Going Out for Home Movies

Back in the day, mention of home movies got folks scattering as fast as they could. After all, who wanted to watch other family’s foibles or vacation videos on some flickering screen in a living room? But the term takes on a different meaning in the new “Santa Barbara Home Movies’’ series launching July 20 as part of the Granada Theatre’s centennial programming. Subtitled “Films by Artists and Performers Who Call Santa Barbara Home,” the series showcases cinema created by directors, writers, and/or actors who – yes – call the American Riviera home. 

The first movie, 1995’s Steal Big, Steal Little, was not only written and directed by longtime Santa Barbara resident Andrew Davis just two years after his seven-time Oscar-nominated The Fugitive, the film actually uses as its setting Santa Barbara and surrounding areas. The film’s opening scene was shot during the actual Solstice Parade on State Street, and with lots of other recognizable Santa Barbara locations and familiar faces, it’s truly a home movie. 

Davis and star Andy García, who plays dual roles in the film, will participate in a post-screening conversation, while Davis is also expected to join in when The Fugitive screens later in the series on November 23. In between, there’s a month of “Zemeckis Family Films” in August, when the Granada will revisit four of Academy-Award-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis’ smash hits on successive Saturdays, including Romancing the Stone (August 10) followed by a post screening conversation with Zemeckis, Back to the Future (August 17), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (August 24),and Forrest Gump (August 31). Zemeckis’ family classic, The Polar Express is booked for December 3. 

Prices for all screenings are a 2024 Granada Centennial special providing two tickets for $20.24. Visit www.granadasb.org.