The HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival Presented by Time Warner Cable Celebrates Its 17th Year

The HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival Presented by Time Warner Cable Celebrates Its 17th Year

    FREE OUTDOOR CLASSIC FILM SERIES    JUNE 15 - AUGUST 17   

Once again, Bryant Park will be a destination for film buffs on summer nights in New York City. All-star film legends line up for the 17th year of the HBO Bryant Park Film Festival Presented by Time Warner Cable in association with the Bryant Park Corporation.

Continuing the popular tradition of presenting "stars under the stars," the free outdoor festival returns Monday evenings at sunset, beginning June 15 and running through August 17. The season kicks off with "The Sting," bringing Paul Newman and Robert Redford back to the big screen in this 1973 favorite. The festival will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1979 classic comedy "Breaking Away" and the 1979 Oscar winner for Best Picture "Kramer vs. Kramer."

This year's festival features Al Pacino in his breakout film "Dog Day Afternoon," the beloved odd couple "Harold and Maude," the couple at odds "Kramer vs. Kramer" and Steven Spielberg's UFO classic "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

"This free outdoor film series, which runs for two months, is an extraordinary setting for film lovers in New York City and brings an inspired sense of community to the whole city," stated Harriet Novet, Regional Vice President, Public Affairs, Time Warner Cable's New York City Region.

"HBO is so pleased to have Time Warner Cable join this year as we continue our history of presenting the classics on the big screen. There is no better place for New Yorkers to be on Monday nights during the summer than in Bryant Park," said Bill Nelson, Chairman and CEO, HBO.

The films will be projected in 35mm onto a screen 20 feet high by 40 feet wide. Bryant Park is located at 42nd Street and the Avenue of the Americas. Food and refreshments will be available at Bryant Park concession stands, which will remain open throughout the evening. Each presentation will show on Monday evenings starting at sunset. The lawn opens at 5pm. Classic animation provided courtesy of Warner Bros.

For more information, call the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival hotline at (212) 512-5700. For film series information, visit the festival's website at http://www.aolcityguide.com/newyork/hbobryantparkfilm/ presented by AOL(R) CityGuide or go to AOL(R) Keyword: Bryant Park Film Festival.

THE HBO BRYANT PARK SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL 2009 PRESENTED BY TIME WARNER CABLE

JUNE 15: THE STING (Universal)

The "Butch and Sundance" team is reunited for fun and scams. Robert Redford, Paul Newman and director George Roy Hill generate more high-voltage chemistry in this lighthearted, overtly nostalgic look back at 1930's Chicago con men. A rousing commercial success, the movie hit big with critics too. It won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. Marvin Hamlisch supplied the memorable music, though the Scott Joplin-inspired ragtime somewhat pre-dated the movie's time period. Mr. Newman, you'll be greatly missed. 129 Min. (1973)

JUNE 22: BREAKING AWAY (Fox)

An Indiana teen (Dennis Christopher) and his friends (Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley) lack direction after high school graduation... job, college or just hanging out at the swimming hole? Then Dave becomes obsessed with cycling and things Italian. Barbara Barrie and Paul Dooley are doubly wonderful, as Dave's befuddled parents who sense their bambino may have slipped a gear. This endearing winner scored a Golden Globe Award as Best Comedy. Rarely has coming-of-age been as fresh or as funny. 100 Min. (1979)

JUNE 29: GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (Warner Bros.)

During the Great Depression, Hollywood did its best to distract the movie going public from the dark days of economic gloom with upbeat, escapist fare. Busby Berkeley, a master illusionist, was a wizard at staging spectacular musical numbers that transported viewers to a glitzy never-never land. We're in the money, indeed! Aspiring Broadway chorines (Ginger Rogers, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell) do what they must to get on with the show, while Dick Powell croons the tunes. 96 Min. (1933)

JULY 6: DOG DAY AFTERNOON (Warner Bros.)

