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Clark Park's movie series kicks off with 'Casablanca'

Clark Park Movie Series Fridays through Sept. 18, Clark Park, Chester Avenue and 43d Street, beginning at dusk. Movies al fresco in University City's happening public common, with an obscure 1940s title, Casablanca - starring some guy named Bogart, some dame named Bergman - showing Friday.

What do "Casablanca," "Notorious," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Invisible Man" have in common? Claude Rains (second from left in "Casablanca," above, with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman). For decades, he lived near Philadelphia, in such places as Lambertville, N.J., Glen Mills, West Bradford Township, West Chester and Bucks County. ""Hollywood to me is a place to work. Home is Chester County," said the London-born actor who became captain of a Scottish regiment in World War I.
What do "Casablanca," "Notorious," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Invisible Man" have in common? Claude Rains (second from left in "Casablanca," above, with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman). For decades, he lived near Philadelphia, in such places as Lambertville, N.J., Glen Mills, West Bradford Township, West Chester and Bucks County. ""Hollywood to me is a place to work. Home is Chester County," said the London-born actor who became captain of a Scottish regiment in World War I.Read more
    by Steven Rea | Columnist
    Published 

Clark Park Movie Series Fridays through Sept. 18, Clark Park, Chester Avenue and 43d Street, beginning at dusk. Movies al fresco in University City's happening public common, with an obscure 1940s title, Casablanca - starring some guy named Bogart, some dame named Bergman - showing Friday.

The next week, it's Little Shop of Horrors, the classic 1986 man-eating plant musical starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, and some early Saturday Night Live stars.

A serious change in tone and tenor is in order for Sept. 11, as Ava DuVernay's 2015 Oscar best picture nominee Selma, with David Oyelowo as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is screened.

And Christopher Guest's not-quite-deadpan parody of dog show culture, 2000's Best in Show, wraps up the series on Sept. 18. In the immortal words of Cookie Fleck, "Did somebody put something down here so I would trip?" Bring your pooch along!

Food purveyors for the Clark Park cinefest include Chewy's, Pitruco Pizza, Samosa Deb, and Weckerly's Ice Cream. Arrive early, bring blankets and lawn chairs, enjoy.