New Screen In Montauk

The current feature on the Montauk movie house marquee - a plywood shutter - has been running since November. That's why free movies at the Montauk Library, which started on Friday, are especially welcome.

About 30 cultural pioneers turned out to see the weekly series kick off with "Shoeshine," a 1946 Oscar-winning Italian film about two boys sent to reform school after dabbling in the post-war black market.

In honor of Valentine's Day, tomorrow's film will be "Brief Encounter" (1945) adapted from a one-act play by Noel Coward, followed by "The Man With One Red Shoe" (1985), starring Tom Hanks, on Feb. 21, and "Blue Murder at St. Trinian's" (1957), starring Alastair Sim, on Feb. 28.

Cinema buffs and volunteers willing, the films will continue at least through March. "Bitter Rice," Jean Cocteau's 1946 "Beauty and the Beast," "Forbidden Games," "Queen Christina," and, for St. Patrick's Day weekend, "Ryan's Daughter" or "Going My Way" are among the possiblities.

The films start at 7:30 p.m. in the library's main lobby, and there is tantalizing talk of screening movies in the outdoor garden in summer.

On Friday, the free popcorn flowed so freely the Electrolux had to be hauled out, reported Robert Molnar of the Friends of the Library, who are sponsoring the movies . . . and who deserve two thumbs up and four stars for their efforts.

Of course, Montaukers who don't mind a long winter's drive westward can join the rest of the South Fork in choosing among unusually top-of-the-line choices that are showing this winter in East Hampton, Southampton, and Sag Harbor, although we wish the latter would show more of the independent and foreign flicks it has been noted for. From "The English Patient" and "Shine" to "Evita" and "Everyone Says I Love You" and, now, "Star Wars," it's time to go to the movies.