Happy Valentine’s Day (Tuesday, February 14) Everyone!

Just some thoughts on this month’s happenings:

Classic film screenings from around the world this February include:

In Melbourne, Australia The Astor Theatre is presenting Intolerance (1916) Saturday, February 4, Wings (1927) Sunday, February 5, Pandora’s Box (1929) Saturday, February 11, Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Sunday, February 12, King Kong (1933) Sunday, February 26, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966, a 4k digital presentation) on Sunday, February 26.

* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.

Click on the appropriate image for more information on this screening. To see the rest of February’s schedule, click on The Astor Theatre banner above.

In London, United Kingdom The Prince Charles Cinema will present Roman Holiday (1953, a brand new restoration, in celebration of this film’s 70th Anniversary) Saturday, February 4 and Wednesday, February 8, Taxi Driver (1976, a 35mm print) Saturday, February 4 and Wednesday, March 1, All About Eve (1950, as part of their Marilyn Monroe tribute) Sunday, February 5, Blazing Saddles (1974, a 35mm print) Friday, February 10, Fantasia (1940, a 35mm print) Saturday, February 11, Don’t Bother to Knock (1952, as part of their Marilyn Monroe tribute) Saturday, February 11, Casablanca (1942, a 35mm print) Sunday, February 12, The Wages of Fear (1953) Wednesday, February 15, Sorcerer (1977, in celebration of this film’s 45th Anniversary) Wednesday, February 15, Dunkirk (2017, a 70mm print) Thursday, February 16 and Tuesday, February 21, Thief (1981, a 35mm print) Friday, February 17 and Thursday, February 23, Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Saturday, February 18, King Kong (1933, a 35mm print, in celebration of this film’s 90th Anniversary) Monday, February 20 and Thursday, March 2, and Niagara (1953, in celebration of this film’s 70th Anniversary, as part of their Marilyn Monroe tribute) on Sunday, February 26.

* Note: Some of the above showtimes are 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.

In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present Night of the Living Dead (1968, a 35mm print) Saturday, February 4 at midnight only, a double bill of Midnight (1939, a 35mm print) and The Gilded Lily (1935, a 35mm print) Monday, February 13, and Straw Dogs (1971, an IB Tech 35mm print) on Friday, February 17, Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19.

Click on the respective image for more information. To see the rest of February’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.

In Bergen, Norway The Cinemateket i Bergen will present Sherlock Jr. (1924, a 35mm print) Sunday, February 5, and The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) on Thursday, February 23 and Tuesday, February 28.

For more information on each film’s showing, click on the appropriate movie image above. For more information on the other films being presented at The Cinemateket, click on the banner image above.

In Los Feliz (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Los Feliz 3 Theatre will present The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948, a 35mm print, in celebration of this film’s 75th Anniversary) Sunday, February 5, Some Like It Hot (1959, a 35mm print) Sunday, February 12, The Conformist (1970, a new 4k restoration) Thursday, February 23, Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25, and Manhunter (1986, a 35mm print) on Monday, February 27.

* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.

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 both the The Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz and Aero Theatre in Santa Monica (also part of greater Los Angeles), click on the American Cinematheque banner.

In theatres across the U.S. Flashback Cinema is presenting Pillow Talk (1959) Sunday, February 5 and Wednesday, February 8, and My Fair Lady (1964) on Sunday, February 26 and Wednesday, March 1.

Click on the appropriate poster image for more information. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Flashback Cinema banner above.

In theatres across the U.S., Fathom Events is presenting Groundhog Day (1993, as part of this film’s 30th Anniversary) on Sunday, February 5.

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 Valencia, Spain, Culturarts Generalitat IVAC – La Filmoteca at the Edificio Rialto will be presenting The 400 Blows (1959, as part of their CHILDHOOD IN THE CINEMA programme) Wednesday, February 8 along with a presentation of the cycle and the book “What Will Never Return: Childhood in the Cinema”, by Santiago Alonso and Isabel Sánchez, editors of the publication (this screening only) and Thursday, February 9, The Night of the Hunter (1955, a 35mm print, as part of their CHILDHOOD IN THE CINEMA programme) Friday, February 10 and Sunday, February 12, Le Dernier Tournant aka The Last Turning (1939, a 35mm print, as part of their FRENCH FLEECE programme) Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12, Le Corbeau aka The Raven (1943, as part of their FRENCH FLEECE programme) Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19, Los Olvidados aka The Young and the Damned (1950, as part of their CHILDHOOD IN THE CINEMA programme) Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23, and A High Wind in Jamaica (1965, a 35mm print, as part of their CHILDHOOD IN THE CINEMA programme) on Thursday, February 23 and Sunday, February 26.

