'Indiana Jones' starts movie nights series
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on May 29, 2014 1:46 PM
Action, magic and comedy -- the Paramount Movie Nights has it all this season.
It will start with "Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark" Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
Archaeologist and occult expert Dr. Indiana Jones is hired by the government to find the Ark of the Covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments. But agents of Hitler are also after the Ark. Indiana Jones and his ex-girlfriend, Marion, escape from various close calls in a quest that takes them from Nepal to Cairo.
The night after Halloween will be filled with magic and witches as "Hocus Pocus" is shown Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
More than 300 years ago, three witches were sentenced to die in Salem, Mass., but they turned a boy into a black cat first. Fast forward 300 years, it's Halloween and the witches, who fly on vacuum cleaners, are back. This time, they've got their eyes on immortal life and have turned their wrath on trick-or-treaters, and it's up to the 300-year-old cat to save the day.
A classic, "It's A Wonderful Life" will be shown Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.
George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, Bedford Falls, as seen in a flashback. But in the present, on Christmas Eve, he is broken and suicidal over the misplacing of an $8,000 loan and the pressures from evil millionaire, Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth and shows him how his town, family and friends would have turned out if he had never been born.
Last year's Oscar winner for Best Picture, "12 Years a Slave," is up next Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
It's based on a true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty, as well as unexpected kindness, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the 12th year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist forever alters his life.
March 31 at 7 p.m., the movie will be an old John Wayne favorite, "Rio Lobo."
Col. Cord McNally, an ex-union officer, teams up with a couple of ex-Johnny Rebs to search for the traitor who sold information to the South during the Civil War. Their quest takes them to the town of Rio Lobo, where they help take back the Texas town from ruthless outlaws, who are led by the traitor they were looking for.
The movie series will conclude with "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" April 28 at 7 p.m.
Arthur, King of the Britons, is looking for knights to sit with him at Camelot. He finds many knights, including Sir Galahad the pure, Sir Lancelot the brave, the quiet Sir Bedevere and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Lancelot. They do not travel on horses, but pretend they do and have their servants bang coconuts to make the sound of horse's hooves. God tells them to find the Holy Grail. Throughout their search they meet interesting people and knights along the way.
The Paramount Theatre is showing this movie on the 40th anniversary of the release of the film.
All of the movies have been remastered and are in high definition.
Individual tickets to the Paramount Movie Nights are $5 and free for children 12 and younger. You can also purchase tickets for all of the movie nights for $20. Or you can purchase tickets to the movie nights, Paramount Theatre Foundation's three events and the six performances of the Paramount Performing Arts Series for a total of $160.
For more information, call the Paramount Theatre at 919-583-8432.