"Now Listen to Me... "
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
Happy Valentine’s Day (Friday, February 14th) Everyone!
Classic film screenings from around the world this February include:
Tokyo Story
In London, United Kingdom The Prince Charles Cinema will present Tokyo Story aka Tôkyô monogatari (1953, a 35mm print) Tuesday, February 4 and Friday, February 28, Le Trou (1960) Wednesday, February 5, Eraserhead (1977) Thursday, February 6, Night of the Living Dead (1968, a New 4k Restoration) Monday, February 10,Taxi Driver (1976, a 35mm print) Wednesday, February 12 and Sunday, February 16, All About Eve (1950) Thursday, February 13, Casablanca (1942, a 35mm print) Saturday, February 15, Brief Encounter (1945, a 35mm print) Sunday, February 16, North by Northwest (1959, a 70mm print) Monday, February 17, Wednesday, February 19, Friday, February 21 and Tuesday, February 25, Women in Love (1969, a 35mm print) Wednesday, February 19, Harakiri (1962) Thursday, February 20, Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Saturday, February 22, Kiss Me Deadly (1955, a 35mm print) Tuesday, February 25, Persona (1966) Wednesday, February 26, The Elephant Man (1980) Thursday, February 27, and Re-Animator (1985) on Friday, February 28.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
Click on the film’s respective image for more information. To see February’s complete programming, click on The Prince Charles Cinema banner above.
I Lived, But…
Dr. Strangelove
The Party
Being There
In Valencia, Spain, Culturarts Generalitat IVAC – La Filmoteca at the Edificio Rialto will be presenting I Lived, But… aka Ikite wa mita keredo - Ozu Yasujirô den (1983, as part of their REFINE THE FORM, CAPTURE LIFE - INTEGRAL YASUJIRO OZ series) Tuesday, February 4 and Wednesday, February 5, Dr. Strangelove (1963, a 35mm print, as part of their PETER SELLERS CENTENARY: FROM WASHINGTON TO HOLLYWOOD series) Tuesday, February 4, Wednesday, February 5 and Sunday, February 9, The Party (1968, a Digital presentation on Feb. 13, a 35mm print on Feb. 15 and 16, as part of their PETER SELLERS CENTENARY: FROM WASHINGTON TO HOLLYWOOD series) Thursday, February 13, Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16, and Being There (1979, a 35mm print, as part of their PETER SELLERS CENTENARY: FROM WASHINGTON TO HOLLYWOOD series) on Friday, February 21 and Sunday, February 23.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
Click on the respective film’s image for more information on each screening. To discover more of February’s programming including other films playing in Valencia, Spain at the Edificio Rialto, Castelló, Spain at the Paranimf of the Universitat Jaume I and at the Raval Theatre, as well as Alicante Spain at the Arniches Theatre, click on the banner image above.
In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present North by Northwest (1959, a Vibrant I.B. Technicolor 35mm print) Tuesday, February 4 at 3 pm only, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958, a 35mm print) Saturday, February 8 at 2 pm only and Sunday, February 9 at 2 pm only, and Sullivan’s Travels (1941, a 35mm print) on Saturday, February 15 at 2 pm only and Sunday, February 16 at 2 pm only.
Click on the respective image for more information. To see the rest of February’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.
In theatres across the U.S., Fathom Events is presenting Hellraiser (1987, a Newly Remastered 4K Version) on Wednesday, February 5 and Thursday, February 6.
Click on the film’s poster image for more information. To see this month’s entire schedule, click on The Fathom Events banner above.
In Melbourne, Australia The Astor Theatre is presenting Seven (1995, a 35mm print) Thursday, February 6, on a double bill with Zodiac (2007, a 35mm print) Saturday, February 15, and again the lone feature Sunday, February 16, Eraserhead (1977) Friday, February 21 at Midnight only and Saturday, February 22, The Elephant Man (1980) Saturday, February 22 at 3:30 pm only, and Blue Velvet (1986) on Saturday, February 22.
Click on the respective poster image for more information on each film’s screening. To see the rest of February’s schedule, click on The Astor Theatre banner above.
In Auckland, New Zealand, Academy Cinemas is presenting The Ipcress File (1965) on Friday, February 7, Saturday, February 15, Saturday, February 22 and Tuesday, February 25.
To obtain more information specifically on this programme, click on the poster image. To see the rest of February’s programming, click on the Academy banner above.
