BY KAREN BOSSICK
Duck out of the heat and into the cool of the Magic Lantern Cinemas for a free doubleheader.
The movie theater is screening two baseball classics—“Bull Durham” and “A League of Their Own”—free of charge through Thursday.
“A League of Their Own” is a grand-slam comic drama that focuses on the little-known all-women’s league. Just as Rosy the Riveter leant her talent to America’s factories, professional women took the field when the World War II draft scooped up the country’s male baseball players.
The movie stars Tom Hanks, who has a home in Sun Valley; Geena Davis, who was a hit at the Sun Valley Film Festival a few years ago; Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna.
“Saturday Night Live’s” Jon Lovitz leads off the first act with a riotous performance as a surly, vulgar talent recruiter, notes Magic Lantern Cinemas owner Rick Kessler, a big student of the movies.
“The film delivers not just uproariously hilarious laughs, but also, tender dramatic moments authentically showing the struggles women faced in the era. And it’s rated PG!” he said.
“Bull Durham,” which stars Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tom Robbins, gives viewers a glimpse into the sport’s underbelly under the lens of a steamy love triangle between two minor league baseball players and the sport’s biggest fan, said Kessler. Ron Shelton, who wrote and directed the film, displays an affection for the national pastime, visible in the knowing detail he brings to even the minor characters.
Unfortunately, the Magic Lantern has no hot dogs or Cracker Jacks. But it does have plenty of cold beer, soda and popcorn at the concession stand.