"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
My apologies for a late and abbreviated column this month. Once again, my time has been consumed with changing residences and all that course of action entails.
Classic film screenings from around the world this May include:
REWATCH RENOIR
MARTIN SCORSESE 60 YEARS OF AMERICAN CINEMA
In Lyon, France the Institut Lumiere continues with
REWATCH RENOIR: a series of films by the iconic filmmaker from April 4 - June 3…
… and
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 these series’. Click on the Institut logo for all of the films showing this month.
ROBERT BRESSON: SECRET LAWS OF THE CINEMATOGRAPH
In Vancouver, British Columbia, The Cinematheque is presenting
ROBERT BRESSON: SECRET LAWS OF THE CINEMATOGRAPH
a series that “… brings together all of Bresson’s uncompromising features, many screening in digital restorations marking their Vancouver debuts” from May 15 – July 2, 2025.
Click on the respective image above for more information on this series.
For all of the films scheduled this month at The Cinematheque, click on the theatre banner above.
In London, United Kingdom The Prince Charles Cinema will present Solaris (1972, a 35mm print) Friday, May 16, The Killing (1956, a 35mm print) Friday, May 16, Starship Troopers (1997, a 35mm print) Friday, May 16, The Swimmer (1968) Sunday, May 18, Blue Velvet (1986, a 35mm print) Monday, May 19 and Friday, May 23, Harakiri (1962) Saturday, May 24, The Long Goodbye (1973, a 35mm print) Tuesday, May 27, and The Aviator’s Wife aka La Femme de l'aviateur (1981) on Wednesday, May 28.
* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.
Click on the film’s respective image for more information. To see May’s complete programming, click on The Prince Charles Cinema banner above.
The Shawshank Redemption
Le Trou
Wanda
In Valencia, Spain, Culturarts Generalitat IVAC – La Filmoteca at the Edificio Rialto will be presenting The Shawshank Redemption (1994, as part of their PRISONERS AND FUGITIVES series) Friday, May 16 and Thursday, May 22, Le Trou (1959, as part of their PRISONERS AND FUGITIVES series) Saturday, May 17 and Tuesday, May 20), and Wanda (1970, as part of their CLASSICS, MODERN, AND STRANGE: A HISTORY OF CINEMA MADE BY WOMEN series) on Tuesday, May 20.
* 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 May’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.
JACK LEMMON 100
In New York City, New York, Film Forum is presenting:
JACK LEMMON 100
Friday, May 16 – Thursday, May 29
The programme reads:
“HAPPINESS IS WORKING WITH JACK LEMMON.”
– Billy Wilder
A two-week festival of classics from the 1950s to the 1990s in commemoration of Lemmon’s centennial year in 2025. The festival will include Lemmon’s best-known movies, including SOME LIKE IT HOT, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, THE ODD COUPLE, IRMA LA DOUCE, THE CHINA SYNDROME and a new 4K restoration of THE APARTMENT.
One of the most beloved actors in movie history, with a 50-year career that included comedies, musicals and dramas, Jack Lemmon (1925-2001), known for his quintessential “every man” persona, became the first person to win Academy Awards for both for his role in MISTER ROBERTS (Best Supporting Actor) and for SAVE THE TIGER (Best Actor). Lemmon also received Oscar nominations for THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979), TRIBUTE (1980) and MISSING (1982).
A frequent collaborator of director Billy Wilder and actor Walter Matthau, Lemmon first worked with Wilder on the comedy masterpiece SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959), shortly followed by the Oscar-winning THE APARTMENT (1960). He first starred opposite Matthau in THE FORTUNE COOKIE (1966), but it was their iconic clashing of personalities in THE ODD COUPLE (1968) that cemented their place as one of the all-time great comedy teams, with The New York Times dubbing them "one of Hollywood's most successful pairings."
