"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
Classic film screenings from around the world this August include:
FILM NOIR 2026
In Vancouver, British Columbia, The Cinematheque is continuing with:
FILM NOIR 2026
The programme reads:
“The most American film genre, because no society could have created a world so filled with doom, fate, fear, and betrayal, unless it were essentially naïve and optimistic.”
Roger Ebert
Summer brings its usual dose of darkness to The Cinematheque courtesy of film noir, that irresistibly unsavoury school of mid-century American moviemaking defined by its emblematic aesthetics and obsession with bad behaviour.
This season, we’re drawing from the postwar catalogue to assemble a murderers’ row of eight gripping crime thrillers, each haunted in its own way by the tremors of WWII. Half of the films arrive in brand-new restorations, with perhaps Robert Siodmak’s unassailable 1946 classic The Killers the showpiece of the restored lineup. Of those noirs receiving premiere status in our series, none cast a shadow longer than They Live by Night, Nicholas Ray’s landmark debut and historically unbookable film this side of the border. To celebrate its overdue anointment, we’re juxtaposing it with New Hollywood heavyweight Robert Altman’s Thieves Like Us, a dissimilarly great adaptation of the same source material. We also pay tribute to Marilyn Monroe, born a century ago this year, with screenings of her Technicolor noir Niagara, famous for elevating MM to Hollywood’s A‑list.
Our sidebar, meanwhile, detours to ’90s Japan for a trilogy of postmodern neo-noirs by Hayashi Kaizo. Each stars screen idol Nagase Masatoshi (Mystery Train) as private eye Maiku Hama, an ironic homage to the Mickey Spillane pulp antihero of, among others, Robert Aldrich’s Kiss Me Deadly (also screening).
Join us on opening night for a ’50s-themed courtyard shindig before Niagara, featuring vinyl jazz, boozy beverages, and the latest drop of noir merchandise.
From July 30–August 27, 2026
Click on the respective image above for more information on the Film Noir 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 Inception (2010, a 35mm print) Thursday, August 6, The Wild Bunch (1969) Thursday, August 6, Taxi Driver (1976, a 35mm print, a 50th Anniversary screening) Friday, August 7, Saturday, August 8, Tuesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 12, Heat (1995, a 35mm print) Tuesday, August 11 and Friday, August 28, Blade Runner [The Final Cut] (1982, a 4K presentation) Wednesday, August 12, The Red Shoes (1948, a 35mm print) Wednesday, August 12, Harakiri (1962) Sunday, August 16, Tokyo Story aka Tôkyô monogatari (1953, a 35mm print) Wednesday, August 19, Mulholland Drive (2001, a 35mm print) Friday, August 21, The Getaway (1972) Friday, August 21, and Apocalypse Now [The Final Cut] (1979, a 4K presentation) on Tuesday, August 25.
* Note: Some of the showtimes are matinees only.
Click on the film’s respective image for more information. To see August’s complete programming, click on The Prince Charles Cinema banner above.
In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present Taxi Driver (1976, a 35mm print) on Thursday, August 6, Friday, August 7, Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9.
Click on the poster image for more information on this presentation. To see the rest of August’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.
In Culpeper Virginia, The Library of Congress at the Packard Campus Theater is presenting The Swimmer (1968, a 35mm print) on Thursday, August 6, and Niagara (1953, a 35mm print) on Friday, August 7.
Click on the respective poster image for more information on these screenings. To see the rest of August’s schedule, click on the Packard Campus image above.
In Hollywood (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The Vista Theater will present 3 Wise Girls (1931, a 35mm print) on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 at 10 am only.
To discover more about the screening of 3 Wise Girls or the other films playing this month at the Vista Theater, click on either of the above images.
American Psycho
In San Francisco, California, The Roxie Theatre will present American Psycho (2000, as part of their Two by Mary Harron series) on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 10.
For more information on this showing, click on the movie image above. For more information on the other films being presented at The Roxie, click on the theatre picture.
In theatres across the U.S. Flashback Cinema is presenting The Goonies (1985) on Saturday, August 8, Sunday, August 9 and Wednesday, August 12.
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.
In theatres across the U.S., Fathom Entertainment is presenting Point Break (1991, a 4K restoration, a 35th Anniversary presentation) on Sunday, August 16 and Wednesday, August 19.
Click on the poster image for more information on this screening. To see more scheduling, click on The Fathom Events banner above.
In Auckland, New Zealand, Academy Cinemas is presenting Kwaidan (1964, an ‘Auckland Film Society’ screening for members only) on Monday, August 17.
To obtain more information on this programme, click on the poster image. To see August’s complete schedule, click on the Academy banner above.
In Sydney, Australia The Ritz Theatre will present Le Circle Rouge (1970, a 35mm print) on Friday, August 21.