Click on the respective film’s image for more information on each screening. To discover more of February’s programming including films playing in Alicante Spain at the Arniches Theatre and in Castelló Spain at the Raval Theater and the Paranimf of the Universitat Jaume, click on the banner image above.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, The Cinematheque will be present Paper Tiger (2020, as part of their “Frames of Mind: a mental health series”) on Wednesday, February 8 along with a Post-screening discussion with Dr. Paige Zhang, an emergency and consultation-liaison psychiatrist at Vancouver General Hospital.

For more information about the individual screening mentioned, click on the appropriate image. For all of the films scheduled this month at The Cinematheque, click on the theatre banner above.

The Philadelphia Story / His Girl Friday

In a Lonely Place / The Lady from Shanghai

In Los Angeles, California Secret Movie Club is presenting at the Secret Movie Club Theater a double bill of Double Indemnity (1944, a 35mm print) and Breathless aka À bout de souffle (1960, a 35mm print) Thursday, February 9, a double bill of The Philadelphia Story (1940, a 35mm print) and His Girl Friday (1940, a 35mm print) Friday, February 10, and a double bill of The Lady from Shanghai (1947, a 35mm print) and In a Lonely Place (1950, a 35mm print) on Thursday, February 16.

Also showing at The Million Dollar Theater Movie Palace is Sunrise (1927, a 35mm print) accompanied by a live original musical score by the JCD Ensemble on Saturday, February 25.

For more information on each of these presentations, click on the appropriate movie image. To discover other screenings organised by this group, click on the above theatre image.

Noir City will take place in Seattle, Washington from February 10 - February 16.

From the Noir City Site:

“Noir City returns to SIFF and celebrates its 15th anniversary with 18 films from the heart of Hollywood's noir movement, 1948. Each film in this year's lineup will be celebrating its 75th anniversary, playing at SIFF Cinema Egyptian February 10–16.

Join Eddie Muller—Film Noir Foundation founder, Turner Classic Movies host, and ‘Czar of Noir'‘—as host February 10–12 and local noir authors and experts Vince and Rosemarie Keenan February 13–16.”

Highlights include: Key Largo (1948, a 35mm print), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Larceny (1948, a 35mm print), The Spiritualist aka The Amazing Mr. X (1948, a 35mm print), They Live by Night (1948, a 35mm print), Hollow Triumph (1948, a 35mm print), The Hunted (1948, a 35mm print), and Cry of the City (1948, a 35mm print).

* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.

To see Noir City 15’s complete schedule, click on the poster image above.

In New York City, New York, Film Forum is presenting Funny Girl (1968) Sunday, February 12, Black Orpheus (1959, a 35mm print) Sunday, February 19, and The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) from Friday, February 24 – Thursday, March 2.

* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.

For more information on these screenings, click on the appropriate still above. For a complete calendar of all the films playing this month, click on the Film Forum banner.

In Perth, Western Australia Rooftop Movies is presenting Moonstruck (1987) Tuesday, February 14, and Alien (1979) on Wednesday, March 1.

For more information about the individual screening mentioned, click on the appropriate image. For other films scheduled at Rooftop Movies, click on the banner above.

In Auckland, New Zealand Academy Cinemas is presenting Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) Tuesday, February 14, Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) Sunday, February 19, Olivia (1951) Monday, February 20, and Victor/Victoria (1982) on Monday, February 27.

To obtain more information specifically on each of these programmes, click on the corresponding image. To see the entire month of February’s programming, click on the Academy banner above.

In Basel, Switzerland The Basel Symphony Orchestra will present Casino Royale (2006) with live musical accompaniment featuring David Arnold’s thrilling score on Friday, February 17.

Click on the above image for more information.

There are 14 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:

For an uproarious and thoroughly engaging movie-watching experience, it's hard to beat Bringing Up Baby previously recommended here. The antics will begin on TCM Tuesday, February 7 at 5 pm PST.

When affairs of the heart are so well integrated with thoughts of murder as they are in the Humphrey Bogart starrer Conflict, we have the makings of an exceptional film noir. This is because the emotional cause behind the actions infuses motive into these types of films and thus absorbs the viewer on a deeper level. Conflict, previously reviewed here, and a former visitor to Eddie Muller's Noir Alley, will present itself Thursday, February 9 at 8:30 am PST.

Please have a read here and see why Gold Diggers of 1933 is as enjoyable and pertinent as the shows these spirited characters struggle to produce. The show must go on Saturday, February 11 at 9 am PST.

This can only be a true recommendation for its superb soundtrack (reviewed here) since the drama resembles a grade school level production. See for yourself, when Red Sonja appears on TCM Sunday, February 12 at (early morning) 1 am PST.

Next is one of film noir's finest, Gun Crazy, previously reviewed here. Noir's most distinguishing feature, a focus on their criminal participants' psychology, marks a major shift regarding motive. In the earlier "gangster" films, money and power provided enough reason for the pursuit of illegal gains whereas in noir, the internal cause behind the action is paramount, and runs so much deeper... and darker. The craziness will ensue Tuesday, February 14 at (early morning) 3:15 am PST.

