Kellerman's Resort, the hotel in "Dirty Dancing," would do just this kind of thing on a summer Monday night, we think. Run a free film outdoors. Well, between the canasta playing and the mambo lessons and the cocktails on the veranda.
Standing in for Kellerman's (which is actually the Mountain Lake Resort in Virginia, if you care about these sort of things, and we do, a lot), at least on the night of Monday, Aug. 2, is the Orange County Performing Arts Center. "Dirty Dancing" is the night's flick, it is part of the Center's Free for All Movie Mondays summer series, and, in mountain-resort-y fashion, attendees are invited to show with lawn chairs and blankets and picnics and the usual outdoor-movie comforts. Time is 8 p.m.
We want to note another '80s gem playing on Monday, Aug. 2, this time at ArcLight Hollywood, not for free, note, but still a heavy recommendation. The film is "Something Wicked This Way Comes," it was released in 1983, LA's own beloved magician Ray Bradbury is the storymaker behind it, and it stars a handsomely sinister Jonathan Pryce in a top hat and beard, if you care about those sort of things, and we do, a lot. Time is 8 p.m.
If one really tried, one could find a bridge between these two films. Dreams coming true, for better, and for not better. But sometimes it is better to put aside themes and contexts and just watch and just enjoy.
