The Hollywood Bowl | Music from the Movies of Wes Anderson

Since 1922, the Hollywood Bowl has sat nestled within the hills of Los Angeles, beckoning artists and audiences alike with promises of natural acoustics and unforgettable views. Forever synonymous with Hollywood glamour, a performance at the Bowl is a landmark achievement in an artist’s career. Said performance, however, is not limited to musical artists. The Bowl has been featured in films from LA Noir classics like “Double Indemnity” to John Hughes comedies like “Some Kind of Wonderful”, making it all but fitting that the iconic venue lent its stage this past weekend to Academy Award-winning director Wes Anderson as the host for the “Music from the Movies of Wes Anderson” concert series. 

Much like the films themselves, the experience was completely immersive as the familiar cinematic worlds came to life in and around the Bowl. Sponsored by luxury goods Maison Montblanc and hosted by comedian and long-time collaborator Bill Murray, guests were invited to experience the quirky and unforgettable sounds of Anderson’s films performed live by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 

True to the hallmarks of the iconic films, analog media took center stage at the various pop-ups in and around the Bowl. As part of the immersive nature of the experience, guests were invited to write letters inside the Montblanc Post, which was carefully designed to feel right out of a film. Throughout the weekend, the pop-up post office was open to the public and offered guests the opportunity to write postcards to loved ones on exclusive themed Montblanc stationery. 

The Criterion Collection also collaborated with Montblanc on the event, bringing their beloved Mobile Closet to the Bowl for a select group of guests to experience. Stocked with over 1,700 essential films from around the world, the Criterion Closet has hosted names like John Waters, Francis Ford Coppola, and Ryan Coogler on its hit YouTube series and was opened to the public via a lottery system over the weekend. 

Ever the multimedia artist, Anderson’s event offered fans a chance to see exclusive film screenings throughout the weekend in addition to the concert at the first-ever Criterion Cinema. Hand-selected by the director himself, a smattering of both short and feature-length films told the story of the director’s career throughout the day in preparation for the live event. 

The performance itself started at 8 pm on the dot. Fans were encouraged to don their best Wes Anderson-inspired attire, from Margot Tenenbaum furs and eyeliner to Steve Zissou Adidas. A standout moment from the weekend was Jackson Browne’s performance of “These Days,” which was featured in “The Royal Tenenbaums”. Artists like Karen O, Beck, and Rufus Wainwright also performed selections from various films, and longtime collaborators Jason Schwartzman and Jeff Goldblum joined the director onstage, telling stories from the set and charming the audience between performances.

The Hollywood Bowl’s century-long legacy was set in stone long before Wes Anderson’s takeover this past weekend, but the director’s warm, offbeat vision transformed it in a way few have managed before. Bringing together fans of film and music, “Music from the Movies of Wes Anderson” was an event that will surely live in the hearts of Angelenos for years to come.