The Right Thing is to come to the Cerrito on Thursday, May 12, at 9:30.

“Do the Right Thing,” immerses us in a vibrant neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn. The place is full of characters, including a self-styled activist; a young man whose identity is defined by the huge, loud radio he carries everywhere he goes; a drunken philosopher who for years has been trying to win the respect of the woman who watches him disdainfully from her window; a group of three men who spend their time sitting on a street corner and commenting on everything they see; and a local DJ who tries to be an island of sanity. It’s the hottest day of the year, and the heat combined with a series of annoyances and confrontations is making everyone irritable.

At the center are Sal, played by Danny Aiello, and Mookie, played by the movie’s writer-director-producer Spike Lee. Sal runs the local pizza joint, the only white-owned business in the neighborhood. The walls of Sal’s Pizzeria are covered with photos of famous Italian-Americans, and some of his customers take offense at the fact that there are no black faces there.

Mookie works for Sal, who says, “He’s like a son to me.” Yet when tensions boil over, it leads to tragedy and a falling out between the two.

“Do the Right Thing” is the movie that established Spike Lee’s reputation. It had an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay, and Danny Aiello was nominated for best supporting actor. It was also nominated for four Golden Globe awards and for a Palme d’Or at Cannes. In addition to the two leads, the movie features Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, John Turturro, and Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez in their first film roles.

“Do the Right Thing” plays once only on Thursday, May 12, at 9:30 p.m. All seats are $9.00. Moviegoers are strongly urged to but advance tickets at the box office or online, as the show may sell out. Arriving early is a good idea, in order to choose your seat and also order delicious food and wine or beer.

Upcoming Classics

The Cerrito Classics series will continue with these great movies (always at 9:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month):

• June 9: The Princess Bride
• July 14: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

We hope to see you there!

Scene

Don’t miss out on Scene! The creative menu at the atmospheric wine/food bar includes special treats, such as a charcuterie and cheese sampler, flatbread pizzas, baked sandwiches,salads, and desserts. You can enjoy them there, or have them brought to your seat while you watch the movie.