One Colorado 'Blonde Film Festival' Begins Friday Night

One Colorado presents a four-week film festival of eight Marilyn Monroe classics projected outdoors in the One Colorado Courtyard in the heart of Old Pasadena every Friday and Saturday night in July starting July 9 at 8:30 p.m. All movie screenings are free and open to the public. Seating is provided.

All films are digital and are projected onto a 30-foot screen on the two-story Crate & Barrel building.

July 9

“Niagara” | 1953, Not Rated, 87 minutes, Starring Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten

An enjoyable thriller in the Hitchcock mode, this film delivers noir aesthetic, splashy locations and haunting 1950s psychology. Monroe and her unstable husband (Cotten) honeymoon at Niagara while the new bride, in her voluptuous ennui, plans a watery escape. Director Henry Hathaway artfully integrates the brute power of the Falls into his nail-biting climax.

July 10

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” | 1953, not rated, 97 minutes, starring Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn

Based on the novel by Anita Loos and directed by Howard Hawks “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is a glittering musical fantasy that follows two sassy lounge singers (Russell and Monroe) as they tantalize suitors on two continents in their pursuit of eligible men. Monroe plays fortune hunter Lorelei Lee of “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend” fame.

July 16

“How to Marry a Millionaire” | 1953, not rated, 105 minutes, starring Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable

A pre-feminist comedy that focuses on the New York struggles of three young women in their efforts to snag and marry rich men. They rent a swanky penthouse and use it as their launch pad to lure potential husbands. Pola Debevoise (Monroe) is near-sighted but refuses to wear glasses in front of men, which leads to some sticky situations. Also stars William Powell and Rory Calhoun.

July 17

“There’s no Business Like Show Business” | 1954, not rated, 118 minutes, starring Marilyn Monroe, Donald O’Conner, Ethel Merman

Directed by Walter Lang, the story centers on the Donahues who tour with their children as vaudeville performers. After son Tim (O’Connor) meets Vicky the hat-check girl (Monroe), the family act begins to fall apart. Best known for its lavish, splashy production numbers built around the Irving Berlin songbook, the film includes the famous Merman title song and “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody.” Also stars Mitzi Gaynor and Johnnie Ray.

July 23

“The Seven Year Itch” | 1955, not rated, 110 minutes, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell

A married man left in the City by his family one hot summer fantasizes madly about a voluptuous blond (Monroe) who moves in upstairs. Tom Ewell reprises his Broadway role as the itchy, temporarily single husband whose vivid imagination gets the better of him. Directed by Billy Wilder, the smoothly crafted comedy includes the now iconic image of Monroe billowing over the subway updraft.

July 24

“Bus Stop” | 1956, Not Rated, 105 minutes, starring Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray

This comedy-drama directed by Joshua Logan and based on the stage play by Walter Inge depicts an innocent rodeo cowboy Bo who falls for Cherie, a saloon singer (Monroe). The cowboy decides he wants to marry her without bothering to ask, and can’t understand why this experienced woman won’t take him seriously.

July 30

“Some Like it Hot” | 1959, not rated, 122 minutes, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon

This Billy Wilder cross-dressing comedy follows Josephine and Daphne (Curtis and Lemmon) and their many mishaps on the run from the Chicago mob. Their cover as members of an all-girl band is perfect until a lovelorn singer falls for “Josephin,”, an ancient playboy falls for “Daphne,” and the pursuing mob boss refuses to fall for any of it. Monroe gives a memorable performance as Sugar Kane. Picked funniest film of the century by the American Film Institute, 2000.

July 31

“The Misfits” | 1961, not rated, 125 minutes, starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift

Written by Marilyn’s former husband, playwright Arthur Miller and directed by John Huston, “Misfits” follows disillusioned divorcee Roslyn Taber (Monroe) and her brooding cowboy friends on the rodeo circuit. The film stars Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift, and marks the last movie appearances of Gable and Monroe.

One Colorado is an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment destination that spans one city block in the heart of Old Pasadena. This award-winning property unites the authentic urban environment of 17 historic buildings with 40 contemporary fashion and dining attractions.

The One Colorado Courtyard has been transformed into a communal gathering, performance and screening venue along the European model of piazzas and town squares.

Surrounded on four sides by turn-of-the-century architecture, lively patios, restaurants and specialty shops, the Courtyard’s enhancements now include café-style seating under wide market umbrellas, a full stage with light and sound and decorative iron-work planters that enclose the audience and allow for table service.

Already the cultural center of Old Pasadena, the Courtyard is host to a number of popular film festivals (such the Alfred Hitchcock Film Festival in 2002 and James Bond in 2003), live swing and salsa concerts, high quality fine art markets and site-specific art installations curated by the Armory Center for the Arts.

One Colorado is located on Colorado Blvd. between Union, Fair Oaks Avenue and DeLacey. Convenient parking is located in the adjacent multi-level structure at Fair Oaks and Union.

The general public is asked to call 626-564-1066 for more information.