"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
Classic film screenings from around the world this month include:
In theatres across the U.S. Flashback Cinema is presenting North by Northwest (1959) Sunday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 4, Goodfellas (1990) Sunday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 11, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) Sunday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 18, The Dark Crystal (1982) Sunday, March 22 and Wednesday, March 25 and Space Jam (1996) on Sunday, March 29 and Wednesday, April 1.
Click on the respective image for more information. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Flashback Cinema banner above.
To Have and Have Not
The Big Sleep
Dark Passage
In Bergen, Norway The Cinemateket i Bergen will begin its series of films entitled “Your Next Obsession: Bogie and Bacall” with To Have and Have Not (1944, a 35mm presentation) Sunday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 3, The Big Sleep (1946, a 35mm presentation) Wednesday, March 11 and Sunday, March 15 and Dark Passage (1947) on Tuesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 19.
For more information on each showing, click on the film’s corresponding image above. For more information on additional films in the Bogie & Bacall series, click on the series banner above, and for information on the other films/film series showing at The Cinemateket, click on the banner image above.
Throughout various locations in Australia, Event Cinemas will host Hollywood Classics On the Big Screen. This month's showings will include Casablanca (1942) Monday, March 2 and at The GU Filmhouse specifically in the city of Adelaide Sunday, March 8. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) will screen on Monday, March 16 and at The GU Filmhouse specifically in the city of Adelaide Sunday, March 22.
For a list of the theatres hosting this film, click on the film’s poster image and for more films upcoming over the next few months, click on the banner image above.
Also throughout various locations in Australia, Event Cinemas will host In The House. This month’s feature is Thelma & Louise (1991) which will be presented on Wednesday, March 11 and at The GU Filmhouse specifically in the city of Adelaide Thursday, March 12.
For more information on this film’s presentation, click on the poster image above. For more information on other films in this series, click on the banner image above.
Varda by Agnès
Brats
In Vancouver, British Columbia, The Cinematheque concludes its series Viva Varda! The Films of Agnès Varda with Varda by Agnes (2019, Agnès Varda’s farewell documentary) on Monday March 2 and again on Wednesday, March 4. The UCLA Festival of Preservation Tour will be presented from March 5 - March 26 and will showcase a wide range of diverse feature films and shorts.
For more information about “The Films of Agnes Varda” series, click on the top image above. For more information on Varda by Agnes, click on the film’s image above. For the complete list of titles and showtimes for the “UCLA Preservation Series” click on the Laurel and Hardy Brats image above. To learn more about this and other film series at The Cinematheque, click on the theatre banner above.
Alfred Hitchcock
Rope
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Waltzes from Vienna
Shadow of a Doubt
Saboteur
Stage Fright
Frenzy
In Stockholm, Sweden, The Swedish Film Institute Cinemateket at the Filmhuset (Filmhouse) theatre will continue its retrospective of Alfred Hitchcock films. This month’s showings are Rope (1948, a 35mm print) Tuesday, March 3, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934, a 35mm print) Tuesday, March 10, Waltzes from Vienna (1934) Saturday, March 14, Shadow of a Doubt (1943) Thursday, March 19, Saboteur (1942) Thursday, March 26, Stage Fright (1950, a 35mm print) Sunday, March 29 and Frenzy (1972) on Tuesday, March 31.
For more information on each individual screening, click on the respective image above. For information on the series, click on the image of Alfred Hitchcock above. For more information on The Swedish Film Institute and other film presentations, click on the banner image above.
In Auckland, New Zealand Academy Cinemas will present The Last Picture Show (1971) Friday, March 6, Village of the Damned (1960) Friday, March 13 and The Big Lebowski (1998) on Wednesday, March 25.
For more information specifically on each of these programmes, click on the corresponding above image. To see the entire month of March’s programming click on the banner above.
House of Games
Act of Violence
Noir City will take place in Hollywood, California from March 6 - March 15. This year’s program features international films paired with some of Hollywood’s more recognisable titles including two new restorations from Argentina: La bestia debe morir aka The Beast Must Die (1952, a 35mm print) and El vampiro negro aka The Black Vampire (1953, a digital restoration), Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and Sweden. In addition to screenings at the Egyptian Theatre, Noir City moves to the westside (another part of greater Los Angeles) for an evening at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, curated by David Mamet along with a screening of House of Games (1987, a 35mm print) Monday, March 9 and then back to Hollywood to the American Legion Hollywood Post 43 Theatre for a “military noir” double feature on Tuesday, March 10 of Act of Violence (1948) and Somewhere in the Night (1946).
