"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
Classic film screenings from around the world this March include:
In London, United Kingdom The Prince Charles Cinema will present North by Northwest (1959, a 70mm print) Thursday, March 6, Eraserhead (1977) Friday, March 7, Monday, March 17 and Thursday, March 27, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly aka Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966, a 35mm print) Monday, March 10, Inception (2010, a 35mm print) Monday, March 10, Casablanca (1942, a 35mm print) Wednesday, March 12, Paths of Glory (1957, a 35mm print) Wednesday, March 12, Women in Love (1969, a 35mm print) Friday, March 14, The Searchers (1956, a 70mm print) Saturday, March 15, Tuesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 20, Vertigo (1958, a 35mm print) Sunday, March 16, Brief Encounter (1945, a 35mm print) Tuesday, March 18, The Music Lovers (1971, a 35mm print) Wednesday, March 19, Double Indemnity (1944) Friday, March 21, The Big Sleep (1946) Sunday, March 23, Harakiri (1962) Thursday, March 27, In a Lonely Place (1950, a 35mm print) Thursday, March 27, and Taxi Driver (1976, a 35mm print) on Saturday, March 29.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
Click on the film’s respective image for more information. To see March’s complete programming, click on The Prince Charles Cinema banner above.
Blue Velvet
Shoeshine
Heat
In Bergen, Norway The Cinemateket i Bergen will present Blue Velvet (1986, a 35mm print) Thursday, March 6 and Thursday, March 13, Shoeshine (1946) Friday, March 14 and Friday, March 21, and Heat (1995, a 35mm print) on Sunday, March 16.
* 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.
Eraserhead
Blue Velvet
In San Francisco, California, The Roxie Theatre will present Eraserhead (1977, a 35mm print, as part of their In Dreams: A Tribute to David Lynch series) Thursday, March 6 and Tuesday, March 11, and Blue Velvet (1986, as part of their In Dreams: A Tribute to David Lynch series) on Saturday, March 8, Tuesday, March 11 and Friday, March 14.
For more information on each film’s showing, click on the respective movie image above. For more information on the other films being presented at The Roxie, click on the theatre picture above.
FREDERICK WISEMAN: THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF EVERYDAY LIFE
In Vancouver, British Columbia, The Cinematheque is presenting FREDERICK WISEMAN: THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF EVERYDAY LIFE: a series of films by noted documentarian Frederick Wiseman from March 6 - April 30.
Click on the film image for more information on this series.
For all of the films scheduled this month at The Cinematheque, click on the theatre banner above..
In Auckland, New Zealand, Academy Cinemas is presenting The Big Heat (1953) Friday, March 7, Saturday, March 15, Thursday, March 20, Tuesday, March 25 and Sunday, March 30, and Psycho (1960) on Wednesday, March 12, Wednesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 26.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
To obtain more information on either of these programme, click on the corresponding poster image. To see March’s complete schedule, click on the Academy banner above.
Play It as It Lays
ÉL
In New York City, New York, Film Forum is presenting:
Play It as It Lays (1972, a New 4K Restoration) from Friday, March 7 - Thursday, March 13.
El (1953, a New 4K Restoration) from Friday, March 14 - Thursday, March 20.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
For more information on the aforementioned films, click on the appropriate image above. For a complete calendar of all the films playing this month, click on the Film Forum banner.
The Shining
Touch of Evil
The Big Risk
In Lyon, France the Institut Lumiere is presenting The Shining (1980, as part of their ‘Stephen King at the Cinema’ series) Saturday, March 8, Sunday, March 23 and Friday, March 28, Touch of Evil (1958) Sunday, March 9, Wednesday, March 12 and Friday, March 28, and The Big Risk aka Classe tous risques (1960, as part of their ‘Film Club’ series) on Thursday, March 13 and Tuesday, March 18.
* 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.
In Detroit, Michigan The Redford Theatre will present Gone with the Wind (1939) on Saturday, March 8 at 7 pm and Sunday, March 9 at 2 pm only.
Click on the top image for more information on this screening. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Redford Theatre banner above.
Night of the Living Dead
Prime Cut
Putney Swope
In Los Feliz (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Los Feliz 3 Theatre will present Night of the Living Dead (1968, as part of their ‘Late Night, Late ’60s’ series) Tuesday, March 11, Prime Cut (1972, as part of their ‘Starring Gene Hackman’ series) Friday, March 14, and Putney Swope (1969, as part of their ‘Late Night, Late ’60s’ series) on Sunday, March 16.
