a night among the stars

the sun is setting over the la skyline, somewhere past the pier of santa monica and the sand of venice beach. i look around, and the flicker of candles softly illuminate the smiling conversations of many who are settling into their low-slung chairs, cuddling with cozy blankets, and enjoying the delectable eats set on tiny tables. it becomes darker, and i barely notice a small shimmer or a sparkle: a wine glass, raised in a toast as if a harbinger of the cool autum months to come. perhaps it is the reflection from a beaded tablecloth set beneath a sumptuos spread of salads, cheeses, and devilishly delicious desserts.

everyone sits in close quarters, equally warmed by his own blanket as by the neighbors who set up camp only inches away. the sun sets completely, and i feel as though it is a sign of the setting of summer. still, the merriment continues by starlight and candlelight, as lightly pulsing music becomes the backdrop for the chilly night's affair. conversation and laughter echo off the myriad marble monuments, a forshadow of the night's purpose.

hundreds are gathered together on the lush green lawn of hollywood forever cemetery saturday night, celebrating the end of summer and simultaneously commemorating films of the past and the stars who made them great. tonight, we are gathered to watch the billy wilder's 1960 flick the apartment,
a light-hearted romantic comedy that ushered that fabulous groovy decade. although i have attended outdoor screenings before, never have i witnessed outdoor decadence of such casual magnatude. truly, i feel that i have forgotten to call in the catering truck and neglected to bring my cashmere throws.


this is the last month of the summer season of films a the cemetery. hosted by a film society called cinespia, the lineup typically includes classic films that are widely reputable or have been all but forgotten. it is obvous by the crowds attendance and participation, however, that these films have hardly disappeared.

the film offers plenty for audience appreciation. when jack lemmon proclaims he makes $50 a week as an insurance accountant, an angeleno--mired in the web of the entertainment industry, no doubt--shouts out from the crowd "so do i!" the crowd boos at the misfortune of jack lemmon's character, while cheering for the triumphant empowerment of shirley maclaine, as she walks away from her scandalous boss and lover. and nothing could better capture the essence of the night than the erupting cheer as shirley maclaine states "I was jinxed from the word go. The first time I was ever kissed was in a cemetery."