Boston Public Library, Rabb Lecture Hall

Want to watch free movies on location where a slew of made-in-Massachusetts films were shot, including the spy thriller “Knight and Day” with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz? You're in luck.

The main Copley Square branch of the Boston Public Library, one of the largest public libraries in the nation and a hot spot for made-in-Boston movie action, continues its free, year-long film series called "Made in Massachusetts" showcasing a roster of historical flicks dating back to 1937's "Captains Courageous"  to recent films including "The Box" and "Pink Panther 2."

Pulled from the Boston Public Library’s vast media collection, which boasts approximately 22 million items encompassing all audio-visual formats, the screenings are free and are slotted for Mondays at 6 p.m. at the Boston Public Library’s Rabb Lecture Hall at the Central Library in Copley Square.

Kathleen Dunn, the BPL's communications officer, says the films are all in the BPL's circulating collection in DVD format so moviegoers can always check them out to watch again at home.

She also says that regulars to the film series like to meet up afterward. "Some of our patrons like to compare notes after the film screenings to see how many local sites they identified while watching the film," Dunn explains to HelloBoston.

The BPL has been a favorite location for filmmakers. On Friday, May 21, crews with the currently in production romantic comedy  “What's Your Number?” starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans set up shop at the Boston Public Library, transforming the Italianate courtyard space into a romantic dining set.

Last November, crews filmed a scene for the spy thriller “Knight and Day,” currently in theaters, on the third floor of the Copley Square haunt. Want to check out the exact location where Cruise filmed? Dunn says the movie's location is open to the public.

“'Knight and Day' was filmed on the third floor of the McKim Building in the area of the Fine Arts and Music Departments,” she explains, adding that it was shot at the BPL's original older building and not the Johnson Building on Boylston Street. “The McKim is impressive when you walk into it from the Dartmouth Street entrance. From here people can walk up the stairs or take the elevator to the third floor,” she adds.

In addition to the “Made in Massachusetts” film screenings on Mondays, the BPL is launching a summer series paying homage to the late, great Katharine Hepburn and her on-screen partner Spencer Tracy kicking off on Thursday, July 1 at 6 p.m. in the Rabb Lecture Hall at the Boston Public Library. The series continues every Thursday evening throughout the summer until August 26.  

HelloMetro Tip: The Rabb Lecture Hall is air-conditioned, has comfortable seats and, of course, the films are free.

The “Made in Massachusetts” film series includes:

“Summer Catch,” Monday June 28
“Captains Courageous,” Tuesday, July 6
“Moby Dick,” Monday, July 12
“Jaws,” Monday, July 19
“The Perfect Storm,” July 26
"The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!" Monday, Aug. 2
"Last Detail," Monday, Aug. 9
"Mermaids," Monday, Aug. 16
"Amos and Andrew," Monday, Aug. 23
"The Women," Monday, Aug. 30
"Love Story," Monday, Sept. 13
"Good Will Hunting," Monday, Sept. 20
"Mona Lisa Smile," Monday, Sept. 27
"The Witches of Eastwick," Monday, Oct. 4
"Hocus Pocus," Monday, Oct. 18

- by Sam Baltrusis, Boston Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Sam Baltrusis

Sam Baltrusis has worked for WHDH.com, Spike-TV, VH1, Independent News, Seventeen, Newsweek, and as a regional stringer for The New York Times. He's currently a full-time freelance editor and writer in Boston, where he's an instructor for Mediabistro.com and contributes to various regional publications including Boston Spirit Magazine. Sam also publishes a successful pop culture site, LoadedGunBoston.com, and was recently featured on WCVB-TV's "Chronicle" and Boston's NPR affiliate WBUR.