The Best Classic Movies Showing in Miami in April

Miami is flourishing with theaters that showcase classic cinema on a regular basis. It's gotten to the point where it's practically impossible to keep track of how many there really are, to the point where March's list became incomplete due to new additions throughout. As such, for April, we're taking a different approach. This time, we'll highlight some of the coolest events playing throughout the city in the back half of this month.

1. The films of Jean Cocteau
Throughout the month of April, the films of auteur Jean Cocteau have been playing at the beach, not at one location, but two! While the April 2nd screening of Le sang d'un poète (Blood of a Poet) was at the start of the month, there are still a few remaining that you can't miss. The Miami Beach SoundScape at New World Center presents his 1946 adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. You can watch one of the filmmaker's most popular hits for free this week on Thursday, April 16, at 8 p.m., 

The Miami Beach Cinematheque will be closing the month out with a screening of Cocteau's last film, Le Testament de Orphée (Testament of Orpheus) on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. The film follows an 18-century poet who travels through time for divine wisdom. Tickets are $8-11 and the film will be preceded by a "Culture Click" visual essay with live elements by Barron Sherer.


2. Coral Gables Art Cinema's After Hours
There are two films left in this series four film program, and they're both pretty much perfect. The first - one of very few classics showing directed by a woman -  is Amy Heckerling's Clueless. Anyone who lived through the 90s should have seen this by now, but if you haven't, I can't emphasize just how enjoyable it really is.

The other is one of Ridley Scott's masterpieces, Blade Runner, in its most pristine edition (aka: The Final Cut). While it was initially set to show on 35mm, the booking was pulled with no explanation other than the fact that showing it on film instead of DCP was "a hot topic with the director right now." It's a shame, but the DCP is sure to look gorgeous and watching the film on the big screen is a win no matter how it's projected. The films will be showing on April 18th and 25, respectively. Tickets are $5. 

3. The Family Fun
O Cinema is constantly mixing it up with their line-ups across three locations, and one particular delight is their selection of family friendly movies playing at two their locations. In April, there's three in total and all of 'em are well-worth checking out - and happening within the span of just four days. The first, at O Cinema Wynwood as part of their Cine Al Fresco series - which is free to the public - is on Saturday, April 25th, at 7 p.m. and the fantastic animated film choice is The Iron Giant.

The following day, Sunday, April 26 at 11 p.m., over at their Miami Shores location, is Steven Spielberg's E.T. Tickets are $5 for kids and $8 for adults. And last, but certainly not least, is the monthly Popcorn Nights screening back at Wynwood on Tuesday, April 28th at 9p.m. This month, they'll be screening one of Tim Burton's best, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, for its 30th anniversary. Tickets are $12.

4. The Gay Stuff
Here's a delightful double feature that we could have never expected this month. At the Coral Gables Art Cinema, there's a special 15th anniversary celebration for one of Julian Schnabel's fascinating films. While we'd normally keep the cut-off to '99, Schnabel's well-known Before Night Falls — starring Javier Bardem & Johnny Depp — on 35mm is worth highlighting. More importantly, it's also includes a Skype Q&A with the director himself on the Tuesday, April 21, screening. Tickets are $7-11.50.

Over at the beach, with the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival going on, there's something even more exciting in terms of queer cinema. In 1998, Mark Christopher's film 54 premiered to audiences everywhere in an incredibly compromised form. Today, Christopher has managed to essentially completely re-do his very own film, making it as queer and interesting as it always should have been. On Thursday, April 30, at 9 p.m., Miami will be getting the director's cut of the film as part of MGLFF. Tickets are $13. 


5. Some Bonus Free Stuff
While everything else has fit nicely into a little category, here's a few choices that must be mentioned, but couldn't find a proper home. Shirley's at Gramps has one more free film for the month, and it's pretty much the perfect film for a Tuesday: Labyrinth shows April, 21 at 11 p.m. Everybody could use more of David Bowie in their life, and also some good old Henson magic.

Speaking of movies with fantastic music in them, over at the Soundscape on Thursday, April 23rd, is one of filmmaker Jacques Demy's best musicals (and one of the best musicals ever period): Les Parapluie de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg). Let yourself get swept away by it under the night sky, and hope it doesn't rain enough to need one of the film's umbrellas. 

Follow Juan Barquin on Twitter @woahitsjuanito