Rain Does Not Stop Ferris Bueller’s Antics

The Port-O-Potties were lined up next to Widener. The popcorn poppers were scattered through the laughing crowd. On a giant screen over the steps of Memorial Church, Matthew Broderick outwitted his high school principal. It was Movietime.

Last night’s screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off—billed as “Movietime at Harvard”—did not enjoy the good weather that blessed last April’s Springfest, the last recreational event sponsored by University President Lawrence H. Summers.

Still, several hundred students did brave the somewhat wet weather to sit on blankets in Tercentenary Theatre.

“Thank you to everyone who helped with this,” Summers said to the crowd before relaxing back on his blanket with Professor of English and American Language and Literature Elisa New. “Enjoy the show, and welcome back.”

Though no plans have been announced for making Movietime an annual event, Summers has made efforts to connect his office more with the social life of students, staff and faculty.

He decided to co-sponsor April’s Springfest with the understanding that the day’s festivities, traditionally planned by the Undergraduate Council, would be open to all members of the University.

In hosting the first University-wide movie night, attendees were also treated to free food—5,000 five-ounce portions of popcorn were popped, 5,000 drinks were on ice and big bowls of JuJuBees were handed out by staff from Harvard University Dining Services.

The distribution of JuJuBees was especially apt, as students voted for Ferris Bueller over other proposed films by dropping JuJuBees into jars at upperclass registration on Sept. 13.

While the afternoon’s beautiful weather turned sour as the movie’s starting time arrived, the show went on and about half the crowd stuck it out.

Plans had been in the works all summer and because of the difficulty involved with renting the equipment, a rain date was impossible, said University spokesperson Chris K. Ahearn.

And while the rain may have discouraged some moviegoers, others felt differently.

“I think it was even more fun with the rain,” Carlos J. Rojas ’04 said.

The crowd was predominantly undergraduates and graduate students, though a handful of families also showed up.

Most of the moviegoers said they were excited that they could get free entertainment and free food.

“The theatre is awesome,” said Socrates R. Cruz ’06. “I like how we’re getting free popcorn. I haven’t had any in a long time.”

But while most people were enjoying the show, some students still had to work.

Dorm Crew was asked to both work the food stands and to check for Harvard identification at the entrances. A group of about 20 dorm crew workers had helped set up the venue starting at 3 p.m. yesterday and stayed to clean up as well.

Despite the long hours, workers said they were having a great time as well.

“It’s awesome I get to walk around yelling ‘Popcorn! Soda!’” said Elijah Hutchinson ’06. “Even though I’m sure there’ll be lots of clean-up.”

—Staff writer Katherine M. Dimengo can be reached at dimengo@fas.harvard.edu.