Drive-In Movie Memories

2001, Color and Black & White, 58 minutes, Betacam/Super 8mm

Available on DVD and Amazon Instant Video.
Streaming worldwide on Indieflix

Purchase the Film:
Amazon.com | Amazon Prime | Vimeo

Purchase the Soundtrack:
iTunes | Amazon

Buy the books on which the film was based:
“The American Drive-In Movie Theatre” and
“Drive-In Movie Memories” by Don & Susan Sanders


Opening Night Film, Telluride Film Festival 2001

“Kurt Kuenne, who directed the documentary for drive-in experts Don and Susan Sanders, doesn’t just tell the history of the drive-ins, he shows it.  Drive-In Movie Memories doesn’t just inform, it recreates.  The strength of the documentary is not in its educational value, but in its ability to make the viewer feel what it must have been like to steer into a drive-in theatre on a warm summer night, to roll down the window and feel the breeze drift through the car, to fend off the mosquitoes with one hand while digging into the popcorn with the other.”
– Chicago International Film Festival

“I love it!  An exceptional documentary.” – Leonard Maltin

Synopsis

“Drive-In Movie Memories” is a film celebration of moviegoing under the stars, and a chronicle of the history of outdoor cinema.  What began as an auto parts store owner’s business venture to make some easy money accidentally became a magical place where romance, fun and a sense of community flourished.  The film features original interviews with Leonard Maltin, Barry Corbin, Burton Gilliam, Beverly Garland, Samuel Z. Arkoff and Joe Bob Briggs.

Opening Clip

Festivals and Awards

  • Telluride Film Festival – Opening Night Film
  • Chicago International Film Festival
  • Cinequest Film Festival
  • Cleveland International Film Festival
  • Rhode Island International Film Festival – Winner, Best Editing
  • Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
  • Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
  • St. Louis International Film Festival
  • Newport Beach Film Festival
  • Ashland International Film Festival
  • Boston Film Festival
  • Wine Country Film Festival
  • Sonoma International Film Festival
  • Palm Beach International Film Festival
  • Marco Island Film Festival
  • Breckenridge Festival of Film – Winner, Best Documentary
  • Worldfest, Houston – Winner, Gold Award
  • Big Bear Lake International Film Festival – Winner, Best Documentary
  • USA Film Festival – Winner, Texas Award
  • Black Point Film Festival
  • Deep Ellum Film Festival – Winner, Texas Cinema Award
  • Cinema Society of San Diego
  • Laemmle’s “Documentary Days” Series – Los Angeles, CA