On July 15 and 17, the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) screened Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) in 35 mm film. The feature starred Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Brian Backer, and Robert Romanus. The media gallery presented the movie as part of their See It Big: Summer Movies collection.
The museum’s “See It Big” series screened classic movies. Curator of Film Eric Hynes, Associate Curator of Film Edo Choi, and Reverse Shot editors Michael Koresky and Jeff Reichert chose films spanning the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Movies included Jaws (1975, 35mm), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), The Omen (1976), Star Wars (1977), The Rescuers (1977), Blow Out (1981, 35mm), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 35mm), The Green Ray (Le rayon vert) (1986, 35mm), Beat Street (1984, 35mm), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Risky Business (1983, 35mm), and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) had a bold storyline.
High schooler Stacy Hamilton wanted to start dating. Her older and more experienced friend, Linda Barrett, gave her advice. At first, Stacy lied about her age and went out with an older man. The two made out at the baseball dugout. After the date, he never called Stacy. Linda suggested that Stacy should date around.
She met two different boys at the mall. Simple man Mark Ratner worked at the movie theatre. His friend, Mike Damone, achieved notoriety as a ticket scalper. Stacy fell in love with Damone, while Ratner battled for her attention. Stacy invited Damone to swim at her house.
The two had sex in the pool house. Quickly, Damone satisfied himself and abandoned Stacy on the couch. The next day, he ignored her at school. Instead, he flirted with other attractive girls. Unfortunately, Stacy had news for him.
Damone laughed with a pretty girl by the bleachers. He held scalped tickets in his hand. To his chagrin, Stacy approached him. He informed her of the tickets’ high price. She demanded to speak to him anyways. By the fence, she told him that she was pregnant.
The pair reluctantly made a plan: Stacy would get an abortion. Damone agreed to pay the $150 fee at the free clinic. He said, “Well, it’s not really free.” Stacy seemed uncomfortable with his snide remark. The two concurred about a specific date.
Later in the film, the date came around. Medium shots showed Stacy waiting at her house. In a close-up shot, Stacy phoned Damone’s house. She heard that he working with his dad on a car in the garage. It disappointed Stacy. Then, she heard her brother pulling out of the driveway.
Her brother dropped her off at the bowling alley. In close-up shots, he watched Stacy run across the street. He followed her to the clinic. The film did not show the procedure itself. Instead, it showed the aftermath.
In a medium shot, Stacy waited on a bed. She wore a green hospital gown. The nurse refused to let her go without a ride home. Stacy lied that her boyfriend waited downstairs in a car. She saw her brother in the parking lot.
She begged him not to tell their parents, to which he agreed. The plotline represented a delicate issue. It showed people how to support others who have gotten abortions. Additionally, it showed the consequences of teen pregnancies.
Ratner still loved Stacy. He heard about Stacy’s involvement with Damone. In the school locker room, he yelled at Damone. The movie had a hilarious side plot.
Surfer and stoner Jeff Spicoli slacked off at school. His strict history teacher, Mr. Hand, despised his attitude. The two argued for the entire school year, with one scene becoming iconic.
Spicoli arrived late to class again. Mr. Hand stopped the lesson and inquired about the matter. Spicoli said that he didn’t know why he showed up late. His teacher repeated the phrase, saying “I like that.” He wrote the words on the chalkboard for everyone to see. On July 22, MoMI’s See It Big: Summer Movies collection will end.
On July 21, the museum will screen Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) and Body Heat (1981). On July 22, they will show La Bamba (1987). The gallery plans to show the Infinite Beauty: Muslim and Menasa Identity On Screen series.
The collection will showcase iconic Muslim people in the cinema. On July 22 and 23, the exhibition will show Joyland (2022). MoMI has the upcoming New Adventures in Nonfiction collection as well.
It will highlight dynamic, unpredictable, and intelligent nonfiction movies. On July 21, the museum will show Users (2021). The museum has its ongoing Las Premieres series too.
It will show previews of upcoming Latin American and U.S. Latinx films. On July 23, the gallery will screen Narcissus Off Duty (2020). On August 20, MoMI will display Jesús López (2021). The museum has its ongoing Real Rap: Hip-Hop Star Power On Screen series as well.
It showcases hip-hop stars in cinema. It shows how musicians have transformed pop culture and music genres. On July 28 and 29, the gallery will screen New Jack City (1991). Also on July 29, the museum will display Belly (1998).