Watch Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie

Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie is a 2013 documentary film that explores the history, rise, and decline of drive-in movie theaters across America. The film is directed by April Wright and features interviews with industry experts, historians, and cinema enthusiasts. The movie begins by setting the scene of the 1930s and 1940s, where Americans were in search of inexpensive entertainment options. Along came the drive-in movie theater, a novel concept that combined the convenience of watching a movie with the comfort of one's car. From then on, drive-ins took off and rapidly became a symbol of American culture.

The documentary takes the viewer on a cinematic journey through the golden age of drive-ins of the 1950s and 1960s, when they were at their peak popularity. Footage from the period shows how drive-ins were often packed with carloads of enthusiastic moviegoers, and how the theaters were decorated to make them appealing and unique, such as placing planes, trains or different objects on the buildings. The movie explores the elaborate designs and structures of the theaters, such as giant screens, top-of-the-line sound systems, and even miniature golf courses, making each drive-in a fun-packed entertainment center for families and teenagers to gather on those lazy summer nights.

The film notes the social changes that occurred during the 1960s and 1970s, as a new generation of moviegoers embraced the drive-in lifestyle, promoting a hippy, free-loving alternative to the traditional movie theater. This led to the expansion of the drive-in experience beyond movies, while also attracting a new audience with the now famous Grateful Dead concerts and other such events as racing or wrestling.

However, by the late 1970s and early 1980s, the drive-in culture started to fade away. The rise of the multiplex, cable TV, and home video, as well as the oil crisis of the time fueled the downfall of the drive-ins. The documentary captures this transition, showing the disappearance of the drive-ins, and their transition to swap meets and flea markets, until scores of them were lost to physical deterioration or economic forces.

Some of the notable figures interviewed in the film are Charles Bruss, who is the CEO of the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association, Roger Corman, a legendary filmmaker who made films popular on the drive-in circuit, and various individuals that had worked in drive-ins themselves. These interviews offer a firsthand account of what the drive-ins meant to them as well as their functioning from the inside.

The film also confronts the current status of the remaining drive-in theaters, still standing today, where the evidence of change is visible, but for some, the energy of the past remains encouraging. For this reason, the documentary examines the survival of drive-ins and offers insights into the future possibilities they could consider to modernize and adapt to contemporary society's needs and interests. Some of these alternatives include expanding to live events or altering the food options supplied to typical movie popcorn fair.

Overall, Going Attractions is a captivating and nostalgic journey through the history of drive-in movie theaters in America. The movie beautifully showcases the technology, equipment, and personalities that shaped a unique era in cinema history. Without disappointing, it explores the root causes of the decline and spirits hope for the future. This documentary undoubtedly contributes significant insight to how Americans entertained themselves throughout the times and how the entertainment landscape still evolves today.

Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.