Last month, the Asbury Park Movie Club (APMC) traveled to The Barrymore Film Center (BFC) in Fort Lee New Jersey, America’s first film town. Fox, Paramount and Universal all had studios in Fort Lee. The BFC is located in one of those original studios dating back to 1910. Although most studios moved westward to California, the film labs and warehouses were still used by movie companies until recently.
The APMC was treated to a private tour of vintage movie posters collected by Richard Koszarski, who recently acquired a Sarah Bernhardt poster for nearly a million dollars. In addition to changing the collection of movie memorabilia, the BFC screens rare and famous films throughout the year. The APMC viewed The Bicycle Thief, (1948), Director Vittorio De Sica. The film is a key work in the movement called Italian neorealism. The film won Best International Feature Film that year.
The Asbury Park Movie Club (APMC), based at The Showroom Cinema on Cookman, is celebrating their two-year anniversary and goal of watching all ninety-seven Best Picture films. Each Wednesday, founders Marc and Casey Caruso screen films for their friends and fellow cinephiles. The group has seen every Academy Award winner from Wings (1927) Directed by William Wellman to Oppenheimer (2023) Directed by Christopher Nolan.
“Our daughter went to college, and we became empty nesters, so came up with this idea for movie club,” said Casey. Husband Marc agrees, “It’s been an amazing journey to watch films in the format they were meant to be seen and in the cinema with other people.”
Marc and Casey organize the screenings and rental payments to The Showroom, but the evenings themselves include input from members. Each week, a different member introduces the film, and a discussion follows. Marc often hosts a trivia quiz, and prizes are given to the winners. Members often dress as movie characters from the film being shown.
Our daughter went to college, and we became empty nesters, so came up with this idea for movie club. It’s been an amazing journey to watch films in the format they were meant to be seen and in the cinema with other people.
Marc and Casey Caruso
Member Christine Duggan says, “I always wanted to watch every movie that won Best Picture, so when I heard about APMC, I had to come. The best thing about the movie club are the discussions and conversations afterwards.”
I always wanted to watch every movie that won Best Picture, so when I heard about APMC, I had to come. The best thing about the movie club are the discussions and conversations afterwards.
Christine Duggan
Rare Vintage Movie Posters
Although APMC’s Best Picture Series is almost finished, the Wednesday screenings will continue. “We are working with The Showroom to show second run pictures around a theme, such as best summer films, or favorite 80’s movies,” says Casey.
For movie times and schedules, find Asbury Park Movie Club on Facebook and Instagram.