Arts & Entertainment

'Movies and Music Under the Stars' Begins Saturday

The 10-week program opens with a special presentation and screening commemorating the 4th of July

Fort Lee’s annual “Movies and Music Under the Stars” kicks off Saturday evening at the ’s outdoor stage with a 4th of July weekend-themed program, featuring music by the Jumpers Orchestra and a screening of the 1949 WWII, John Wayne classic, Sands of Iwo Jima.

As will be the case throughout the Fort Lee Film Commission’s 10-week program, the music is from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and the movies start at sunset.

Saturday’s event will also include a special presentation by filmmaker Diane Hawkins, the niece of Marine Sgt. John Basilone. Hawkins will talk about her uncle's heroism and screen a trailer of a soon-to-be-released documentary about him that she produced.

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Basilone was a New Jersey native who was killed in action at Iwo Jima and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery at the battle of Guadalcanal. Thanks in large part to the lobbying efforts of Commander James Viola of the Fort Lee VFW, Basilone was also recently inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, said Fort Lee Film Commission executive director Tom Meyers. Basilone died in action on Iwo Jima.

Meyers described the Jumpers Orchestra as “a big band that plays songs from the 40s.”

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Meyers said the film commission has been doing the “Movies and Music Under the Stars” program for 10 years, and that members of the Fort Lee Film Commission select the movies to be screened each year over the course of a three-month period from January to March.

“I also have to see what is available regarding license fees of studios,” Meyers said. “We need to acquire the license to screen each film.”

In addition to Sands of Iwo Jima, this year’s screenings include the following recent films among many other notable ones:

  • The Social Network (2010) – July 9
  • True Grit (2010) – July 30
  • The Kings Speech (2010) – Aug. 6
  • Iron Man (2008) – Aug. 13

Aside from Saturday’s presentation by Hawkins, Meyers said another highlight of this year’s lineup will come on Aug. 20 with the screening of the Woody Allen film Broadway Danny Rose because “it will be preceded by a live on-stage interview with two stars from the film: legendary New York City radio and TV personality Joe Franklin and singer Nick Apollo Forte.”

“But overall the greatest achievement is in these difficult economic times providing a 10-week Saturday night program free to families, seniors and all residents of Fort Lee where they can meet their friends and let their kids play safely under the stars,” Meyers said.

“Movies & Music Under the Stars” takes place every Saturday through Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3) starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is limited so people are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. In the event of rain, programs will take place inside the community center. For more information and a complete schedule of films, visit the borough's website, read Meyers’ blog post on Patch or call 201-693-2763.


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