"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on this month’s happenings:
Classic film screenings from around the world this December include:
Coup de Torchon
Days of Heaven
In New York City, New York, Film Forum will present Coup de Torchon (1981) from Friday, December 1 – Thursday, December 7, and Days of Heaven (1978, a new 4k restoration) from Friday, December 8 – Thursday, December 21.
For more information on the films mentioned, click on the appropriate image above. For a complete calendar of all the films playing this month, click on the Film Forum banner.
Meet Me in St. Louis
In Detroit, Michigan The Redford Theatre will present Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) on Saturday, December 2 at 2 pm only.
Click on the movie image for more information. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Redford Theatre banner above.
Tokyo Story
Ride the High Country
Double Indemnity
The Game
The Night of the Hunter
In Los Feliz (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Los Feliz 3 Theatre will present Tokyo Story (1953, a 35mm print) Sunday, December 3, Ride the High Country (1962, a 35mm print) Saturday, December 9, Double Indemnity (1944, a 35mm print, Introduced by filmmaker Bomani J. Story) Sunday, December 10, The Game (1997, a 35mm print) Saturday, December 16, and The Night of the Hunter (1955) on Friday, December 22 and Saturday, December 23.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
For more information specifically on each of these programmes, click on the corresponding image. To see the entire month of December’s programming including other films showing at The Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz, The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and The Aero Theatre in Santa Monica (the other mentioned theatres also part of greater Los Angeles) click on the American Cinematheque banner.
In London, United Kingdom The Prince Charles Cinema will present Ikiru (1952, a 35mm print) Monday, December 4, The Godfather Part II (1974, a 35mm print) Tuesday, December 5, The Shop Around the Corner (1940, a 35mm print) Tuesday, December 5, Lone Star (1996, a 35mm print) Friday, December 8, The 400 Blows aka Les quatre cents coups (1959, a 35mm print) Tuesday, December 12, The Godfather (1972, a 35mm print) Wednesday, December 13, Taxi Driver (1976, a 35mm print) Thursday, December 14, Goodfellas (1990, a 35mm print) Wednesday, December 27, First Blood (1982) Thursday, December 28, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Saturday, December 30, and American Psycho (2000, a 35mm print) on Saturday, December 30.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
Click on the film’s respective image for more information. To see December’s complete programming, click on The Prince Charles Cinema banner above.
The Turin Horse
In Bergen, Norway The Cinemateket i Bergen will present The Turin Horse aka A torinói ló (2011) on Tuesday, December 5 and Sunday, December 10.
For more information on this film’s showing, click on the appropriate movie image above. For further information on the other films being presented at The Cinemateket, click on the banner image above.
In Culpeper Virginia, The Library of Congress at the Packard Campus Theater is presenting Ninotchka (1939) on Thursday, December 7.
Click on the poster image for more information on this film’s screening. To see the rest of December’s schedule, click on the Packard Campus image above.
Coup de Torchon
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dog Day
In Valencia, Spain, Culturarts Generalitat IVAC – La Filmoteca at the Edificio Rialto will be presenting Coup de Torchon (1981, as part of their FRENCH FLEECE programme) Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008, as part of their ‘100 Years of Warner’ series) Thursday, December 14 and Friday, December 15, and Dog Day aka Canicule (1984, as part of their FRENCH FLEECE programme) on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17.
Click on the film’s image for more information on each screening. To discover more of December’s programming including other films playing in Valencia, Spain at the Edificio Rialto, Castelló, Spain at the Raval Theatre and at the Paranimf of the Universitat Jaume I, and Alicante Spain at the Arniches Theatre, click on the banner image above.
In Auckland, New Zealand Academy Cinemas is presenting a double bill of Gaslight (1944) and My Name is Julia Ross (1945) on Sunday, December 10.
To obtain more information specifically on each of this programme, click on the corresponding image. To see the entire month of December’s programming, click on the Academy banner above.
Metropolis
In Berlin, Germany The Babylon Orchestra Berlin will present Metropolis (1927) with live musical accompaniment featuring a New Edition of the original film music by Gottfried Huppertz for salon orchestra on Sunday, December 10, Sunday, December 17, Wednesday, December 27 and Friday, December 29.
Click on the above image for more information.
In Melbourne, Australia The Astor Theatre is presenting Eyes Wide Shut (1999, a 35mm print) on Monday, December 11.
Click on the poster image for more information on this film’s screening. To see the rest of December’s schedule, click on The Astor Theatre banner above.
North by Northwest / Vertigo
In Los Angeles, California Secret Movie Club is presenting at The Million Dollar Theater Movie Palace a double bill of North by Northwest (1959, a 35mm print) and Vertigo (1958, a 35mm print) on Saturday, December 16.
For more information on this presentation, click on the appropriate image. To discover other screenings organised by this group, click on the above theatre image.
In theatres across the U.S. Flashback Cinema is presenting It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) on Sunday, December 17, Wednesday, December 20 and Sunday, December 24.
