More Art Films Indicate Wealth Is Being Spread

Though Edwards’ Big One in Irvine isn’t showing as many art films as the cognoscenti might like, the number of art movies at other Edwards theaters in Orange County has increased in the past year or so.

The Rancho Niguel in Laguna Niguel (where “The English Patient” is playing this week) has devoted one of its eight screens to the films. The theater didn’t start out that way, but the clientele proved supportive.

James Edwards can’t explain why the arty crowd goes there. “I’ve only been [in the business for] 67 years,” he quipped. “I’m still learning.”

He thinks it’s easy, though, to explain the popularity of art and subtitled films at the Edwards University, near UC Irvine: Students flock there--particularly, he said, those learning foreign languages. Often in the past year, as many as three of the theater’s six screens have been carrying art films.

Meanwhile, the South Coast Village theater in Santa Ana--which once was the only Edwards theater showing art films as a matter of course--continues to do so.

How has all this affected the Port in Corona del Mar and the Bay in Seal Beach, which have been showing art movies for years? Hasn’t hurt business, the operators say.

In fact, longtime Bay projectionist Dennis Addy says patrons often wait to see movies there that have opened earlier at the Edwards theaters. Edwards charges as much as $7. “We’re $6.50,” Addy said.

The Port? $6.75, max.