Franklin Avenue

Oh-oh-OH-oh-oh---oh-oh-OH-OH---oh-oh-OH-oh-oh...The Right Stuff
Jessica recently attended the American Cinematheque screening of space race movie classic "The Right Stuff" and files this report:

"There was a time when "The Right Stuff" was never confused with a New Kids on the Block song. I got to relive those days at the Egyptian Theater on Monday night when the American Cinematheque held a screening in honor of the movie's 20th anniversary and two-disc special edition DVD release.

"It was a HUGE cast and crew reunion, including Ed Harris, Barbara Hershey, Scott Glenn, Kathy Baker, Veronica Cartwright, Jeff Goldblum, Harry Shearer, Scott Wilson, Pamela Reed, Scott Paulin and Lance Henriksen. Director Philip Kaufman and the film's cinematographer and producers were also there. In the audience were Amy Madigan (Ed Harris' wife) and Stockard Channing (for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why she was there).

"The highlight of the evening, though, had to be seeing astronaut Gordy Cooper and flying legend Chuck Yeager. Yeager really stole the show during the Q&A with his flying tales. Both he and Cooper said that they thought the film was true to life and were pleased with the results.

"The movie was fantastic, but to be honest it was a bit of an odd evening. If you've ever been to the Cinematheque you know what sort of collegial atmosphere it has. It's nondiscriminatory. Anyone who likes films is welcome, and everyone's treated equally. This time out, the organizers had put out a nice spread (appetizers, sandwiches, etc.) in the lobby. You literally had to walk past the food to get into the theater. But you weren't allowed to eat it. No, no. Never mind that people had been waiting in line for hours or that they'd now be sitting through a 193-minute movie plus a Q&A. They had guards standing in front of the food. Food that was, I guess, reserved for their special guests. But I sure didn't see any of the honored guests eating anything.

"The common folk were eventually 'rewarded,' however. As we walked out of the screening, still sitting on the table were hundreds of leftover turkey and roast beef sandwiches that the unspecial guests were able to grab."

Thanks, Jess! I've got to get that DVD... I have no recollection of Jeff Goldblum and Harry Shearer in the movie (or for that matter, much else!).