With the days growing longer and spring in the air, there is no better time to start enjoying Philadelphia outside our academic hamlet here in University City than now. If you’re heading out to Old City for a little distance, any Penn film buff would tell you to drop in for a couple of hours at the Ritz Five, grab some tea and cookies, and enjoy a great movie. However, if nothing among the selection of independent films that are typically playing catches your eye, the Ritz has classic film showings every Tuesday at 7 p.m. When you’re in the mood for a little weekday getaway as the semester winds down, you can catch these showings throughout the month of April.
April 2 — The Lady Eve
This 1941 comedy follows Charles, an awkward snake expert and heir to a brewery fortune, who, while aboard an ocean liner, becomes a would–be con victim. Instead of falling prey to the con artist Jean Harrington, however, the two fall in love aboard the ship. As a result of this complication, a strange tale of disguises and deception unfolds. The Lady Eve is highly acclaimed for its comedic style, setting the bar for decades of romantic comedies to come.
April 9 — Chinatown
Chinatown is a 1974 neo–noir mystery, often heralded as one of the greatest films of all time. It begins with a woman hiring a private investigator, J.J. Gittes, who specializes in cheating spouse cases, to investigate her husband. Things are not all as they seem as Gittes finds himself in the middle of a web of lies and murder. This thriller would certainly bring a little grit and mayhem to your Tuesday evening.
April 16 — Dr. Strangelove
Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove is frequently cited as one of his best films. This 1968 Cold War Era staple is a black comedy thriller that satirizes its subject matter so well it has been lauded as one of the greatest political comedies of all time, certainly deserving of a big–screen viewing. Whether you’re a huge Kubrick fan hoping to catch one of your favorites on the big screen or just looking for something new, let this one ease you out of Fling weekend madness.
April 23 — The Godfather Part II
With finals creeping up on you fast, the tail–end of April is a great time to head out east to the Ritz and watch this incredible piece of cinema. Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part II stands up to the groundbreaking original, and stars Al Pacino and Robert de Niro. With a 200–minute runtime, you better clear out your Tuesday night for this 1974 gangster epic.
With the streets of Philadelphia hopping once again, there is no excuse not to spread your wings before summer is upon us. If you find yourself craving a little weekday adventure, grab the SEPTA and make an evening in Old City into a event with classic movie showings at the Ritz Five all month.
