The DC Traveler

Matinees at the Memorial: The U.S. Navy in Film is the new free, public film program at the U.S. Naval Heritage Center.

Their schedule includes a few classics and mostly contemporary films, but all Navy related –  fighting sailors, Navy pilots going Mach 2,  POWS, sailors on leave, women joining up, ships, planes, submarines and even a talking fish. 

• August 18 – Anchors Aweigh – 11:00 a.m. – A 1945 musical comedy , staring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly on a 4-day liberty in Los Angeles. 
• August 25 ― Skirts Ahoy – 11:00 a.m. – Three woman with man troubles decide to join the WAVES and spend boot camp checking out every eligible male.
• September 1 – The Incredible Mr. Limpet – 11:00 a.m. – Man turned fish helps the Navy hunt German U-boats during World War II.
• September 15 ― U-571 – 3:00 p.m. – US Navy Lt. Matthew McConaughey is forced to take command of German U-boat 571 as they try to capture an Enigma cipher machine.

• September 15 ― The Bridge on the River Kwai – 6:00 p.m. – This 7 Oscar winner classic stars Alec Guinness and William Holden. A group of POWS led by British Colonel Nicholson (Guinness) construct a railway bridge on the Burma-Siam railway for the Japanese; not knowing the Allies have sent a commando mission to destroy the bridge. 
• October 6 – Top Gun – 3:00 p.m. – “I feel the need…the need for speed!”  Hot shot pilot Maverick grows up and becomes a team player at ‘Top Gun,” the Navy’s advanced flight school.
• October 20 – The Hunt for Red October – 3:00 p.m. – “One ping…One ping only please”. Sean Connery plays the USSR’s top commander and heads for the U.S. coast. Is he defecting or ready to start WW-III?
• November 10 – Men of Honor – 3:00 p.m. – this true story about the first African-American Navy Diver, Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and the struggles he encountered. Also staring Robert De Niro.
• November 11 – Flight of the Intruder – Sunday – 1:00 p.m. – After his bombardier is killed over Vietnam, a carrier-based pilot questions his bombing missions.
• December 7 – Tora! Tora! Tora! - Friday – 3:00 p.m.  – Shown on the anniversary of the arrack on Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941, this classic  dramatizes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
• December 22 – Behind Enemy Lines – 3:00 p.m. – Owen Wilson plays a navy navigator who is shot down over war-torn Bosnia during a reconnaissance mission. He needs to evade pursuit and get back to his ship with the film record of mass-graves.

Popcorn will be served.

United States Navy Memorial
U.S. Naval Heritage Center – Burke Theater (downstairs)
701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, between 7th and 9th Streets
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times – Most films shown on Saturdays (times vary), with a few on other days as noted.

Tickets – Free

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter – Green and Yellow lines

Parking – Metered street parking is available but tough. Watch for rush hour restrictions on weekdays.

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