For more information specifically on each of these programmes, click on the corresponding above image. To see the entire month of March’s programming including other films showing at the The Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz, the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica (also part of greater Los Angeles), or The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood (also part of greater Los Angeles), click on the American Cinematheque banner.
In Culpeper Virginia, The Library of Congress at the Pickford Theater is presenting Marked Woman (1937, a 35mm print) on Thursday, March 13.
Click on the poster image for more information on this film’s screening. To see the rest of March’s schedule, click on the Packard Campus image above.
In Hollywood (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The Vista Theater will present The Road Warrior (1981, a 35mm print) Friday, March 14 at Midnight only and Saturday, March 15 at Midnight only, and Anatomy of a Murder (1955, a 35mm print) on Tuesday, March 18, Wednesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 20.
* 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 March.
Noir City will take place in Hollywood, (part of greater Los Angeles) California from March 20 - March 30.
From the Noir City Site:
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
NOIR CITY: Hollywood returns to the Egyptian Theatre with a lineup of 23 films over eight days and nights, shining a spotlight on women whose cinematic legacy is entwined with the rise of film noir. Many of this year’s films star the six actresses profiled in Eddie 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. Jane Greer, Marie Windsor, Audrey Totter, Evelyn Keyes, Coleen Gray, and Ann Savage are the core cadre of women featured in this year’s program, which includes many of their signature films, including, respectively, OUT OF THE PAST (1947), TENSION (1949), THE PROWLER (1951), THE KILLING (1956) and DETOUR (1945) alongside many more.
To see Noir City’s complete schedule, click on the poster image above.
In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present a double bill of A Man Escaped aka Un condamné à mort s'est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut (1956, a 35mm print) and Pickpocket (1959, a 35mm print) on Friday, March 21, Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23.
Click on the respective image for more information. To see the rest of March’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.
Two English Girls
In Valencia, Spain, Culturarts Generalitat IVAC – La Filmoteca at the Arniches Theatre in Alicante Spain will be presenting Two English Girls aka Les deux Anglaises et le continent (1971, as part of their FRANÇOIS TRUFFAUT, THE FILM LOVER II series) on Thursday, March 27.
Click on the film’s image for more information on this screening. To discover more of March’s programming including other films playing in Alicante Spain at the Arniches Theatre, Valencia, Spain at the Edificio Rialto, and Castelló, Spain at the Paranimf of the Universitat Jaume I and at the Raval Theatre, click on the banner image above.
In theatres across the U.S. Flashback Cinema is presenting The Mummy (1999) on Saturday, March 29, Sunday, March 30 and Wednesday, April 2.
Click on the poster image for more information re this screening. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Flashback Cinema banner above.
In Melbourne, Australia The Astor Theatre is presenting a double bill of The Night of the Hunter (1955, a 4K Digital presentation) and Sweet Smell of Success (1957) on Sunday, March 30.
Click on the respective poster image for more information on each film’s screening. To see the rest of March’s schedule, click on The Astor Theatre banner above.
These are the reviewed films showing on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:
Patterns (1956) is Hidden Gem #54 with Ed Begley as the displaced U.S. executive whose shameful bullying at the hands of his superior corporate officer (Everett Sloane) is slowly starting to anger Begley's younger ally and (unbeknownst to himself) replacement, played by Van Heflin. All three male leads exhibit voracious appetites for their Rod (The Twilight Zone) Serling created dynamic parts. The dramatic fireworks are set to explode on TCM (updated) Monday, March 10 at 1:15 pm PST.
Andrew Duggan (Centre on left), Ed Begley (Far left), Everett Sloane (Centre), Van Heflin (Centre on right)
One of Alfred Hitchcock’s more uncustomary, yet distinguished, offerings is 1953’s I Confess previously reviewed here, featuring a fervent, introspective performance from Montgomery Clift. This highly engrossing confessional will take place Wednesday, March 12 at 9 am PST.
Anne Baxter, Montgomery Clift
A top of the line screwball comedy released the same year as Sullivan’s Travels and, even more remarkably, from the same writer (co-writer here along with Monckton Hoffe) / director is The Lady Eve (1941) reviewed here. See for yourself on Wednesday, March 12 at 5 pm PST.
(From left) Charles Coburn, Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda
TCM is presenting another top Preston Sturges classic, Remember the Night (1940), previously recommended here. The stars of this endearing cinematic charmer re-teamed for the later-made Double Indemnity. The date to remember is Wednesday, March 12 at 8:45 pm PST.
Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray
Still more of Barbara Stanwyck can be seen in the next three recommended features playing back-to-back on TCM:
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 Wednesday, March 19 at 5 pm PST.