Sonny (Al Pacino) sets out to rob a Brooklyn bank to pay for his boyfriend's sex change operation. The job doesn't go as planned. Based on a true-life story, the screenplay won an Oscar and a Writer's Guild award though reportedly much was improvised. No matter, "Dog" is great stuff. Director Sidney Lumet gets the New York flavor just right and Pacino is simply stupendous. Memorable support comes from Chris Sarandon and the late John Cazale. All together now... "At-ti-ca! At-ti-ca!" 125 Min. (1975)

JULY 13: HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (Fox)

John Ford was justly famous for his monumental Westerns such as "The Searchers," "Stagecoach" and "My Darling Clementine." He was in a mellow mood when he directed this family melodrama set in a gritty Welsh mining town (actually shot in Malibu) with tender loving care. Maureen O'Hara is a radiant heroine and Roddy McDowall will break your heart. "Valley" may be best remembered as the film that beat out "Citizen Kane" and Orson Welles for 1941's Best Picture and Best Director Oscars. 118 Min. (1941)

JULY 20: HAROLD AND MAUDE (Paramount)

"Single male, 20, seeks older (79+) single female for meaningful relationship. Enjoys sunsets, walks on the beach, attending funerals, driving a hearse and staging suicides." Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon are the extremely odd, yet oddly perfect, couple at the heart of this pitch-black romantic comedy. It has become a certifiable cult classic (officially ranked 4th after "This Is Spinal Tap," "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Freaks" in 2003 by Entertainment Weekly). Music is by 70's folk/pop legend Cat Stevens. 91 Min. (1971)

JULY 27: THE DEFIANT ONES (UA/Provided by MGM)

Stanley Kramer's once controversial drama of racial tension and tolerance scored nine Oscar nominations (it won for Cinematography and for Story/Screenplay) and was named Best Film of 1958 by the N.Y. Film Critic's Circle and the Golden Globes. Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis give riveting performances as fugitives from a Southern chain gang, uncomfortably shackled to one another. The two must overcome their mutual hatred and develop a taste for teamwork if they want to continue their run for freedom. 97 Min. (1958)

AUGUST 3: KRAMER VS. KRAMER (Sony/Columbia)

After his wife walks out, a business executive must adjust to being a single dad. The award-winning drama of a family in crisis gave Dustin Hoffman (who was experiencing his own break-up at the time) the best role of his career. Until "Tootsie," that is. Meryl Streep got the part of the wayward spouse when Kate Jackson proved too busy with "Charlie's Angels." 8-year-old Justin Henry, as adorable little Billy, became the youngest Oscar nominee ever. He lost to one of the oldest, 78-year-old Melvyn Douglas. 105 Min. (1979)

AUGUST 10: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (UA/Provided by MGM)

Most everyone knows that this rousing, crowd-pleasing Western is a remake of the Japanese classic "Seven Samurai." Desperate Mexican farmers hire seven gunmen to handle the bandit problem that has been plaguing their village. When the vastly outnumbered, ragtag posse (Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, et al) is finally assembled, you can start shouting "adios banditos!" Elmer Bernstein's theme music is, well, ...magnificent. 128 Min. (1960) Panavision

AUGUST 17: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (Sony/Columbia)

Watch the skies! Richard Dreyfuss embarks on an obsessive quest for answers after witnessing a low-flying UFO. Legendary French director Francois Truffaut plays a scientist seeking communication with the (friendly?) aliens. Stephen Spielberg takes us from Mexico to Mongolia, from India to Indiana to show that we earthlings are not alone. The majestic musical score was Oscar-nominated, but double nominee John Williams lost to himself for "Star Wars." Pre CGI, "Encounters" is movie magic of the first kind. 132 Min. (1977) Panavision

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BRYANT PARK CORPORATION

Bryant Park Corporation (BPC), a private not-for-profit company, was founded in 1980 to renovate, finance and operate Bryant Park. BPC is funded by income from events, concessions and corporate sponsors, as well as an assessment on neighboring properties, and does not accept government or philanthropic monies. In addition to providing security and sanitation services, and tending the park's lush lawn and seasonal garden displays, BPC provides public amenities and activities, including movable chairs and tables, cafe umbrellas, restaurants, food kiosks, world-class restrooms, and a wide range of free events throughout the year. The park is visited by over 4 million people per annum and is one of the busiest public spaces in the world. BPC's website, www.bryantpark.org, is available for more detailed information and a schedule of upcoming events.

   Press Contacts:   Suzanne Pinto, HBO   212-512-1904    Suzanne Giuliani   Time Warner Cable   212-598-7391    /PRNewswire -- May 15/  

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Source: HBO

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Profile: International Entertainment