1958 MGM film was directed by Richard Brooks.
Born Yesterday on August 4: Born Yesterday is the story of an uncouth tycoon (Broderick Crawford) who takes his brassy mistress (Judy Holliday) to Washington D.C. Cast includes Judy Holliday, Broderick Crawford and William Holden. 1950.
Psycho on August 11: Alfred Hitchcock’s scary thriller from 1960 has kept women out of the shower for years. Cast includes Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, John Gavin and Vera Miles.
Young Mr. Lincoln on August 18: This film from 1938 is the fictionalized story of the early life of President Abraham Lincoln that was directed by John Ford and starred Henry Fonda. Cast includes Henry Fonda, Alice Brady and Marjorie Weaver.
Tootsie on August 25: Tootsie is the 1982 comedy about a difficult actor (Dustin Hoffman) who takes on the identity of a woman so he can get acting jobs. Cast includes Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman and Charles Durning.
Chicago Outdoor Film Festival at Grant Park
This is an outdoor festival on the lawn of Grant Park. Festival goers should bring blankets and folding chairs, insect repellent, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to make the evening more comfortable and enjoyable. It is a good idea to arrive early enough to find a good spot and bring a book or games for quiet entertainment while waiting for the show to begin.
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