Special guests during the festival will include Chris Lemmon (Jack's son), author of A Twist of Lemmon: A Tribute to My Father; Gina Raymond, (Jack’s daughter-in-law); television and stage actress Sydney Lemmon (Jack's granddaughter) (Succession, Job); Courtney Lemmon (Jack’s daughter); Courtney’s husband Peter McCrea (son of film stars Joel McCrea and Frances Dee); actor Juliet Mills, who co-starred with Jack in Billy Wilder’s AVANTI!; and actor Bob Odenkirk, a Lemmon fan who’s currently appearing on Broadway in the revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross.
See the new jacklemmon.com for clips, interviews and how you can support The Lemmon Foundation.
Programmed by Bruce Goldstein, Film Forum Repertory Artistic Director, with the Lemmon family as consultants.
Presented with support from The Robert Jolin Osborne Fund for American Classic Cinema of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s
Click on the actor’s image for the programming of this series and on the Film Forum banner for other films playing this month.
Dead Ringers
Minority Report
Jaws
In Hollywood (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Egyptian Theatre will present Dead Ringers (1988, with an Introduction by producer Carol Baum) Friday, May 16, Minority Report (2002, a 35mm print) Sunday, May 18, and Jaws (1975, a 35mm print) on Sunday, May 25.
For more information on these programmes, click on the appropriate film image above. To see the entire month of May’s programming including other films showing at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, Aero Theatre in Santa Monica (also part of greater Los Angeles), and the The Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz (also part of greater Los Angeles), click on the American Cinematheque banner.
In Detroit, Michigan The Redford Theatre will present Toy Story (1995, a 35mm print) on Saturday, May 17 at 1 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.
A Matter of Life and Death
In Bergen, Norway The Cinemateket i Bergen will present A Matter of Life and Death (1946, a 35mm print) on Tuesday, May 20.
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.
In Auckland, New Zealand, Academy Cinemas is presenting Blade Runner [The Final Cut] (1982) on Wednesday, May 21.
To obtain more information on this programme, click on the poster image. To see May’s complete schedule, click on the Academy banner above.
The Times of Harvey Milk
Touch of Evil
In San Francisco, California, The Roxie Theatre will present The Times of Harvey Milk (1984, a 35mm print, a 40th Anniversary Screening on Harvey Milk Day) Thursday, May 22, Impact (1949, with author Barry Gifford in conversation with Peter Maravelis) Saturday, May 24 at 12:30 pm only, and Touch of Evil (1958, a 35mm print) on Wednesday, May 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 Roxie, click on the above theatre picture.
In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present Jaws (1975, a 35mm print) Friday, May 23, Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, and Platoon (1986, a 35mm print) on Friday, May 30 at 2 pm only.
Click on the appropriate poster image for more information on each of these presentations. To see the rest of May’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.
In theatres across the U.S. Flashback Cinema is presenting Blazing Saddles (1974) on Sunday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 28.
Click on the poster image for more information on this screening. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Flashback Cinema banner above.
These are the reviewed films showing on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. for the remainder of this month:
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 Friday, May 16 at 8:15 pm PDT.
(From left) Humphrey Bogart, Don Hamin
MGM contract player Robert Taylor appeared in a startling number of excellent films. Johnny Eager (1941), a previous recommendation here, is one of them. If you haven’t seen this exciting film noir with its irresistible characters (like the one pictured below played by Lana Turner) and situations, don’t miss the opportunity Friday, May 16 at 12 midnight PDT.
Lana Turner, Robert Taylor
My next TCM recommendation is 1947’s Nora Prentiss portrayed by Ann Sheridan. This first-class film noir, previously reviewed here, will make its striking impression Sunday, May 18 at 9 am PDT.
Kent Smith, Ann Sheridan
Out of Africa is another Academy Award Winning film from the ‘80s (1985 to be exact) that I have been rather critical of. My observations can be found here, in Part 2 of an article entitled “How Quentin Tarantino’s ‘One of the Worst Decades in Hollywood…’ Was Actually One of Its Greatest.” Out of Africa will be presented on Monday, May 19 at 5 pm PDT.