Does anyone notice anything peculiar in this shot considering this film was made during the Production Code?

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" will begin on Tuesday, February 14 at 1:30 pm PST.

Top Ten: Cinema's Most Treasured Image #81

Despite a rather unenthusiastic relationship at this story’s centre, film noir fans shouldn’t cheat themselves out of seeing The Man Who Cheated Himself, restored by The Film Noir Foundation and UCLA Film & Television Archive and a previous Blu-ray recommendation here. TCM will air this nifty little noir Wednesday, February 15 at 8:45 am PST.

(From left) Lee J. Cobb, Harlan Warde, Jane Wyatt

Tomorrow Is Another Day, previously reviewed here, may sound like some forgotten Douglas Sirk melodrama, but certainly has its fair share of film noir qualifications delivered with assuredness by director Felix Feist (who also directed the previous TCM recommendation just above). A couple of hard cases, played by Steve Cochran and Ruth Roman who slowly start to soften up to one another, informs this film’s compelling nature. A previous stop in Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley, Tomorrow will arrive Wednesday, February 15 at 1:30 pm PST.

This will be a really bad day for anyone who encounters Them! (the giant mutant ants that is). The motion picture, however, is an exhilarating creature feature, previously reviewed here. Them! will march on TCM Thursday, February 16 at 3:15 pm PST.

If “screwball comedy” is your cinematic dish of choice please check out The Lady Eve (1941) reviewed, along with a few words about these particular types of storytelling delicacies, in Tuesday’s “Dish of the Day” here. The Lady Eve is one of the most delectable screwball comedies ever served and can be enjoyed on TCM Tuesday, February 21 at 5 pm PST.

One of the western genre’s finest representations (as well as being a Top Ten Western runner up (mentioned here) is director André De Toth’s hard hitting and unforgettable Day of the Outlaw. This masterful western will be reviewed as part of our newly added “Dish of the Day” series and posted appropriately on the day of its arrival at TCM Friday, February 24 at 6:45 pm PST.

#Edit: My review for Day of the Outlaw can now be seen here.

Immediately following The Day of the Outlaw is Top Ten Westerns #1: the explosively confrontational The Wild Bunch. If by chance one hasn’t seen this landmark film, remedy that Friday, February 24 at 8:30 pm PST. For those who have, please see my review Opening Up a Treasure: The Wild Bunch as to why it was and still is, one of America's finest contributions to the cinematic arts.

The unmissable Busby Berkeley extravaganza Footlight Parade is also a previous TCM recommendation here. Let the show begin Sunday, February 26 at 5 am PST.

John Huston's Reflections in a Golden Eye is a film I have mixed feelings about. The rather strange inhabitants of these southern Gothically-tinged surroundings may remain underdeveloped but the performances from its superbly chosen cast compensate by genuinely conveying their characters' frustrations and desires making this an engrossing film-watching experience. It is a previous TCM recommendation here, and is worth eyeing Monday, February 27 at 8:45 am PST.

(From left) Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Brian Keith

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 multi-talented actress, writer and producer Lisa Eichhorn who turns 71 on February 4th.

She co-starred opposite Richard Gere in John Schlesinger’s Yanks (1979), played Maureeen ‘Mo’ Cutter in the cult classic Cutter’s Way (1981) with John Heard and Jeff Bridges, co-starred opposite Michael Paré in Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi curio Moon 44 (1990), and made welcome appearances in The Vanishing (1993, starring Jeff Bridges), Steven Soderbergh’s King of the Hill (1993) as well as co-starring in Jonathan Ford’s award winning film Offensive (2016). Her latest motion picture appearance is in the the sci-fi mystery Deus (2022). Lisa also co-wrote and produced Defenders of Riga (2007).

The Soundtrack recommendation for the month is John Barry's heart wrenching score for Richard Attenborough's respectable biopic Chaplin (1992).

Barry’s hauntingly poignant main theme is simply divine. His score lends dignity and grace to a film that chronicles the great filmmaker’s life with honesty and insight and admirably doesn’t shy away from his failures nor does it artificially inflate his successes.

La-La Land Records, StudioCanal and Sony Classical are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Chaplin with a newly remastered, deluxe presentation of the film’s original motion picture score. This release is limited to 3000 units. More information and ordering from the manufacturer can be obtained by clicking on the accompanying image.

Day of the Outlaw is this month’s former TCM, and current Blu-ray, recommendation.

Click on the video image below for more information on this Region A release from Kino Lorber Studio Classics as well as ordering from Amazon.com

This title is also available on this Region B Blu-ray from Masters of Cinema in the U.K. Click on the image below for more information and ordering from Amazon.co.uk:

Your purchase of either goes to help our friends at DVDBeaver.

A.G.

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