THERE are several reasons why there are only three countries hosting the Sun Festival each year.
But really, all I’m curious about are the free movies we get to watch. This year, the theme is GREAT CLASSICS UNDER THE STARS @ SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS, which means “oldies but goldies with Alfred Hitchcock and Gene Kelly”. Anyway, here’s what you’ll get:
Oct 30: NORTH BY NORTHWEST.
One of Alfred Hitchcock’s cool thrillers with some memorable scenes like Cary Grant being chased by a crop duster in the middle of nowhere (copied many a time in other movies). Or Cary Grant fighting on top of Mount Rushmore (something that National Treasure 2 paid tribute to). Or Eva Marie Saint as the beautiful but scheming femme. And yes, ”after over 40 years, this rip-racing adventure-thriller still packs a punch and looks superb on a big screen”.
Oc 31: DIAL M FOR MURDER.
Another Hitchcock masterpiece done very similar to the stage play in that there are very little set changes or outdoor shots, with almost the entire movie confined to one set. Interestingly, this movie was shot in 3-D.
Nov 5. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS.
Gene Kelly stars as an American. In Paris. Who sings and dances. It doesn’t sound like much, but the movie garnered six Oscars, including an honorary award to Gene Kelly. So there.
Nov 6. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN.
Who doesn’t know this song (although I personally prefer Good Morning) but this movie with Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor includes one of musical cinema’s most memorable (and widely copied) scene – Gene Kelly wielding an umbrella, while singing and dancing and mucking about while it rains.
All movies at the Botanic Gardens.
