Summer Classic Film Series Details In Austin Unveiled

AUSTIN, TX — The Paramount and Stateside Theaters on Thursday unveiled the 2019 lineup for the annual Summer Classic Film Series presented by Capital Metro.

This year marks 44 years of bringing classic films to Austin for the beloved series, which will kick off May 23 and run through August 31st. Film tickets and Film Fan passes are on sale now at austintheare.org.

The three-month-long celebration of movies will feature over 125 films, from romance and comedy to thrillers and chillers with well-preserved film prints and dazzling digital restorations giving Austinites a great reason to get out of the heat and enjoy a classic film in a historic theatre. SCFS 2019 will once again kick off in a grand fashion with opening night film “Casablanca” on Thursday, May 23rd launching film fans into the weekend devoted to a Crazy in Love theme. The weekend will also welcome “When Harry Met Sally,” “Moonstruck,” “It Happened One Night,” His Girl Friday,” and “My Fair Lady.”

Also kicking off that weekend is the Summer Classic Film Series’ Family Film Festival, which returns with special screenings throughout the Series for the whole family with discounted pricing for kids. The first film, “The Wizard of Oz,” is set for Saturday, May 25, with screenings to follow of “The Secret Garden,” “The Iron Giant” (20th anniversary), “The Sound of Music,” “The Neverending Story” (35th anniversary), and more. Film-loving families are really in for a treat this summer.

Each year, the SCFS spotlights a wide variety of beloved and memorable movies, many of which are anniversary screenings, under well-curated themes that offer something for every film fan. Throughout the series Epic Sunday Matinees will thrill audiences with films like “Seven Samurai,” “Ben-Hur,” and “Cleopatra.” Enjoy Hot Pursuit for the movies that made “great car chases” its own genre, like “Bullitt” and “Smokey and the Bandit.”

Courtesy image.

For everyone who likes movies you watch through your fingers, the Monsters and Slashers and Scares, Oh My! will bring “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Gremlins,” and “An American Werewolf in London,” among others. The Play It Again series will feature some of the greatest musicians of all time on the Paramount screen in films like “Selena” and “Purple Rain.” Remarkable directors who are finally getting their due take over the screen in the Unsung Filmmakers section with movies like “Mikey and Nicky” and “Losing Ground.” This year will also include a series honoring four fantastic films celebrating their 50th anniversaries in 1969: 50 Years Later, including “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “Midnight Cowboy.” And audiences are sure to enjoy some of the screen’s finest comedies skewering the cinema’s most beloved genres in You’re Mocking Me, Aren’t You? with “Young Frankenstein,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “This is Spinal Tap,” and others.

The series will also feature a Special Event: A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries presented in partnership with KUTX on July 13, which will start with a 15th anniversary screening of “Napoleon Dynamite” followed by a conversation with three of the film’s stars.

The following day, guests can come experience the wildly popular Martinis & Manicures film events returning Sunday, July 14 with “Roman Holiday” and “Mamma Mia,” where attendees can enjoy martinis and manicures before the presentations. Treat dad to a double feature on June 16 with Father’s Day at the Paramount and screenings of “Dr. No” and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” The Summer Classic Film Series is pleased to partner with local film festivals for special screenings with aGLIFF Presents “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (25th anniversary) on July 20th, Cine Las Americas Presents “Blancanieves” on July 26, and Austin Asian American Film Festival Presents “The Namesake” on Aug. 5.

And don’t forget to pay homage to the master with Hitchcock Week Aug. 13–18 with screenings of “The Man Who Kew Too Much,” “Strangers on a Train,” “North by Northwest” (60th anniversary), “Rear Window” (65th anniversary), and more. Also, celebrate 70MM Week!! August 20–24 with the following big films on the big screen: “Spartacus” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

The 2019 Summer Classic Film Series comes to a close with a weekend of two epic romances: “Giant” on Friday, Aug. 30 and “Gone with the Wind” (80th anniversary) on Saturday, Aug. 31. But look out this fall for the summer fun to continue with An Evening with Bruce Campbell featuring “Army of Darkness” on Oct. 23 as the beloved actor, producer, writer and director sits down for a special conversation.

To purchase a movie ticket or view the full lineup, go to austintheatre.org/film/classic-film-series/. Become a Paramount Film Fan and get reserved seating, discounted tickets, free popcorn and more. For more on how to become a Film Fan, visit www.austintheatre.org/filmfan. Film program is subject to change. Tickets can also purchased by calling 512-474-1221. Follow Paramount Theater on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paramounttheatre and on Twitter @ParamountAustin.

ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT THEATER

The Paramount Theater has stood on Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin for over 100 years. The Paramount Theater plays a significant role in the many communities that make Austin unique. It is home to Austin's red carpet film premieres and is part of the SXSW and the Austin Film Festival. It is a vibrant player in the Austin music scene, hosting release parties, booking local talent and presenting touring acts. Through its own quality programming and by serving as a venue for area arts organizations, the Paramount serves as the anchor for the Austin arts community.

The Paramount currently operates alongside the State Theater next door under The Austin Theatre Alliance. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization strives to bring the widest variety of entertainment to as many people as possible in its two historic theaters.

-- Paramount and Stateside Theaters