IOWA CITY - What could be better than watching a
classic film outdoors on a beautiful summer night?
Especially when it's free.

The screen from the Englert Theater hangs between the columns of MacBride Hall on the historic Pentacrest on the University of Iowa campus, where movie images delight and entertain the public. The grassy lawn provides ample space for the audience, although everyone is encouraged to bring chairs or blankets.

This is the basic premise behind Iowa City's weekly summer event, The Saturday Night Free Movie Series.

Realizing the summer was nearly over, I decided to go to the August 26th screening of the classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Local Musicians Entertain the Crowd

I arrived at the Pentacrest early in the evening, shortly after seven. A dozen people had already gathered, attracted by the live music. University of Iowa students Greg Thompson and Emily Ginsberg were performing covers of popular songs in addition to original compositions. Ginsberg is the daughter of M.C. Ginsberg, one of the founders and ongoing sponsors of The Saturday Night Free Movie Series. Thompson sang and played the acoustic guitar, with Ginsberg accompanying him both with vocals and on the hand drum. Their songs were smooth and melodic, with Thompson's vocal style reminiscent of the popular singer/songwriter Jack Johnson.

Providing a low-key performance, Thompson and Ginsberg possessed just their instruments, microphones, and stools for sitting. I especially enjoyed their original pieces containing quirky lyrics and soothing melodies. The movie screen behind them remained a neutral grey, blending with the darkened sky in the background.

Thompson and Ginsberg took a break and I returned twenty minutes later to find the performance had resumed. I found myself wishing I had brought something to sit on. But the music was so good I stayed to listen to a couple of songs, one of which Thompson dedicated to a member of the audience. I then left to grab a lawn chair. This absence, however, took a little longer than I had anticipated.

The Outdoor Movie Experience

By the time I returned, the music portion of the night had ended and a respectable crowd had gathered on the lawn. Rows of lawn chairs transformed the once open space into an outdoor theatre. It took me a while but I finally found a spot that allowed a clear view of the projection screen. It was almost completely dark, and it wasn't long before the screen was illuminated and the film began.

I have seen the DVD version of Raiders of the Lost Ark several times before, but it was much better projected on a large screen. It was also interesting to watch the movie with an audience and see everyone react to their favorite parts, some even quoting lines along with the characters.

Although I initially worried that the outside setting of the movie might be a problem, I was pleasantly surprised to find that neither the street lights nor the surrounding sounds distracted from the viewing. In fact, sitting outside made the experience even better because of the cool temperature and the scenic background.

Overall, I found both the music and movie portions of the night to be very entertaining and rewarding. It's a wonderfully relaxing way to spend a Saturday evening and I definitely plan to attend future screenings.

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