Barbara Stanwyck
TCM is showing an underrated film noir, Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) reviewed as a Blu-ray recommendation here, and being presented on Wednesday, March 19 at 7 pm PST.
Barbara Stanwyck
Another film noir, released in 1950, is entitled No Man of Her Own. This film was reviewed as a DVD recommendation here. She’s making her next stop Wednesday, March 19 at 8:45 pm PST.
Lyle Bettger, Barbara Stanwyck
One of cinema’s most quintessential performances can be seen in 1947’s Possessed by the film’s star Joan Crawford. Crawford’s thorough commitment is bolstered by the actress, along with the film’s director Curtis Bernhardt, having visited several psychiatric hospitals observing patients and interviewing doctors regarding the script’s authenticity. Possessed is a prior TCM recommendation here, and can be thoroughly absorbed Friday, March 21 at 9 am PST.
Joan Crawford
“You will have a real face.”
Now comes France's finest entry in the horror genre, Georges Franju's Les yeux sans visage aka Eyes Without a Face (1960).
This is also a previous TCM recommendation here. Although the subject matter is as gruesomely shocking as can be imagined, it rises far above your common slasher flick. Gore is kept to a minimum. Its main characters' tragic desires, along with their feelings, are the focus. Eyes Without a Face depicts its events in a mature, elegant and refined fashion. The resulting contrast between the horrific choices and their resulting victimised subjects along with the shadowy surroundings and resigned sadness of our title character, create a most unsettling and lasting impression. This artistic masterwork can be seen with one's own eyes Friday, March 21 at 3:15 pm PST.
TCM is showing Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) on Sunday, March 23 at 3 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 offer solid performances.
Sidney Poitier, Katharine Houghton
1967's Hotel was taken, like 1970's Airport, from a novel by Arthur Hailey and is the far better crafted of the two films. This proficient and underrated motion picture was previously reviewed here and will open its doors Tuesday, March 25 at 8 am PST.
(From left) Rod Taylor and Richard Conte
Immediately following Hotel, Rod Taylor again headlines the intriguing “Mission Impossible” prototype espionage thriller 36 Hours (1964), previously reviewed here. The hour to watch will be Tuesday, March 25 at 10:15 am PST.
(From left) Rod Taylor, James Garner, Eva Marie Saint
I previously wrote about MGM contract actor Robert Taylor appearing in a startling number of well crafted films when writing about 1941’s Johnny Eager. He also starred alongside some of Hollywood’s hottest leading ladies including Lana Turner in the aforementioned film and Ava Gardner in The Bribe (1949) another captivating film noir, reviewed here, and making a rare appearance on TCM Saturday, March 29 at 1:30 pm PST.
Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner
TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above TCM related images. To confirm the correct Pacific Daylight (West Coast) showtime information, subtract 3 hours from the Eastern Daylight (East Coast) showtime listed on TCM’s schedule.
A Happy Birthday shout-out to the enduring and engaging actor William Daniels, who turns 98 on March 31st.
William Daniels as Albert in A Thousand Clowns
His charismatic presence has enlivened such memorable motion pictures as Ladybug Ladybug (1963), A Thousand Clowns (1965, pictured), Two for the Road (1967), The President's Analyst (1967), The Graduate (1967), 1776 (1972), The Parallax View (1974), Black Sunday (1977), All Night Long (1981), Reds (1981), and Blind Date (1987).
The Soundtrack recommendation of the month is Bernard Herrmann's captivating score to 1991's Cape Fear adapted from the original 1962 film of the same name by composer Elmer Bernstein.
Director Martin Scorsese wisely chose the late composer Bernard Herrmann’s assertive score used in the original Cape Fear (1962) for his 1991 remake. He also incorporated three of the actors who appeared in the earlier film, giving each one a new set of distinctively revitalised characteristics: Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, and Martin Balsam.
Elmer Bernstein’s interpretation of Bernard Herrmann’s score is also full of vitality. He uses themes from the 1962 film while introducing some of Herrmann’s rejected score for Alfred Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain (1966) along with a pinch of his own thematic material.
Quartet Records, Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Universal Music Special Markets and Geffen Records are presenting this expanded and remastered 2-CD edition. More information including ordering is available from Screen Archives Entertainment by clicking on the soundtrack image below.
The Long Goodbye (1973)...
… reviewed here, is March’s Blu-Ray recommendation. The Kino-Lorber (Region A locked) Special Edition can be ordered from Amazon.com by clicking on the image below.
A.G.