"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
My apologies for a late and abbreviated column this month. Most of my time has been consumed with moving residences and all that course of action entails.
Classic film screenings from around the world this April include:
FREDERICK WISEMAN: THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF EVERYDAY LIFE
TWO MEXICAN MASTERWORKS BY LUIS BUNUEL
In Vancouver, British Columbia, The Cinematheque continues with
FREDERICK WISEMAN: THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF EVERYDAY LIFE: a series of films by noted documentarian Frederick Wiseman from March 6 - April 30…
… and is presenting
TWO MEXICAN MASTERWORKS BY LUIS BUNUEL consisting of Los olvidados a.k.a. The Young and the Damned (1950, a New restoration) and Él a.k.a. This Strange Passion (1953, a New restoration) from April 18 - May 1.
Click on the respective image above for more information on either of these series’.
For all of the films scheduled this month at The Cinematheque, click on the theatre banner above.
MARTIN SCORSESE 60 YEARS OF AMERICAN CINEMA
In Lyon, France the Institut Lumiere continues with
MARTIN SCORSESE 60 YEARS OF AMERICAN CINEMA: a series of films by the remarkable filmmaker from April 4 - June 3.
Click on the respective image above for more information on this series. Click on the Institut logo for all of the films showing this month.
In London, United Kingdom The Prince Charles Cinema will present Blue Velvet (1986, a 35mm print) Saturday, April 19, Sunday, April 20 and Monday, April 21, The Holy Mountain (1973) Saturday, April 19, Blade Runner [The Final Cut] (1982, a 4K presentation) Tuesday, April 22, Dr. Strangelove (1964, a 35mm print) Saturday, April 26, and Casino (1995, a 35mm print) on Wednesday, April 30.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes may be matinees only.
Click on the film’s respective image for more information. To see April’s complete programming, click on The Prince Charles Cinema banner above.
The Swimmer
David and Lisa
In Santa Monica (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Aero Theatre will present a double bill of The Swimmer (1968, as part of their ‘INT. MOVIE THEATRE – Eleanor Perry’ series with an Introduction by filmmakers Amy Scott and Brian Morrow) and David and Lisa (1962, as part of their ‘INT. MOVIE THEATRE – Eleanor Perry’ series with an Introduction by filmmakers Amy Scott and Brian Morrow) on Saturday, April 19.
For more information on this programme, click on either of the film images above. To see the entire month of April’s programming including other films showing at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, The Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz (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 Auckland, New Zealand, Academy Cinemas is presenting I Confess (1953) on Sunday, April 20 at 5 pm only.
To obtain more information on this programme, click on the poster image. To see April’s complete schedule, click on the Academy banner above.
Bride of Frankenstein
In New York City, New York, Film Forum is presenting Bride of Frankenstein (1935, as part of their ‘Film Forum Jr.’ series) on Sunday, April 20 at 11 am only.
For more information on this screening click on the film image above. For a complete calendar of all the films playing this month, click on the Film Forum banner.
In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present a double bill of Duel (1971, a 35mm print) and The Sugarland Express (1974, a 35mm print) on Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22.
Click on either of the poster images for more information on this presentation. To see the rest of April’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.
In Detroit, Michigan The Redford Theatre will present It (1927, With Organ Accompaniment by Dennis Scott) on Saturday, April 26.
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.
Eraserhead
In Bergen, Norway The Cinemateket i Bergen will present Eraserhead (1977) on Tuesday, April 29 at 6 pm.
For more information on this film’s showing, click on the movie image above. For further information on the other films being presented at The Cinemateket, click on the banner image above.
Él
In San Francisco, California, The Roxie Theatre will present Él a.k.a. This Strange Passion (1953, a New 4K restoration) on Wednesday, April 30.
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 above theatre picture.
These are the reviewed films showing on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. for the remainder of this month:
TCM is making available to its subscribers, one of film noir's finest, 1950’s 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 dark deeds will ensue Saturday, April 19th at 3:15 pm PDT.
Peggy Cummins, John Dall
There have been quite a few movies centred around boxing over the years from 1937’s Kid Galahad to 2018’s Creed II with plenty of standouts in-between such as 1947’s Body and Soul, 1956’s Somebody Up There Likes Me, 1962’s Requiem for a Heavyweight, 1972’s Fat City and 1980’s Raging Bull. None of these, however, get as straight to the punchline as 1949’s knockout noir The Set-Up, previously reviewed here. It’s happening in Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley Saturday, April 19 at 9 pm PDT and again Sunday, April 20 at 7 am PDT.
My next selection is Gold Diggers of 1933 reviewed here. The show must go on Tuesday, April 22 at 1 pm PDT.
Ginger Rogers
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 Wednesday, April 23 at 9:45 am PDT.
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 Saturday, April 26 at 1:15 pm PDT.
Here is another film noir with a central character whose emotions have apparently consumed his common sense and compromised his moral integrity: The Prowler, previously reviewed here. Be on TCM’s watch in Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley Saturday, April 26 at 9:15 pm PDT or Sunday, April 27 at 7 am PDT.
Evelyn Keyes, Van Heflin
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, April 30 at 1:30 pm PDT.
Anne Baxter, Montgomery Clift
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.
(To be continued… ) A.G.