For more information on the “Noir City” programme, click on the poster image (with Victoria Mature) above. For the entire month of programming for both the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and The Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, click on the American Cinematheque banner. For further information specifically on the “Conversation with David Mamet” at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, click on the House of Games picture and for further information concerning the “military noir” double feature at the American Legion Hollywood Post 43 Theatre in Hollywood, click on the Act of Violence picture above.
In London, United Kingdom The Prince Charles Cinema will present Opening Night (1977, a 35mm print) Sunday, March 8, The Host (2006, a 35mm print) Tuesday, March 10, The Godfather (1972, both 35mm and digital presentations) Friday, March 13 through and including Thursday, March 19, Inception (2010, a 35mm print) Saturday, March 14, Vertigo (1958, a 35mm print) Sunday, March 15, Casablanca (1942, a 35mm print) Saturday, March 21 and Pickpocket (1959, a 35mm print) on Monday, March 30.
Click on the respective image for more information. To see March’s complete programming, click on The Prince Charles Cinema banner above.
In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976, a 35mm print) Wednesday, March 11 at 2pm only, O Lucky Man! (1973, a 35mm print) Saturday, March 14 at midnight only, a Barbara Stanwyck double bill of The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947, a 35mm print) and The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1932, a 35mm print) Sunday, March 15 and Monday, March 16 and Where’s Poppa? (1970, a 35mm print) on Saturday, March 21 at midnight only.
Click on the respective image for more information. To see the rest of March’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.
In Luxembourg (Luxemburg) The Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg will present Taxi Driver (1976) with live musical accompaniment featuring Bernard Herrmann’s stunning score on Tuesday, March 10.
Click on the image for more information.
In theatres across the U.S., TCM and Fathom Events are presenting King Kong (1933) on Sunday, March 15 (one day only) and Braveheart (1995, in celebration of this film’s 25th Anniversary) Sunday, March 22 and on Monday, March 23.
Click on the respective image for more information. To see this month’s entire schedule, click on The Fathom Events banner above.
In Paris France, The Avex Ensemble (a 12-piece musical ensemble featuring synthesisers, strings, brass, bass and percussion) will present Blade Runner (1982, the 2007 “Final Cut” which also happens to be the best “Cut”) with live musical accompaniment performing Vangelis’ mesmerising score on Saturday, March 21.
Click on the image for more information.
In New York City, New York The Third Annual Dr. Saul and Dorothy Kit Film Noir Festival will return to Lenfest Center for the Arts (part of Columbia University School of the Arts), March 25–29, 2020. The festival will present and explore films about the Jewish experience during post-WWII America. This year's festival is guest-programmed by Ann Douglas, Professor Emerita of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Highlights include an Edgar G. Ulmer Double Bill (along with introductions by Noah Isenberg, University of Texas at Austin) of Detour (1945) and Ruthless (1948, a 35mm print) Thursday, March 26, a double bill of Crossfire (1947, a 35mm print, introduced by James Schamus, Columbia University) and Ace in the Hole (1951, introduced by Ron Gregg, Columbia University) Friday, March 27, Scandal Sheet (1952, a 35mm print, introduced by Matthew Rivera, Kit Noir Festival trailer and logo co-creator) on Sunday, March 29 and Sweet Smell of Success (1957, a 35mm print, introduced by Jason Stevens, independent scholar) also on Sunday, March 29.
For the complete schedule, further details and tickets, click on the banner image above.
There are 16 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:
1944’s Laura is director Otto Preminger’s slick and assured amalgamation of mystery (whodunnit) and film noir (obsessive desire, gruesome murder etc) elements. This film was briefly reviewed here. Included is a comparison between the detective played by Dana Andrews and James Stewart’s retired investigator in Vertigo. Laura will come to life on TCM Monday, March 2 at 5 pm PST.
My next recommended feature is The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, a romantic fantasy/drama that provides viewers with an incredibly moving emotional experience. It has been previously reviewed here. This timeless romance begins on Monday, March 2 at 6:45 pm PST.
