Joe DeIorio

Such a special night at the Tribeca Festival seeing Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story with my husband Thos and our dear friends Betty and Joe. We started with drinks at Smyth Tavern, enjoyed a great dinner at Terra after the screening, and shared so many laughs along the way. Life gets busy, but every time we’re together it feels like no time has passed at all. Grateful for nights like this and friends who always feel like family. ❤️ Tribeca A special thank you to Joseph Aubourg for making this happen for us!

Last night I experienced something pretty magical at NJPAC — a screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone accompanied live by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ score.

Watching a movie with a full orchestra completely transforms the experience.

I wrote a short reflection on the evening below.

Last night reminded me how powerful cinema and music can be when experienced together.

At the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, I attended a screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone accompanied live by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score.
Watching a film with a live orchestra transforms the experience. The movie plays on the screen as we know it, but beneath it the orchestra brings the score to life in real time. Every magical moment and emotional beat feels amplified. It’s a reminder that a great film score isn’t background music—it’s storytelling.

John Williams’ music is among the most recognizable in cinema history. From Star Wars and Jaws to Superman and Indiana Jones, his scores have helped define some of the most memorable moments in film. With Harry Potter, he created another instantly recognizable theme that continues to define the wizarding world.

The atmosphere in the hall added an entirely different dimension to the evening. This wasn’t a typical concert crowd—it was a room full of Harry Potter fans. When Harry first appeared, the audience erupted in cheers. Villains were playfully booed, and the announcement of Slytherin House drew a strong reaction from the crowd. Fans clearly knew the film by heart.
What struck me most was the sense of community. Families brought their children—many dressed in Hogwarts robes—likely experiencing their first live orchestral performance. At the same time, many adults who might never attend a symphony concert were completely engaged with the music.

Another touching moment came as the audience recognized members of the cast we’ve lost in recent years. When Maggie Smith appeared on screen, applause rippled through the audience. Later, when Richard Harris’s name appeared in the credits, the audience again responded with heartfelt appreciation.

Perhaps the most impressive moment came at the end. Instead of rushing out, much of the audience stayed through the entire credits while the orchestra continued performing the score live. When the final notes ended, the hall erupted in cheers and shouts of “bravo” for the musicians.

Experiences like this remind us of something we sometimes forget in the age of streaming: film was meant to be experienced together.

And hearing this score performed live reminds us that great film music doesn’t simply accompany a movie—it becomes part of our collective memory of it.

— Joe DeIorio
Marquee Classic Movies

Classic cinema lovers unite. 🎬

Had a great time last night at Chatham Hickory Cinema for a screening of The Kid by Charlie Chaplin, hosted by film historian and critic Harry Marks.

Harry’s introduction added fantastic insight to the film, and it was great talking with him afterward about classic cinema, film history, and ways to keep these timeless movies alive for new audiences.

We even discussed the possibility of having Harry join us as a guest at a future screening.

Always great connecting with fellow champions of classic cinema.

ClassicMovies

🍀 We’re bringing Ireland to Red Bank.

Live bagpiper.
Irish step dancers.
And John Wayne & Maureen O’Hara in glorious Technicolor.

Join us March 12 for The Quiet Man at the Basie Center Cinema House.

🎟 Tickets: marqueeclassicmovies.com

We picked four iconic screen kisses — see if you can name them ❤️🎬