Click on the poster image for more information. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Flashback Cinema banner above.
In Oakland, California Noir City Xmas will take place with a screening of Cover Up (1948, a 35mm restoration made by UCLA Film & Television Archive, with Film Noir expert Eddie Muller in attendance) on Wednesday, December 20.
Click on the above image for more information.
In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present The Shining (1980, a 35mm print) Saturday, December 23 at Midnight only, Children of Paradise (1945, a 35mm print) Tuesday, December 26 and Wednesday, December 27, and His Girl Friday (1940, a 35mm print) on Saturday, December 30 and Sunday, December 31.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
Click on the respective image for more information. To see the rest of December’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.
There are 21 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:
TCM is bringing back Bringing Up Baby (1938) previously recommended here. "Baby" will be brought back and up on Friday, December 1 at 11 pm PST.
Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant
Top Ten Western #6 is Howard Hawks' 1948 Red River reviewed here. This is one acutely observed, character-driven western you don't want to miss. The drive will begin on TCM Sunday, December 3 at 4:30 am PST.
(From left) John Wayne, Montgomery Clift
Viewers who dare to have their imaginations stretched considerably should be rewarded Where Eagles Dare (1968), previously reviewed here and appearing on TCM’s radar Tuesday, December 5 at 2 pm PST.
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 Tuesday, December 5 at 10:15 pm PST.
A true romance film and of the highest artistic calibre has been reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: Brief Encounter. Director David Lean's stirring "encounter," released in 1945, will begin on Friday, December 8 at 7:45 am PST.
Immediately following Brief Encounter is another film helmed by David Lean. One of his more ambitious projects may have turned out less artistically accomplished than its director intended. Still, it has many attributes making Doctor Zhivago (1965) well worth seeing. Afterwards, I'd be appreciative if readers had a look at my review here. This epic scale romance will begin Friday, December 8 at 9:30 am PST.
Omar Sharif, Julie Christie
The next TCM recommendation has been reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: The Night of the Hunter. This highly expressionistic Grimm-like fable, released in 1955, appears as if conveyed from a child's point of view. The "hunter" will appear Saturday, December 9 at 11 am PST.
Robert Mitchum
Along with The Shop Around the Corner later this month, TCM is presenting another top Christmas Holiday classic, Remember the Night (1940), previously recommended here. The stars of this endearing cinematic charmer re-teamed for the later-made Double Indemnity. The dates to be remembered are Saturday, December 9 at 3:15 pm PST and Wednesday, December 20 at 5 pm PST.
Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray
A film well worth seeing is Network (1976), previously reviewed here. This “mad as hell” exposé of just how far some TV executives will go to exploit for profit a former news anchor’s severe “on the air” mental breakdown, will itself air on TCM Wednesday, December 13 at 5 pm PST.
Recently added to November’s “Now Listen to Me…” column is a brief review of His Girl Friday (1940) which TCM is showing again Friday, December 15 at 7 pm PST. My review can be read here.
(From left) Ralph Bellamy, Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell
Next up is a light-hearted and charming Christmas holiday treat: Ernst Lubitsch's The Shop Around the Corner (1940).
James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan
Beneath an inventive situation comedy veneer, however, lies a serious underlying message regarding relationships and how concepts (basically relating to the idea that there must be someone "better" for us out there) often get in the way of a more fulfilling union based on care and concern for one another. The Shop Around the Corner, previously praised here, will open Saturday, December 16 at 1:15 pm PST, again Tuesday, December 19 at 3:15 pm PST and once more this year on Saturday, December 23 at 5 pm PST.
‘Noiristas’, seeking a slick and twisty British Neo-noir from Hammer Studios, need look no further than Hidden Gem #35 Cash on Demand, released in 1961. This grippingly intense psychological crime thriller features a Scrooge-like bank manager played by Peter Cushing about to get his comeuppance after being introduced to a most superior officer (André Morell). Cash will indeed be demanded during the Christmas season, Monday, December 18 at 8 pm PST.
(From left) André Morell, Peter Cushing
From 1947 comes still another story that takes place during the Christmas Holidays, the film noir Lady in the Lake reviewed here, Wednesday, September 20 at 10:30 pm PST.
Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter
A nifty little noir from the ‘50s features a tough cop who, understandably, goes soft for a dame and thus turns to the dark side in Roadblock (1951), showing (updated) Saturday, May 11 (2024) at 1:30 pm PDT.
Roadblock is also December’s DVD selection and is reviewed at the conclusion of this column.
Charles McGraw, Joan Dixon
The next recommendation is another Hidden Gem (#40: Big Business 1929, U.S.A.), as well as my all time cherished Christmas Holiday cinematic treat. This is a Laurel and Hardy film in which a war takes place but instead of resulting in tragedy, all out hilarity ensues. Stan and Ollie are Christmas tree salesmen who pick the wrong customer (James Finlayson) to call on and the situation escalates from a simple misunderstanding to total Armageddon. Big Business is probably the duo's most brilliantly conceived and executed film of all and is only 19 minutes in length, airing Monday, December 25 at (early morning) 2:45 am PST.
