Picture the scene: fifty cars pulled up at the drive in, spilling with shrieking revellers in blonde wigs and rockabilly skirts, popcorn and hotdog stands a-plenty, and an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. No, we’re not in 1950’s America – its 7pm on a Tuesday night in North London.
Let us explain…
The Drive in Film Club is the first event of its kind in London, bringing a series unforgettable cinematic experiences to one of the city’s most iconic venues, Alexandra Palace, until 27th March. Film lovers will be given the chance to relive vintage classics in a unique and distinctively retro setting – including Grease, Top Gun and The Big Lebowski. Newer hits will be showing too, such as Gone Girl and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
After battling with the cruel beast that is the M25 in rush hour, we were just about ready to sit back and relax when we pulled up to Alexandra Palace on Tuesday night. Our screening was a sing-a-long Grease extravaganza, all in aid of Red Nose Day, so with lyrics revised and falsetto at the ready we were greeted at the entrance by a friendly waiter on roller-skates. He kindly explained the set-up to us, and gave us the specific radio frequency we needed to tune into to enjoy the film from our car. We proceeded to park ourselves comfortably into the spot where we’d be spending the next couple of hours. Ally Pally is the perfect choice of venue for such an event – we could see the twinkling lights of North London for miles around from our cosy viewpoint.
We were given a very warm welcome from event co-founder Gerry Cottle Jnr, and from a quick chat his passion and vision for the project became clear. Every detail, from the vintage Cadillacs to the roller-skating waiters delivering food through your car window, was meticulously thought through and really contributed to the authentic and vibrant mood of the evening.
Of course, no cinema-going experience is complete without the snacks, so we were quick to check out the neon, diner-style snack stands. Hotdogs came courtesy of London gourmet chain Popdogs, and with choices on offer ranging from “Dirty Dog” to “Clinton’s Love Child”, who were we to resist? They were delivered promptly by the waiters on wheels along with buckets of sugary popcorn, and we were just tucking in as the opening credits started to roll.
It became apparent straight away that watching a film at a drive in is poles apart from catching Fifty Shades at your local Odeon. Something about being tucked away in our own little private space (able to rustle noisy packets, chat about the film and howl along to “Summer Nights” to our heart’s content), combined with the simultaneous feeling of being in and amongst a crowd, was both novel and immensely enjoyable. There’s just something more immersive and atmospheric about watching a film from your car seat.
Wrapped up in blankets and munching away on popcorn, we sang along to the sassy “Sandra Dee”, the testosterone-fuelled “Greased Lightning”, and the jubilant “We Go Together”, helped along by the handy lyrics popping up on the screen. All worries and cares were forgotten – even the prospect of the return journey on the M25 – as we shamelessly lost ourselves in the nostalgia of a treasured and bygone era. What I was most surprised at is that this unique setting made Grease, such a well-known and beloved film, feel reimagined and fresh; reinvigorated. It felt native in its retro surroundings, which made us feel like we were watching it for the first time. We came away loving Grease even more than we did before.
With a spring in our step and “You’re The One That I Want” planted firmly in our heads for the next week, we concluded that this is one labour of love that’s definitely paid off. Get yourself up to Ally Pally for a slice of pure, unadulterated Americana.
Attend the Drive in Cinema Club for just £22 per car – regardless of occupancy! Check out the programme here: experiencecinema.com.