Roman Holiday
The Shawshank Redemption
The Big Risk
The Shining
In Lyon, France the Institut Lumiere is presenting Roman Holiday (1953, as part of their ‘Audrey Hepburn America’s Darling’ series) Friday, February 7 and Wednesday, February 19, The Shawshank Redemption (1994, as part of their ‘Stephen King at the Cinema’ series) Saturday, February 8 and Wednesday, February 12, The Big Risk aka Classe tous risques (1960, as part of their ‘Film Club’ series) Saturday, February 15, and The Shining (1980, as part of their ‘Stephen King at the Cinema’ series, Screening presented by Fabrice Calzettoni followed by a discussion with the public centered on the adaptation of the book by Stanley Kubrick) on Wednesday, February 19.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.
Click on the respective film image for more information on each film’s screening. Click on the Institut logo for all of the films showing this month.
Red Desert
Celine and Julie Go Boating
Rain Man
2001: A Space Odyssey
Singin’ in the Rain
In Bergen, Norway The Cinemateket i Bergen will present Red Desert aka Il deserto rosso (1964) Friday, February 7 and Monday, February 10, Celine and Julie Go Boating aka Céline et Julie vont en bateau: Phantom Ladies Over Paris (1974, a 35mm print) Tuesday, February 11, Rain Man (1988) Wednesday, February 12, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, a 70mm print) Wednesday, February 19 and Saturday, February 22, and Singin’ in the Rain (1952, a 35mm print) on Tuesday, February 25.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
For more information on each film’s showing, click on the respective movie image above. For further information on the other films being presented at The Cinemateket, click on the banner image above.
A Woman Is a Woman
In New York City, New York, Film Forum is presenting:
A Woman Is a Woman aka Une femme est une femme (1961, a 4K restoration) from Friday, February 7 – Thursday, February 20.
The Glass Web in 3-D (1953, a New Restoration by 3-D Film Archive from the original 35mm camera negatives, Introduced by Robert Furmanek and Jack Theakston of the 3-D Film Archive) on Monday, February 17.
TALES FROM THE NEW YORKER
Friday, February 21 – Thursday, March 6
The programme reads:
A celebration of The New Yorker's first century, spotlighting movies inspired by fiction and reporting from its pages, and by the acclaimed writers who helped define its distinctive voice and style. Kicks off on the 100th anniversary of the magazine’s debut issue (February 21, 1925), with the opening night screening introduced by New Yorker editor David Remnick. Select screenings will feature introductions by New Yorker writers and editors, including Naomi Fry, Adam Gopnik, Emily Nussbaum, Susan Orlean, Kelefa Sanneh, Susan Morrison, Michael Schulman, Rachel Syme, Calvin Trillin, Deputy Fiction Editor Cressida Leyshon, Film Critic Richard Brody, Fiction Editor Deborah Treisman, Puzzles and Games Editor Liz Maynes-Aminzade, and Cartoons Editor Emma Allen.
Films include IN COLD BLOOD, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING, THE HOURS, MY SISTER EILEEN, BURNING, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, PAL JOEY, BIGGER THAN LIFE, THE SWIMMER, THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE, CITIZEN KANE, and more.
Presented with support from The Ada Katz Fund for Literature in Film and The Robert Jolin Osborne Fund for American Classic Cinema of the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s
Programmed by Bruce Goldstein.
With special thanks to The New Yorker's Katherine Stirling and Nathan Burstein.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
For more information on the aforementioned films or series, click on the appropriate image above. For a complete calendar of all the films playing this month, click on the Film Forum banner.
In Hollywood (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The Vista Theater will present Ninotchka (1939, a 35mm print) Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9, Vertigo (1958, a 70mm print) Friday, February 14, Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16, and The Old Fashioned Way (1934, a 35mm print) on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
Click on the either of the movie posters or the marquee image above for more information including all of the films playing during the month of February.
In Como (part of greater Perth) Western Australia, The Revival House will present Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992, a 35mm print) Sunday, February 9, Saving Private Ryan (1998, a 35mm print) Saturday, February 15, and a double bill of Dirty Harry (1971, a 35mm print, with an introduction by film critic Arthur Grant) and Sudden Impact (1983, a 35mm print) on Saturday, February 22.
Click on the poster image for more information on this screening. To see the other films showing this month, click on the theatre banner above.
In theatres across the U.S. Flashback Cinema is presenting Casablanca (1942) Sunday, February 9, Wednesday, February 12 and Friday, February 14, and To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) Sunday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 19.
Click on the respective poster image for more information on each screening. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Flashback Cinema banner above.
In Detroit, Michigan The Redford Theatre will present Casablanca (1942, a 35mm print) on Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15, both screenings at 2 pm only.
Click on the top image for more information. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Redford Theatre banner above.
Noir City will take place in Seattle, Washington from February 14 - February 20.
From the Noir City Site:
Noir City Seattle returns—this year at SIFF Cinema Downtown—for the 17th year with a lineup featuring the femmes that made film noir fatale!
