SERIES
February 9-11
The last wave of the beach-party movies collided with the beginning of the 1960s, creating an interesting mix of family values and beach-bum hippiedom. These two B movies, comically simplistic yet satisfying in their storytelling, are teen-movie classics.
(1959, DCP, 95m) dir Paul Wendkos w/Sandra Dee, James Darren, Cliff Robertson. Francie Lawrence (Dee) just wants to learn how to surf. When a group of beach bums gives her the nickname “Gidget” (girl + midget), she yearns to be one of them and Moondoggie’s (Darren’s) main squeeze. At Perisphere, Penny Folger unpacks the sometimes-absurd…
Screenings: February 9 7:00, February 10 9:00, February 11 3:00
(1965, DCP, 98m) dir William Asher w/Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Deborah Walley. Frankie, Dee Dee, and the gang meet singing sensation Sugar Kane (Walley), get introduced to skydiving, and get caught up in love. At Perisphere, Courtney Kowalke documents her first watch of Beach Blanket Bingo, highlighting the film's curious and spiraling antics. FRI 9:00…
Screenings: February 9 9:00, February 10 7:00, February 11 5:00