Summer's here, and will be gone before we know it! For many people the summer season stirs up the desire to roam, from family vacations to personal cross-country road trips. But if you won't be able to hop in the car and engage in a summertime adventure, don't worry – and, your loved ones and your friends can get all of the fun (with none of the gas expense) by screening a festival of classic road movies on your outdoor theater system. Here are some suggestions to get your engines revving.
Easy Rider
Nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar in 1969, this landmark film follows a pair of young misfits as they ride toward California on their Harleys in a countercultural search for “America.” With a talent pool including Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, co-screenwriter Terry Southern and (of course) music by Steppenwolf, you'll feel “Born to Be Wild.”
Thelma & Louise
This road movie directed by Ridley Scott has grown in reputation from controversial to classic since its initial release in 1991. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon offer a feminist take on the tried-and-true buddy movie formula as they set out on a weekend getaway and end up in a marathon of trouble from Arkansas to the Grand Canyon.
Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Hitchhikers of all ages will have a lot of laughs accompanying Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) on his quest, first to San Antonio and then to Hollywood, to recover his stolen bicycle. This crazy road trip adventure was Tim Burton's first feature film.
The Road to Morocco
Bob Hope and Bing Crosby use camel power to get them through the desert to Morocco following a shipwreck, where of course they run into Dorothy Lamour. This classic 1940s comedy is one of the highlights of this comedy duo's six “Road to...” movies.