18 films including 12 presented on 35mm & two restorations
Join us at SIFF Cinema Downtown for 18 classic films shining a spotlight on women whose cinematic legacy is entwined with the rise of film noir. Twelve of those will be presented on glorious 35mm including the newest Film Noir Foundation’s restoration of Cry Danger, plus a new 4K restoration of Robert Siodmak’s Phantom Lady. Many of the films star the actresses profiled in Muller’s 2002 book ”Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir,” which is being reissued in April 2025 in a newly revised and expanded edition.
Expert hosts
Film Noir Foundation founder, Turner Classic Movies host, and "Czar of Noir'' Eddie Muller will present all screenings February 14-16, with local noir experts and authors Vince and Rosemarie Keenan taking over hosting duties February 17-20. Enjoy their expert takes and tidbits of film noir facts in their introductions each evening!
Live music
Starting at 5:30pm, join us on Opening Night for a special performance from the Dmitri Matheny Quintet, performing jazz from the silver screen. Lyrical flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny will be joined by his all-star band prior to the screening of The Narrow Margin. A Noir City Seattle tradition not to be missed!
To see Noir City’s complete schedule, click on the poster image above.
Lost in Translation
In San Francisco, California, The Roxie Theatre will present Lost in Translation (2003, a 35mm print, as part of their Broken Hearts Cinema Club and Featured series) on Saturday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 18.
For more information on this film’s showing, click on the movie image above. For more information on the other films being presented at The Roxie, click on the theatre picture above.
VICTOR KUBAL: INVENTOR OF SLOVAK ANIMATION
In Vancouver, British Columbia, The Cinematheque is presenting VICTOR KUBAL: INVENTOR OF SLOVAK ANIMATION: a series of short films by Slovak sketch artist Victor Kubal, as part of their Film Club series) on Sunday, February 16 at 10:30 am only.
Click on the film image for more information on this screening.
For all of the films scheduled this month at The Cinematheque, click on the theatre banner above..
High School II
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
In Santa Monica (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Aero Theatre will present High School II (1994, a New Restoration, as part of their ‘Frederick Wiseman: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’) on Saturday, February 22.
In Los Feliz (also part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Los Feliz 3 Theatre will present Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977, a 35mm print) on Monday, February 24.
For more information specifically on each of these programmes, click on the corresponding above image. To see the entire month of February’s programming including other films showing at the The Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz, the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, or The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood (also part of greater Los Angeles), click on the American Cinematheque banner.
Gold Diggers of 1933
In Culpeper Virginia, The Library of Congress at the Packard Campus Theater is presenting Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933, a 35mm print) on Saturday, February 22.
Click on the poster image for more information on this film’s screening. To see the rest of February’s schedule, click on the Packard Campus image above.
These are the reviewed films showing on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:
Bonnie and Clyde is a seminal gangster saga heavily influenced by the French iconoclast Jean-Luc Godard. A prior review here includes a special contribution from Bob DiMucci who informatively reports on some of the film's critical responses at the time of its release. Following that, are my personal recollections at the age of 12 upon seeing this radically-new expeditious approach to American cinematic storytelling. The Barrow Gang will strike on TCM Monday, February 3 at 7:15 pm PST.
Faye Dunaway
If I was in charge of choosing a single film noir for someone only willing to see one in the entire canon, I would select Double Indemnity (1944) as its most fulfilling and accomplished representative. It has been previously reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: Double Indemnity. Thoughts of adultery, greed and murder will manifest themselves on TCM Monday, February 3 at 9:15 pm PST.
The caper film first laid its roots in The Asphalt Jungle (1950) previously reviewed here. The depth of its characters and their fascinating interactions as the drama builds to a cathartic resolution is why this film has become one of America's finest cinematic achievements. The 'planning' will start on TCM Monday, February 3 at 11:15 pm PST.
In 1966, one of the more challenging films to face off against the Production Code (mentioned in Exploring the Artefacts #3: Code Breakers) was that year’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, reviewed here, remarkably delivering all of the guttural force of its theatrical origin while creating a more intimate, and cinema appropriate, dynamic all its own. Let the “games” begin Tuesday, February 11 at 9:15 pm PST.
Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton
Many readers have taken me to task for my inclusion of Casablanca on a list of “All that Glitters…”: The Overrated. I would simply ask that they read what I wrote about this revered classic before judging me too harshly. There is much to praise about the film contained in my review and the weaknesses I've noticed are, I feel, worthy of consideration. In any event, please indulge in this motion picture's magic and let me know if my observations have merit. The journey begins Friday, February 14 at 5 pm PST.
Just letting viewers know that TCM will be showing Around the World in 80 Days (1956), previously reviewed here, on Saturday, February 15 at 1:45 pm PST.
