Movies in the Light of the Paris Moon

Tonight begins the Summer season of Cinéma au Claire de Lune (Cinema in the Light of the Moon) — something to look forward to every year, sponsored by the Forum des Images and the City Hall of Paris. Every year, it’s easy to find at least one or two films shown on inflatable screens in the open air under the moon and stars in some monumental location that fits the bill for a perfect picnic and leisurely viewing.

One year, we saw a 1956 version of the “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” with Gina Lollobrigida and Anthony Quinn with the real Nôtre Dame lit as a backdrop. Another occasion was a viewing of the 1938 film “Hôtel du Nord” with Jean-Pierre Aumont, Louis Jouvet and Arletty, set on the small hills of the park across the street from the real Hôtel du Nord on the quay of the Canal Saint-Martin. Two years ago, on the grassy squares of the Place des Vosges, we picnicked then watched “Cartouche” with Jean-Paul Belmondo, Claudia Cardinale and Jean Rochefort from 1962 — is a hilarious swash-buckling adventure about a prodigious thief in 18th-century France, belonging to a band of pick-pockets who takes over as leader. At the Trocadéro, we saw the classic 1951 film “American in Paris” with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron with the Eiffel Tower in the background sparkling its 20,000 lights on the hour as the film was in progress!

This year is no different! For the 7th year, 13 classic films, contemporary, of earlier years, comedies, dramas, French and American, will be shown in 11 different districts between tonight and August 19th. Seats are set up, but arrive early to get your place, or bring your blanket and picnic goodies, settle in and party with friends before the film begins.

Not to be missed, I’ve earmarked a Friday night showing of Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” at the Parc Montsouris and on the last night of the festival, a 1953 “Moulin Rouge” by John Huston with j2999é Ferrer and Zsa Zsa Gabor in Front of the Eglise Saint-Eustache near Les Halles.

During the showings, the Forum des Images is offering a few souvenirs: a DVD of the film “Babel” by Alejandro González Iñárritu (from 2006), winner of Cannes Film Festival 2006 and Cinéma au Clair de Lune T-Shirts.

To choose among the line-up of great films and make your plans, see the official Web site at http://clairdelune.forumdesimages.net/ and
to

print out the entire program, click here to download a pdf document:
http://clairdelune.forumdesimages.net/prog.pdf

A la prochaine…