"And then I saw her - coming out of the sun. And I knew why Whit didn't care about that 40 grand."
Out of the Past, is one of film noir's finest and most highly recommended here. She will arrive Thursday, March 5 at 11 am PST.
In honour of the recently departed actor Kirk Douglas, TCM is spotlighting a number of the talented thespian’s storytelling achievements. Two of the most prestigious are the former film noir selection (Out of the Past) and the subsuming anti-war drama Paths of Glory, previously reviewed as a Blu-ray recommendation here. Paths of Glory will be forged Thursday, March 5 at 5 pm PST.
In case anyone missed last month’s showing of Alfred Hitchcock's dazzling thrill ride Foreign Correspondent (reviewed here), Johnny Jones’ (aka Huntley Haverstock) precarious globe trotting assignment will begin again Saturday, March 7 at 11:15 am PST.
(From left) Some guy reading a newspaper, Joel McCrea
Rarely does an atmosphere of such overpowering dread subsume a cinematic story so completely as it does 1943's The Seventh Victim.
Kim Hunter, Lou Lubin
A young woman (portrayed as a fetching innocent by Kim Hunter) goes searching for her missing sister (enigmatically played by Jean Brooks) in New York City's Greenwich Village and stumbles upon a satanic cult of devil worshipers, putting both of their lives at risk. Mark Robson, who directed a number of these Val Lewton produced gems, is himself at the peak of his considerable creative powers. This devilishly striking combination of horror and film noir was a previous TCM recommendation reviewed here. The fate of both sisters will be determined Wednesday, March 11 at 10:45 am PST
Jean Brooks
Here's a short clip, eerily foreshadowing the shower scene in Hitchcock's Psycho.
John Huston's The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is indeed an unforgettable American treasure and a prior TCM recommendation here. Its cinematic storytelling riches can be uncovered on TCM Saturday, March 14 at 11:15 pm PST.
My next, somewhat half-hearted, recommendation is another crime film, surely enjoyed by die-hard fans of the genre for its craftsmanship but admittedly lacking in meaningful revelation. Sam Peckinpah's The Getaway, formerly reviewed here, will bond viewers with moments of supreme adrenaline rush and takes off Friday, March 20 at 2:45 pm PST.
Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw
These next three films noir hit hard and fast and consist of a Sterling Hayden (whose birthday is March 26th) triple-header.
Unlike the hardened criminals he portrays in the last two recommendations, Crime Wave's Hayden has him playing hardened cop Detective Lt. Sims. Previously reviewed here, Crime Wave will hit Thursday, March 26 at 10:30am PST and in host Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley Saturday, March 28 at 9 pm PST and again Sunday, March 29 at 7 am PST.
(From left) Phyllis Kirk, Timothy Carey, Gene Nelson, Mack Chandler, Sterling Hayden
Immediately following Crime Wave is Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing, a former Blu-ray recommendation here. Hayden stars as the criminal mastermind who arranges for the titular incident to occur on TCM Thursday, March 26 at 11:45 am PST.
Hayden is not the criminal mastermind (that honour goes to actor Sam Jaffe) in this last TCM recommendation: The Asphalt Jungle, previously recommended here. His role, however, in a bold and daring jewel heist, is crucial both as a participating character and to the drama itself. The robbery will take place on TCM Thursday, March 26 at 1:15 pm PST.
(From left) Sam Jaffe, Sterling Hayden, Anthony Caruso, James Whitmore
More film noir goodness is delivered by the explosively bad Cody Jarrett, a cold blooded killer ignited by James Cagney’s white hot performance in White Heat, previously reviewed here and on TCM Saturday, March 28 at (early morning) 3 am PST.
James Cagney holding the Mayo (Virginia Mayo that is)
Then there's John Ford's masterpiece The Searchers, previously reviewed here. It is Top Ten Western #2 and is as likely as any film to provide one with a truly unforgettable, rich and rewarding movie-watching experience. The search will begin Saturday, March 28 at 10:45 am PST.
Jeffrey Hunter, Natalie Wood
Chuck McCann
2018 saw the sad passing of two fabulous actors Chuck McCann (September 2, 1934 - April 8, 2018) and Sondra Locke (May 28, 1944 - November 3, 2018) both of whom made genuine heartfelt impressions in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, a previous TCM recommendation here.
