Lights, camera, Arizona! The city of Peoria has announced the lineup for the 2nd annual Made in Arizona Film Series, where local moviegoers can enjoy five classic films with a connection to the Grand Canyon State.
Screenings are at 11 a.m., on the second Saturday of the month, from June through October, in the Willow Room of the Peoria Main Library, 8463 W. Monroe Street.
Every screening begins with a short introduction and wraps up with a post-film discussion led by Jeannie Berg, film and media production faculty member within the arts & humanities department at Glendale Community College.
It is free to attend the film series. Reservations are not required but seating is limited and first come, first served. For more information, visit www.peoriaaz.gov/specialevents.
· June 14 – The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
Bing Crosby reprises his role as Father O'Malley in this beloved sequel to Going My Way, filmed in part at St. Mary’s Church in Phoenix. The film follows a compassionate priest and a spirited nun as they work to save a failing inner-city school.
· July 12 – Oklahoma! (1955)
Though set in the Midwest, the Rogers and Hammerstein classic musical was filmed in the scenic Arizona countryside. A romance blossoms on the frontier in this timeless tale of love, land, and community.
· Aug. 9 – McClintock (1963)
Starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, this western-comedy was filmed at Old Tucson Studios. The movie offers laughs and lessons as a wealthy rancher wrangles not only livestock, but also his estranged wife and spirited daughter.
· Sept. 13 – Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
Directed by Martin Scorsese and shot in Tucson, this poignant drama follows a widow’s cross-country journey to start a new life. Ellen Burstyn won an Academy Award for her portrayal of a woman reclaiming her voice and future.
· Oct. 11 – Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)
This teen romantic comedy, filmed in Tucson, is an '80s cult classic. When a high school nerd pays a popular cheerleader to pretend to date him, the line between real and fake romance gets hilariously blurred.
