ROCKET GIBRALTAR
This Saturday, December 9, at Westhampton Beach’s Performing Arts Center, as part of Dans Paper’s on-going FREE Film Festival of “Movies Made Here,” is the memorable 1988 film, Rocket Gibraltar starring Burt Lancaster and Maculey Culkin. An odd combination, you say? Wait ‘til you see this heart breaker! It was shot entirely on location in Sagaponack in Bridgehampton (another heartbreaker).

Yes, let’s hear it for small towns and small movies. With care, they can be meaningful in big ways. The small towns of the East End have been accused of getting too big for their own breeches and beaches. This is only partly true, as it is of some films that are so good they can appear to be self–consciously ostentatious. What is truly good about them can be obscured by their own brightness. This is true of Rocket Gibraltar and the town in which it takes place.

This very moving movie is a perfect example of what the Dans Paper’s “They Made The Movie Here” Film Festival sets out to do, and that is to bring you great films captured in our beautiful local setting. Fortunately, because it will give those of you who don’t know it, the great opportunity to be impressed by it, as were those in past audiences and who will, I’m sure, be back to see it again. When it was first released it seemed to go unnoticed. This was probably because of its small, intimate nature in a time of big bruisers. And, as told to me by its producer, Michael Yulick, the producing studio changed heads in the middle of the production and they gave publicity and promotion preference to the projects they initiated. A fine film got lost in the shuffle. But, thank goodness, it’s here now. One of Burt Lancaster’s last performances is recorded in a golden and tender motion picture of a large family coming together to celebrate patriarch Lancaster’s birthday at his comfortable summer and ocean-soothed house.

Audiences will continually be drawn to Rocket Gibraltar. Though it makes no extremely dramatic moves, the naive earnestness and dedication of eight children to give their grandfather a gift they know he wants, carries a hefty weight right out of the movie and buoys it way above the highest waves at Sagg Main Beach. A fine screenplay by Amos Poe includes many genuine bits of character sorted carefully out of all our experiences, along with steady dialogue that conveys a family’s seemingly routine visit to Grandpa to celebrate his 77th birthday. To say that it is a family picture is to skimp. It is a big family picture with daughters, sons, in-laws, and of course, those plucky kids.

Burt Lancaster is the grandfather. He was in the twilight of his burly, but sensitive career. He reflects these qualities as a relaxed writer who knows that death is rocking his hammock, seemingly pleased to be joining his wife who passed on earlier. He enjoys listening to Billie Holiday’s singing, and the quiet atmosphere of Sagaponack. He liked his gifts, a glorious Jackson Pollock art book, and Fred Astaire movie tapes, but he had only wished for the big one that the children took heed to. There is Maculey Culkin in the prime of his career (all of 5 or 6 years old), lighting up every scene and instigating action with hardly 5 or 6 words. He works perfectly as a symbol of quiet strength, the innate goodness of heart that creates great emotion. I cannot tell you much more about this film without spoiling the enjoyment of the process of growth from scene to scene that builds to a satisfying conclusion.

Daniel Petrie’s direction is dreamy. He gives the film a refined smell and sense of atmosphere that is worked well by the cinematographer, Jost Vacano, with artful dabs, like the use of a gold filter, enhancing the upper third of the picture in key scenes. Some of the other fine actors are better known now than they were then: Kevin Spacey, Bill Pullman, Sinead Cusack and in a funny bit part as the “French” caterer, David Hyde Pierce.

Beyond watching and being warmed by this film, you will be pondering it for a long time. Please be at Main Street in Westhampton before 3 p.m. for a talk, a wonderful film, followed by refreshments, and some tender schmoozing with your host, Sarah Halsey.

Guy-Jean de Fraumeni is the producer/writer/ director of award-wining European and American feature films. He has been a judge at major Film and TV award competitions, including the Oscars, the Emmy’s and various film festivals.