Meryl Streep, Robert Redford
Like the previous selection, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is an extremely popular film I have been fairly critical of. 1969’s western, previously reviewed here, is showing Tuesday, May 20 at 5 pm PDT.
(From left) Paul Newman, Robert Redford
From 1947 comes a story that takes place during the Christmas Holidays, the film noir Lady in the Lake reviewed here, Wednesday, May 21 at 3 pm PDT.
Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter
Crime Wave (1953), previously reviewed here, is one wave you'll want to catch Friday, May 23 at 12:30 pm PDT.
Charles Buchinsky (a.k.a. Charles Bronson)
TCM will show The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), an incisive look into how each of three returning servicemen adapt to civilian life at home, after World War II. Previously, I highly praised The Best Years of Our Lives for its exceptional musical score composed by Hugo Friedhofer in the first part of a series entitled Top Ten: Motion Picture Music Treasures. This emotionally powerful tour de force will commence Friday, May 23 at 5 pm PDT.
Dana Andrews, holding the Mayo... Virginia Mayo that is
Anthony Mann’s low-budget, up close and personal foray into the war genre is an artistic triumph of the highest order: 1957’s Men in War, previously reviewed here. One can "see action" Saturday, May 24 at 5 pm PDT.
(From left) Robert Ryan, Aldo Ray
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 Monday, May 26 at 2:15 pm PDT.
(From left) Derren Nesbitt, Ingrid Pitt, Mary Ure
Then there's John Ford's 1956 masterpiece The Searchers, previously 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 Tuesday, May 27 at 5 pm PDT.
John Wayne
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 Thursday, May 29 at 2:45 pm PDT.
Ned Beatty
Another Top Ten Western is 1968’s Once Upon a Time in the West, reviewed here, which is having a rare showing on TCM Thursday, May 29 at 5 pm PDT.
Cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli
Next up, is a WW II film that can only be defined by its setting. There are just too many dispersed ideas regarding tone and perspective to communicate what kind of film Kelly’s Heroes (1970) is, let alone how any of its numerous genre types are successfully represented. Discover for yourself when Kelly’s Heroes (previously reviewed here) arrive at TCM Saturday, May 31 at 12:15 pm PDT.
TCM is bringing back Bringing Up Baby (1938) previously recommended here. "Baby" will be brought back and up on Saturday, May 31 at 5 pm PDT.
Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant
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.
This month's Happy Birthday shout-out goes to Clint Eastwood, who turns 95 on May 31st.
Aside from the iconic characters this formidable talent has given us, such as "The Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns and Dirty Harry in Don Siegel's proficient cop thriller of the same title, Clint has appeared in some lesser (but worthy of being better) known films, i.e. The Beguiled (for director Siegel and the star's favourite of those made with his mentor), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (written and directed by Michael Cimino) and White Hunter Black Heart (directed by its star). His list of artistic accomplishments behind the camera include The Outlaw Josey Wales, Bronco Billy, Unforgiven, The Bridges of Madison County, Million Dollar Baby, Letters from Iwo Jima and Gran Torino.
The Soundtrack recommendation of the month is the long overdue, compositionally captivating score (here presented as a Cantata sans narration), to the Emmy-nominated 1968 television documentary The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich composed by Lalo Schifrin.
Those of us cinephiles familiar with Mr. Schifrin’s recognisable style punctuated with his liberally applied, but still unique, rhythmically driven underscoring, knew immediately who was behind the sonic force of this powerful documentary without having to see the credits.
Now, finally, we can hear this amazing score in all its glory thanks to the folks at Dragon’s Domain Records. This limited edition CD is available from Screen Archives Entertainment by clicking on the accompanying image.
May’s Blu-Ray recommendation is this format’s December 2024 release of the 1947 film noir Nora Prentiss. Mentioned previously in our TCM listings for the month (the film reviewed here), Warner Archive has made this exceptional film noir on Blu-ray available through Amazon.com by clicking on the accompanying image.
A.G.