Click on the film image for more information on this screening. For other films playing at The Ritz Theatre, click on the banner above.
Apocalypse Now
In Valencia, Spain, Culturarts Generalitat IVAC – La Filmoteca at the Summer Film Library will present Apocalypse Now [The Final Cut] (1979, as part of their SUMMER FILM LIBRARY 2026: A RIVER OF CINEMA series) on Friday, August 21.
Click on the film’s image for more information on this screening. To discover more of August’s programming including other films playing in Valencia, Spain at the Edificio Rialto, Castelló, Spain at the Raval Theatre and the Paranimf of the Universitat Jaume I, and in Alicante Spain at the Arniches Theatre, click on the banner image above.
COPPOLA
In New York City, New York, Film Forum is presenting
COPPOLA from
Friday, August 21 – Thursday, September 10
The programme reads:
A three-week, 25-film retrospective of the legendary Oscar®-winning American director Francis Ford Coppola’s work, showcasing the extraordinary breadth of his career.
From the epic sweep of THE GODFATHER TRILOGY, his landmark chronicle of the Corleone family’s rise and fall that forever redefined the American crime film, to both the FINAL CUT and rare ROADSHOW versions of APOCALYPSE NOW, his hallucinatory Vietnam War masterpiece widely regarded as one of cinema’s greatest achievements. Also featured are the taut, paranoid thriller THE CONVERSATION; Coppola’s visually dazzling romantic musical ONE FROM THE HEART: REPRISE; adaptations of young adult novelist S.E. Hinton’s work: the coming-of-age story THE OUTSIDERS: THE COMPLETE NOVEL and the the dreamlike, black-and-white RUMBLE FISH, one of the defining films of 1980s American independent cinema; FINIAN’S RAINBOW, starring Fred Astaire in his final musical role; and Coppola’s decades-in-the-making epic MEGALOPOLIS, an audacious meditation on civilization and utopian futurism.
* Note: Some of the showtimes are matinees only.
Click on the retrospective image for more information and on the Film Forum banner for other motion pictures playing this month.
Noir City will take place in Portland, Oregon from August 21 - 23.
The introduction reads:
Writer, film historian, and “Czar of Noir” Eddie Muller returns to the Hollywood Theatre Friday-Sunday, August 21-23, 2026, for NOIR CITY: Portland, a weekend-long festival of both classic and obscure noir films from the 1940s and 1950s.
Click on the poster image for more information.
Network
In Santa Monica (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Aero Theatre will present Network (1976, with a ‘Live podcast recording with Visitations hosts Daniel Noah and Elijah Wood and guest screenwriter Dan Harmon’, as part of their FRIEND OF THE FEST 2026 SERIES) on Sunday, August 23.
For more information on this programme, click on the film image above. To see the entire month of August’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), and the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood (also part of greater Los Angeles), click on the American Cinematheque banner.
Moulin Rouge
In Lyon, France the Institut Lumiere at the Place Ambroise Courtois, is presenting Moulin Rouge (2001, as part of their SUMMER IN CINEMASCOPE series) on Tuesday, August 25.
Click on the film image above for more information on this screening. Click on the Institut logo for all of the films showing this month.
In Como (part of greater Perth) Western Australia, The Revival House will present Tombstone (1993, a 35mm print) on Wednesday, August 26.
Click on the poster image for more information on this screening. To see the other films showing this month, click on the theatre banner above.
In Palo Alto California, The Stanford Theatre continues with their extensive programme of classic motion pictures. The presentations consist of double bills, all on 35mm film, often with live organ performances before the features begin. This month’s highlight is part of a tribute to Marilyn Monroe: The Misfits (1961, a 35mm print) paired with Let’s Make Love (1960, a 35mm print) on Wednesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 27.
Click on the above image for the entire programme.
These are the reviewed films showing on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:
1972's The Getaway, is not nearly as meaningful or resonant as some of Sam Peckinpah's earlier films; still, as a genre piece, it punches solidly above its pay grade. The Getaway, first recommended here, will ensue Saturday, August 8 at 5:15 am PDT.
Steve McQueen
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 Saturday, August 8 at 6:30 pm PDT.
Perfectly appropriate for the romantically inclined is The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947). This film’s sublime depiction of supernatural romance is enhanced by the intelligence and maturity of the artists who guide us through a profound exploration of love's true nature and spiritual acceptance. It has previously been recommended here. The romance will commence Sunday, August 9 at 9 am PDT.
Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison
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 Tuesday, August 11 at 5 pm PDT.
(From left) Charles Coburn, Barbara Stanwyck, and Henry Fonda
Another recommendation starring Barbara Stanwyck is this underrated film noir, Sorry, Wrong Number (1948). Reviewed as a Blu-ray recommendation here, it’s being presented Tuesday, August 11 at 9 pm PDT.
