Hundred’s vote for this year’s Outdoor Cinema film choices

Almost 1,000 movie lovers have voted to decide the two films that are shown at this year’s popular Outdoor Cinema in Tamworth Castle Grounds.

Votes were cast online and via social media after members of the public were invited to choose from a shortlist the films they would most like to see on a big screen in the great outdoors this summer.

The winning movies have now been revealed as Bohemian Rhapsody, which came out on top with 232 votes for the earlier 9pm slot, to be followed by a showing of Beetlejuice at 11.55pm, chosen by 85 people.

Tickets for this year’s Outdoor Cinema on Saturday, August 10, went on sale from Valentine’s Day (February 14), priced at £10 per screening.  Anyone wishing to attend is advised to get in early as tickets are expected to sell out quickly.

Bohemian Rhapsody was released just last October 2018 as a biographical film about the British rock band Queen. It follows singer Freddie Mercury's life from his joining the band in 1970 to their Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium in 1985. Produced by Graham King and Queen Manager Jim Beach, it stars Rami Malek as Mercury, with Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech, and Mike Myers in supporting roles. Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor served as creative and musical consultants.

The release of the film coincided with commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the band Queen. It soon became a major box office success, achieving the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2018 worldwide and setting the all-time box office records for the biopic and drama genres.

Bohemian Rhapsody has already received numerous accolades, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Malek and the film won Best Motion Picture – Drama at the 76th Golden Globe Awards, plus a BAFTA Award for Best British Film.

The midnight film choice is the classic 1988 film Beetlejuice, an American comedy-fantasy film directed by Tim Burton. The plot revolves around a recently deceased young couple played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, who become ghosts haunting their former home. An obnoxious, devious demon named Betelgeuse (pronounced and spelt Beetlejuice in the movie) portrayed by Michael Keaton, arrives from the Netherworld to try and scare away the new inhabitants played by Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, and Winona Ryder.

Beetlejuice was a critical and commercial success. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and three Saturn Awards - Best Horror Film, Best Makeup, and Best Supporting Actress for Sylvia Sidney, her final award before her death in 1999.

The film’s huge success has led to video games releases, animated television series and a even a stage musical.

This will be a silent screening and headphones will be provided.

Cllr John Chesworth, Cabinet member for Culture and Operational Services, said:  “The Outdoor Cinema has been a hugely popular event in the seven years since it was added to the annual outdoor events programme. The past three years we decided to give audiences the chance to choose the films they wanted to watch under the stars and the event subsequently ended up as a sell-out.

“We decided to open it out to the public again and have been amazed at the response with a total of 938 people taking the opportunity to have their say. Due to the popular success of this event, I would urge anyone who would like to attend to book their tickets straight away to avoid disappointment.”

Cinema goers are invited to take warm blankets and a picnic, although food and drink will be on sale during both events. No glass, gazebos or alcohol are to be taken on site, but a licensed bar will be available throughout.

Gates open 45 minutes prior to Bohemian Rhapsody and 15 minutes before Beetlejuice. Entrance is by ticket only and both movies are for audiences aged 18 and over, due to licensing restrictions.

Tickets are available online at www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk, in person from Tamworth Information Centre in Marmion House, Lichfield Street, or by calling the Box Office on 01827 709618. A transaction fee of £1 is payable on all online and telephone bookings.

The Outdoor Cinema is just one element of a packed programme of outdoor events that has been confirmed for 2019. The full line up will be revealed soon.