Sondra Locke
Viewers can realise a wealth of emotion by tuning in Sunday, March 29 at 2:45 pm PST.
A sterling example of how to present complex and enthralling characters all of whom develop naturally while still holding our intense fascination is Citizen Kane, a previous TCM recommendation here. This American film masterpiece, the only U.S. film represented on our Top Ten: World Cinema Treasures, will begin Sunday, March 29 at 5 pm PST.
Orson Welles, Dorothy Comingore
My last suggested TCM showing is the Marx Brothers' Monkey Business. This is a former TCM recommendation and was reviewed here. I have also posted 2 famous scenes from this film, the most recent being Capturing a Golden Moment #12. The shenanigans will commence at TCM Monday, March 30 at 1:30 pm PST.
(From left) Thelma Todd, Groucho Marx, Zeppo Marx, Harry Woods
TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed here. For those who live in parts of the U.S. other than the western region, the time zone can be adjusted in the upper right-hand corner of TCM's programme.
A Happy Birthday shout-out to the amazing actor Christopher Walken, who turns 77 on March 31st.
He won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his deeply committed performance in 1978’s The Deer Hunter and has brought to life many vivid characters, often volatile and mentally challenged. Other standout performances have occurred in The Anderson Tapes (1971), Annie Hall (1977), Heaven’s Gate (1980), The Dead Zone (1983), At Close Range (1986), King of New York (1990), Pulp Fiction (1994), Nick of Time (1995), Last Man Standing (1996), Blast from the Past (1999) and Catch Me If You Can (2002) aside from having several films currently in post production. He is also an accomplished stage actor.
My Soundtrack recommendation for the month of March is composer James Horner's rousing score to the second movie made in the "Star Trek" franchise Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).
This film delivers much of the popular good versus evil excitement and warrior-type conflict missing from the debut movie in the series. James Horner (virtually unknown at the time), who had much to live up to after Jerry Goldsmith’s prior magisterial score, brings his own memorable main title theme and explosive dramatic enhancement to the proceedings directed by Nicholas (Time After Time) Meyer. Issued on the Film Score Monthly label, this limited edition soundtrack (only 3000 produced) is currently available from Screen Archives Entertainment. More information and international ordering can be obtained by clicking on the accompanying image.
My Blu-ray recommendation this month is an upcoming release, presently exclusive to Australia and New Zealand: Anatole Litvak's pulse pounding Sorry, Wrong Number (1948).
This generally undervalued film is loaded with noir characteristics including a disillusioned male protagonist, appropriately downplayed by Burt Lancaster, in way over his head with ruthless gangsters and a persistent D.A. onto his shady scheme. There’s his wife, appropriately played up by noir great Barbara Stanwyck, whose psychosomatic illness factors significantly into the deadly dealings, revealed in a complex series of foreboding flashbacks. Some of the settings are as dark, eerie and ominous as in any film noir, abetted by Sol Polito’s virtuoso cinematography and Franz Waxman’s atmospheric score.
By my description so far, readers unfamiliar with this film may be surprised to learn that Sorry, Wrong Number was adapted from an immensely popular 30 minute radio play — at the time made famous by actress Agnes Moorhead, playing an invalid who becomes increasingly distressed after hearing of a murder plot due to mistakenly crossed telephone lines. This audio-only version is basically a “one person” drama: effectively suspenseful as it builds to a shocking and most terrifying conclusion. Thankfully, Lucille Fletcher adapted her own play, retaining all of the heightened fear and tension in her source material. The added intricate narrative for the film’s screenplay, however, lends more than the requisite psychological underpinnings supplying dimension, depth and most importantly, motive, to what has become one of film noir’s most mesmerising and unforgettable accomplishments. In fact, the ill-fated, dark and anxiety suffused backstory Fletcher contributes, is the most captivating part of the film, delivered with confidence and sophistication by director Anatole Litvak. It’s “the stuff dreams are made of”… Sorry, make that “nightmares.”
This Region Free Blu-ray from Imprint is serviceable but visually undistinguished. It has a scheduled release date of May 27, 2020. More information and international ordering from JB-Hi Fi can be obtained by clicking on the accompanying image.
A.G.