Barbara Stanwyck
TCM will air The Marx Brothers’ masterpiece Duck Soup (1933) reviewed here. War will be declared Wednesday, August 12 at 5 pm PDT.
Another Marx Brothers recommendation is Monkey Business (1931), previously reviewed here. I have also posted 2 famous scenes from this film, Capturing a Golden Moment #6 and Capturing a Golden Moment #12. The shenanigans will commence at TCM Wednesday, August 12 at 8:30 pm PDT.
(From left) Thelma Todd, Groucho Marx, Zeppo Marx, Harry Woods
For those who might have missed last month’s presentation of Hidden Gem #10, They Won't Believe Me (1947)… rejoice. This highly unusual film noir has a fascinating, twisted plot and antithetically noir central character. It was my very first entry (linked here) for the Cinema Cafe Site with some kind words from the "Czar of Noir" himself, Eddie Muller, in the comments section below the review. If you're a TCM noir fan and haven't seen They Won’t Believe Me, please believe me, you don't want to miss this major opportunity. It will emerge from the shadows Thursday, August 13 at 9 am PDT.
Jane Greer, Robert Young
A couple on their way to New York City are about to have a serious reality check in 1970’s “comedy” The Out-of-Towners, previously reviewed here, and happening Friday, August 14 at 5 pm PDT.
Jack Lemmon, Sandy Dennis
The Searchers is one of the finest Westerns ever made and perhaps director John Ford's most artistically successful film. It has been previously reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: The Searchers and will begin on TCM Saturday, August 15 at 10:30 am PDT.
My next recommendation is Howard Hawks’ lightening fast comedy/romance His Girl Friday (1940), reviewed here and blasting off Sunday, August 16 at 10:45 am PDT.
(From left) Ralph Bellamy, Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell
"Shoot a man for sleeping with someone's wife? That's silly. Half the town'd be wiped out."
My next TCM and previous Blu-ray recommendation is 1966's The Chase (reviewed here) happening Tuesday, August 18 at 4:30 am PDT.
Marlon Brando
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 Tuesday, August 18 at 5 pm PDT.
Meryl Streep, Robert Redford
Besieged with production problems, and sometimes wrongfully criticised because of them, this next TCM recommendation is, nevertheless, an accomplished and splendorous piece of dramatically dynamic adventure storytelling: the 1962 version of Mutiny on the Bounty, previously reviewed here, showing on TCM Thursday, August 20 at 10 am PDT.
(From left) Marlon Brando, Trevor Howard
Next is a film noir bonafide classic, The Narrow Margin, a previous TCM recommendation here. This little firecracker is set to explode Friday, August 21 at 5 pm PDT.
Stanley Kubrick took the entire film community, along with noir fans, by (a perfect) storm with his innovative 1956 take on the caper genre, The Killing previously recommended here. "The best-laid plans..." will be presented on TCM Friday, August 21 at 8 pm PDT.
That's actually Rodney Dangerfield in the crowd (Standing on the ground, second from the right).
TCM is bringing back Bringing Up Baby (1938) previously recommended here. "Baby" will be brought back and up on Sunday, August 23 at 1 pm PDT.
Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant
Otto Preminger’s directed classic, 1944’s Laura, is the exacting director’s slick and assured amalgamation of mystery (whodunnit) and film noir (obsessive desire, gruesome murder etc) elements. This film was briefly reviewed here. Included is a comparison between the detective played by Dana Andrews and James Stewart’s retired investigator in Vertigo. Laura will come to life Monday, August 24 at 5 pm PDT.
Anyone who wishes to enjoy the Holiday spirit might want to pay a little visit to Ernst Lubitsch's The Shop Around the Corner (1940), previously reviewed here. The festivities will begin Wednesday, August 26 at 9 am PDT.
James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan
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 Wednesday, August 26 at 5 pm PDT.
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 Wednesday, August 26 at 9:15 pm PDT.
(From left) Farley Granger, James Stewart, John Dall
In my review of Casablanca (1942), I made some criticism regarding its emotionally underwhelming Parisian flashback. Prior to this film, however, Casablanca's producer Hal Wallis and one of its contributing writers, Casey Robinson, made Now, Voyager (1942) where the romance witnessed from start to finish comes alive with fervour, maturity and elegance. Previously reviewed here, Now, Voyager will set sail Thursday, August 27 at 1 pm PDT.
“What a story! Everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end.”
All About Eve (1950) is really all about the spoken word and is a prior TCM recommendation here. She will make her appearance Thursday, August 27 at 5 pm PDT.
Gary Merrill, Anne Baxter, Bette Davis
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.