Movies on the Grave

LAist went to a nighttime screening of "Butch Cassiday and the Sundance Kid" this past Saturday inside the gates and next to the mausoleums at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, courtesy of Cinespia.

Everyone pours into the gates when they open at 7:30 pm, bearing picnic baskets on their backs and heading to a wide green lawn. A DJ spins eclectic tunes (this Saturday it was foreign language versions of popular songs) while a slide show of foreign versions of old movie posters from Film Art Gallery plays on the side of the building that serves as the screen. The sound system is very impressive, and even at the back or on the far sides, you can catch all of the dialogue and sounds from the film. Entrance is a scant $10 charge, they have free parking (FREE parking, in Los Angeles!) inside the gates, and you can bring whatever you like to eat and drink. We also recommend some blankets and comfy pillows.

A real spirit of community permeates the entire area with everyone sitting down and having a large communal picnic. Wine flows, plates get passed, and candles are lit as the light fades away. Before long, the movie begins, and everyone sits back to enjoy it. 36 years later, Butch and Sundance still hold up well, with some of the most witty dialogue ever written. The event is a sort of a Woodstock for movies, without the nudity and mud.

This Saturday is a special treat, with Cinespia screening the classic "Sullivan's Travels", by Preston Sturges. Come see Veronica Lake and her famous hairstyle on the big screen. You won't be sorry.