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It's occurred to me that RailForum readers in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas might like to know about an interesting movie-viewing opportunity that will take place on Thursday, May 26 at the AFI (American Film Institute) Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland. On that evening at 6:25, there will be a screening of the 1972 Sam Peckinpah movie _The Getaway_, starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw, at the AFI Silver Theatre at 8633 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. This movie includes a lengthy sequence that gives an at least somewhat realistic depiction of train travel of that era in the Southwest. (Undoubtedly there are some of the usual laughable inaccuracies as well, though my memory of the movie isn't detailed enough for me to be able to say what those inaccuracies might be.) This movie, which is being shown as part of the AFI Silver's May-June Peckinpah Showcase, is rarely shown in revival theaters, so this will be an almost unique opportunity to see it on a fairly large or even a truly large screen (depending on which of the theater's auditoriums the management decides to show it in), and in its original 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio (i.e., with the whole original wide picture displayed). (Note that the theater's program guide, _AFI Preview_, incorrectly gives the date as "Thu, May 22" above the film synopsis on page 12; this mistake occurs both in the printed version and in the pdf version at http://www.afi.com/silver/new/nowplaying/preview/afipreview.pdf. _AFI Preview_ does, however, give the date correctly on its film calendar on page 9.) You can check out the listing for the film on the Peckinpah Showcase page at http://www.afi.com/silver/new/nowplaying/2005/v2i3/peckinpah.aspx.
The AFI Silver Theatre is a short walk up Colesville Road from the Silver Spring Metrorail/Metrobus/MARC station. Convenient and abundant parking is available in a nearby municipal garage. See http://www.afi.com/silver/new/about/directions.aspx for details about directions and parking.
RailForum readers who are sure they want to see the film would be well advised to prepurchase their tickets online, preferably a day or more before the showing. This will (1) maximize the possibility that the management will show the film in an auditorium big enough to handle the number of patrons who will come (they wait until relatively shortly before showtime to decide which auditorium to use, based to a large extent on ticket prepurchases); and (2) minimize the possibility of a last-minute long line at the box office. Be sure to have the credit card you used for the online prepurchase with you when you arrive at the box office to pick the tickets up! To do a prepurchase, go to the film's synopsis--either by going to the Peckinpah Showcase page, or by clicking on the film's title in the alphabetical film listing or on the calendar--and then click on "BUY TICKETS".
There were two previous showings of this film in the AFI Silver's Peckinpah Showcase, the first on May 20 at 8:50 p.m. and the second on May 21 at 9:20 p.m., and I apologize to RailForum readers for not thinking to let them know about those. About a week and a half ago I sent messages about the three showings to some local NRHS chapters, hoping that they might disseminate the information to their membership; but it didn't occur to me at the time to also use RailForum to inform the rail enthusiast community.
Tanner929 Member # 3720
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I'm not in the area but I'll have to rent the film and take a closer look. I love Steve McQueen films, I'm suprised it hasn't been on AMC. They have been showing "The Cinncinnatti Kid" and "The Thomas Crowne Affair." Train travel in movies today is only shown in comedies and well one Steven Seagal Movie.
Tanner929 Member # 3720
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A Movie that has a Amtrak sub-story is Spike Lee's Movie "Clockers." Strike ,a low level drug dealer in a Brooklyn, NY housing project has a model train hobby, and plays old documentary tapes of a South Pacific Locomotive. In the final scenes Strike is made to leave town. Harvey Kietel tells him he is going to drive him to the Port Authority Bus Depot. Strike tells the Dectective to drive him to Penn Station. Strike enters the station on the 8th Ave side. The entrance has all the granduar of entering a bargin basement department store. The final scenes are Strike traveling on The Southwest Chief.
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