(From left) Oliver Hardy, James Finlayson, Stan Laurel
Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958) is loaded with multi-faceted insights and hidden rumination on human relationships providing viewers with much to ponder long after this tale of romantic obsession ends. This cinematic treasure was previously opened here and will unveil its visual and aural riches Monday, December 25 at 5 pm PST.
Titles Designed by Saul Bass
I cannot think of any Alfred Hitchcock film as static in nature as 1948’s Rope, reviewed here and showing up on TCM Monday, December 25 at 11:30 pm PST.
(From left) Farley Granger, James Stewart, John Dall
Despite its ridiculously hard to follow plot, this next recommendation's wildly entertaining detective yarn is worth waking up for.
Previously reviewed here, The Big Sleep (1946) will awaken Tuesday, December 26 at 7 am PST.
A most talented friend on Facebook, Leilani Roundtree, has graciously allowed me to post her own very special modernised trailer for The Big Sleep. This amazing work both spoofs contemporary coming attractions while paying homage to the early classic in a most delightful way. Enjoy!
1967’s 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 Tuesday, December 26 at 9:15 pm PST.
Faye Dunaway
John Ford's The Searchers (1956) is 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, December 30 at 6:45 pm PST.
John Wayne
Don't miss Nicholas Ray's character study In a Lonely Place (1950) with Humphrey Bogart perfectly cast as Dixon Steele whose unpredictable explosions of anger make him a prime suspect for the killing of a young ingénue. This highly probative film noir was previously recommended here and will be investigated Sunday, December 31 at (early morning) 1 am PST.
(From left) Humphrey Bogart, Don Hamin
TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above TCM related images. 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.
This month’s Happy Birthday shout-out goes to the controversial Argentine filmmaker Gasper Noé who turns 61 on December 27th. His stylistically daring and highly provocative feature-length films are I Stand Alone (1998), Irreversible (2002), Enter the Void (2009), Climax (2018), Lux Æterna (2019), and Vortex (2021).
The Soundtrack recommendation of the month is John Williams' thematic wonderment to Steven Spielberg's 1991 film Hook.
Like Peter Pan himself, Williams’ music takes flight, delivering an unsurpassed sonic adventure full of imagination and delight. My review of the film (proceed with caution) can be read here.
La-La Land Records, Sony Pictures, Amblin Entertainment and Sony Music are presenting this remastered and expanded “Ultimate Edition” 3-CD Soundtrack. This is a limited release (5,000 units only) and is currently available from La-La Land Records by clicking on the accompanying image.
Roadblock (1951) is December’s former TCM, and current DVD, recommendation.
(From left) Charles McGraw, Peter Brocco
As soon as movie buffs see the name Charles McGraw attached to one of these little RKO crime films, they know they’re on their way to film noir heaven vis-à-vis the sordid highways of film noir hell. No matter which side of the street he’s on, whether it be a vicious thug in T-Men (1947) or rock solid cop in Armored Car Robbery (1950), McGraw’s dual granite-like features and personality remain perfectly sculpted for noir’s deadly, duplicitous and dangerous setting. Adding further dimension to this tightly organised display of nefarious activity is the story it’s based on: written by Richard H. Landau and Daniel Mainwaring (under the pseudonym Geoffrey Homes), the latter of 1947’s Out of the Past fame. Plus, one of the screenwriters is Steve Fisher who wrote the gutsy screenplays for Johnny Angel (1945), Dead Reckoning (1946), Lady in the Lake (1947), and The Hunted (1948). Last but not least, RKO’s go-to cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca is on board with his always reliable gloomy atmospherics. Roadblock’s director, Harold Daniels, fails to achieve the excitement quotient of others working in this milieu, e.g. Don Siegel or Richard Fleisher. As an actor himself he does, however, elicit some creatively nuanced performances from his sturdy cast.
Charles McGraw
Joan Dixon
McGraw plays Joe Peters, an insurance detective who falls hard for femme fatale Diane Morley played with just the right amount of seductiveness by Joan Dixon. Diane has an itch for the high life, one that ‘Honest Joe’ cannot scratch at least not on the scratch he makes. There are a few speed bumps along the way: Diane’s too sudden change from ‘gold digger’ to ‘heart of gold’ and Joe’s partner, played by Louis Jean Heydt (one of the baddies in 1946’s The Big Sleep) catches on awfully quick to Joe’s scheme. These sort of minor setbacks are, however, almost to be expected when the trip is this quick (Roadblock clocks in at 73 minutes). Besides, there’s plenty of hard-boiled dialogue to chew on while taking this exhilarating excursion that could not wind up at a more suitable destination.
Click on the image below for more information on this Warner Archive (Region Free) release currently available from Amazon.com Your purchase goes to help our friends at DVD Beaver.
A.G.