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The good news: The Castro’s 3^rd annual 70mm Film Festival opens July 1. The bad news: It’s smaller than last year’s. Whether this was because of disappointing box office or problems getting prints, it doesn’t bode well for the future of this great way to see big movies. (If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, see Glorious 70mm–my announcement of the Castro’s first such festival.)

This year’s festival goes light on the big roadshow productions that defined the format in the 50’s and 60’s, and define the format at its most spectacular. Only perennial favorite Lawrence of Arabia (July 5^th and 6^th) fits that description. Lawrence, which made my extremely short list of the greatest films ever made, is the only film to be shown at all three of the Castro’s festival. This year I hope to make it. (And no, they’re not showing 2001: A Space Odyssey. This is just the only image of 70mm film I have.)

Other films in the schedule that really belong in 70mm include Tron (on a July 4^th double-bill with Brainstorm–talk about fireworks), and Jacque Tati’s wonderful surreal comedy Playtime. The rest of the show is rounded out by Blue Thunder (July 1), Little Shop of Horrors (the 1986 musical remake, and a reminder that in the 1980’s, almost everything got blown up to 70mm, July 2^nd and 3^rd), and The Wild Bunch (July 7).

But there’s more 70mm coming to the Castro later this summer. From August 29 through September 4, they’ll screen a brand new 70mm print of West Side Story.