We Torontonians seem to enjoy movies al fresco. In addition to Harbourfront’s summer movie screenings, TIFF and the Toronto Entertainment District BIA will be presenting TIFF in the Park, featuring outdoor film screenings every Wednesday at sunset beginning in July. The movies will be screened at David Pecaut Square, west of Roy Thomson Hall. You may have seen several of these classic films before; however, the experience of viewing it beneath the stars will surely put a fresh spin on them.
Casablanca, Wed., July 3, 9:15 p.m. – David Pecaut Square
“Here’s looking at you, kid!” Well, many of us recognize that famous line from Humphrey Bogart whether we know it’s from Casablanca.
Moonstruck, Wed., July 10, 9:15 p.m. – David Pecaut Square
Cher plays a widowed Italian woman who now lives at home with her parents, which means sneaking in at all hours so they don’t find out about her love life. Watch for the hilarious scene when Cher runs into her father at the theatre and how stunning she looks when she comes out of the beauty parlour ready for her date with the younger Nicholas Cage. Cher deservedly won the Best Actress Academy Award for her role while Cage brought a passionate virility to his.
City Lights, Wed., July 17, 9:15 p.m.
Written and directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, City Lights is one of the last silent films before the “Talkies” became popular. The film about the tramp and the blind girl has been voted by many as one of the greatest films of all time.
Sleepless in Seattle, Wed., July 24, 9:15 p.m.
The team of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan struck gold twice with this film and the latter, You’ve Got Mail. The film features a matched romance before the popularity of Internet dating.
The Way We Were, Wed., July 31, 9 p.m.
Before Brad Pitt, there was Robert Redford who had the women of the 70s swooning at his every word. When Barbra Streisand, who had great chemistry with her co-star, pushes one of his blond locks out of his eyes (cue Redford’s closeup), you’ll hear a collective sigh from the female members of the audience.
Clueless, Wed., Aug. 7, 9 p.m.
I loved this film; it was so much more than a frivolous, youth-oriented comedy due, in part, to the comedic timing of Alicia Silverstone. Look out for the part when Silverstone (as Cher) bangs into several cars while on a driving lesson and asks, “Oops, should I leave a note?”
Sense and Sensibility, Wed., Aug. 14, 9 p.m.
Ang Lee’s version of Jane Austen’s second most popular novel stars Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant.
Roman Holiday, Wed., Aug. 21, 8:30 p.m.
I haven’t seen this film, but how can it go wrong with the classy Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the leads? Hepburn won an Oscar for her role as a runaway princess.
The Notebook, Wed., Aug. 28, 8:30 p.m.
Yes, this is a chick-flick, but despite that, both Canadian stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams turned in some solid acting in this film set in the 40s.