(From left) David Niven, Cantinflas
Also on TCM’s agenda is the Neo-noir Bullitt (1968), one of Steve McQueen’s most iconic characterisations. Reviewed here, Bullitt will speed its way onto TCM Wednesday, February 19 at 3 pm PST.
This next TCM recommendation is The Last Picture Show (1971), one of the most astute explorations of small town American life, previously reviewed here. This is one of the finest films of the ‘70s and can be seen Wednesday, February 19 at 7 pm PST.
(From left) Timothy Bottoms, Ben Johnson, Sam Bottoms
Bad Day at Black Rock, reviewed here, is 1955's modern-day take on the American Western. This exceptional suspense-thriller is also a former entry in Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley and will occur Thursday, February 20 at 9:20 am PST.
(From left) Russell Collins, Walter Brennan, Spencer Tracy (seated), Dean Jagger, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) has Humphrey Bogart portraying perhaps his darkest and most psychologically troubled character. Watching his slow transformation from an honest and idealistic adventurer to a tormented, paranoid psychotic is one of the art's most stunning, dramatically forceful experiences, perfectly matched to a magnificent and fatalistically ironic conclusion. My further thoughts on this film are here. This cinematic treasure can be discovered Thursday, February 20 at 2:45 pm PST.
(From left) Walter Huston, Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt
One of director John Frankenheimer’s more accomplished films is Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), reviewed here as part of our “Dish of the Day” series, and arriving at TCM Thursday, February 20 at 5 pm PST.
Burt Lancaster, “little runt” (sparrow)
Next is the Academy Award Best Picture winning film Chariots of Fire (1981), which benefits greatly from its iconic score by Vangelis Papathanassiou, ever so briefly reviewed here as part of an article on films from the 80s, and showing Saturday, February 22 at 2:45 pm PST.
Music by Vangelis
TCM is showing Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) on Sunday, February 23 at 1 pm PST. This is a film I’ve been rather dismissive of in my brief review which can be read here. On the plus side, all of the able-bodied cast members deliver solid performances.
Sidney Poitier, Katharine Houghton
One of the most intelligent and illuminating documentaries ever produced is Robert Epstein's 1984 feature The Times of Harvey Milk previously reviewed here and making another rare showing on TCM Monday, February 24 at 6:45 am PST.
(From left) Harvey Milk, George Moscone, Dan White
“The mattress is soft and there're hangers in the closet and stationary with ‘Bates' Motel’ printed on it in case you want to make your friends back home envious.”
Still another Hitchcock artistic triumph was, at the time (including throughout its primary creator’s career), the most audacious cinematic assault ever perpetrated on the movie going public or the Motion Picture Production Code for that matter. 1960's Psycho was previously reviewed here. The terror will begin Monday, February 24 at 7 pm PST.
Finally, there is Roman Polanski’s Tess (1979) reviewed here, with a focus on its beautiful music by Philippe Sarde. Tess will arrive on TCM Friday, February 28 at 2 pm PST.
Nastassja Kinski
TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above TCM related images. To confirm the correct Pacific Standard (West Coast) showtime information, subtract 3 hours from the Eastern Standard (East Coast) showtime listed on TCM’s schedule.
This month’s Happy Birthday shout out goes to Canadian born director Sidney J. Furie who turns 92 on February 28th.
Just a few of the more creatively enlivened films he’s directed include The Ipcress File (1965, a personal favourite of the spy genre starring Michael Caine and BAFTA award recipient for Best Picture), The Appaloosa (1966, an intriguing western starring Marlon Brando), The Naked Runner (1967, starring Frank Sinatra), The Lawyer (1970, an underrated murder mystery starring Barry Newman which resulted in the excellent spinoff TV series Petrocelli), Little Fauss and Big Halsy (1972, starring Robert Redford), Lady Sings the Blues (1972, starring Diana Ross as Billie Holiday), Hit! (1973, a gritty crime drama starring Lady Sings the Blues’ costar Billy Dee Williams), Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (1975, starring Jeannie Berlin and Roy Scheider), The Boys in Company C (1978, providing direct inspiration for Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket) and The Entity (1982, a horror cult classic praised by Martin Scorsese).
The Soundtrack recommendation of the month is Hans Zimmer's lively and ingratiating score to 1988's Rain Man.
The film has been previously reviewed, rather unfavourably I should mention, here. The music, however, provides colour and buoyancy to the proceedings, allowing the events to move along in a more unified, brisk and upbeat fashion.
La-La Land Records and MGM are presenting this remastered and expanded CD. This is a limited edition (only 1500 units produced). More information including ordering is available from La La Land Records by clicking on the soundtrack image.
City Lights (1931)…
… reviewed here, is February’s Blu-ray recommendation. The Criterion (Region A locked) edition can be ordered from Amazon.com by clicking on the image below.
A.G.