February 28th 2014. Pick of the Day.

HARD to top last night's screening of Hitchcock's SABOTEUR and its accompanying Q&A with star Norman Lloyd. Scratch that; all but impossible to top that this weekend. However let's remain positive Cinegeeks regardless and sally forth into the rep circuit. Today's continuing series include IFC Center's American Hustlers, Film Forum's The Complete Hitchcock, MoMA's ongoing Auteurist History of Film, Moving Image's See It Big! Musicals, and the Rubin Museum's swank Cabaret Cinema. The tomfoolery submitted for your approval;

IFC Center

HOUSE OF GAMES (1987) Dir; David Mamet

Film Forum

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1950) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock

NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock

TO CATCH A THIEF (1955) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock

MoMA

ECHOES OF SILENCE (1967) Dir; Peter Emmanuel Goldman

BAM Cinematek

MARKETA LAZAROVA (1974) Dir; Frantisek Vlacil

Museum of the Moving Image

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (1978) Dir; Martin Scorsese

New York Historical Society

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (1946) Dirs; Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

Rubin Museum

RAGING BULL (1980) Dir; Martin Scorsese

Nitehawk Cinema

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1979) Dir; Ruggero Deodato

Landmark Sunshine Cinema

NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984) Dir; Hayao Miyazaki

Today's Pick? Were the screening skeds of the twin Scorsesii just a bit further apart, or greater access to jet propulsion tech available to the bulk of you, I'd make a borough-hopping twin bill out of Moving Image's NEW YORK, NEW YORK and the Rubin's RAGING BULL, if only to have the big screen opportunity of following one of our greatest directorial talents from first major commercial flop to answer work that remains perhaps his signature statement. However, neither prerequisite circumstance is in play, and it's also friggin' 3,000 degrees below the now enviable temp of zero. So as alternative to that devious plot, and to maintain the buzz from last night's interaction with a cinematic legend, I instead select what the Mighty Marty himself would most likely make his pick; Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, screening tonight at the New York Historical Society and introduced by the legendary editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who also happens to be the late Powell's widow. So I'm guessing she knows a thing or two about tonight's Pick beyond matters merely academic.

Thelma Schoonmaker, it must be added, is not only a genius in the art of editing, who Scorsese has been fortunate enough to make his partner in crime these last 35 years; she is also a seemingly endless resource to the film world in general, whether offering her expertise as overseer of costly film restorations, or sharing her time and wisdom, regarding both her own craft and of those whom which she's worked, to Cinegeeks of all ages and stripes. One may almost take for granted her apparently routine appearances at events showcasing the work of Scorsese, Powell or any number of the medium's giants. One would be an idiot to actually follow through on that impulse.

Thelma Schoomaker introduces Michael Powell and Emeric Pressbuger's A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH tonight at the New York Historical Society. Seats fill up quickly so get there early. Did I mention this is my second fave flick of all-time?

For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in February '14 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. And be sure to follow me on both Facebook, where I provide further info and esoterica on the rep film circuit and star birthdays, and Twitter, where I provide a daily feed for the day's screenings and other blathery. Back tomorrow with a brand new Pick, til then what do you think we'll get; prop or wing?

-Joe Walsh

JoeW@NitrateStock.net

P. S. Should you be feeling charitable during this harsh weather period please remember to check in with the good folks over at Occupy Sandy. Some of our NY neighbors are still feeling the effects of last year's hurricane. Be a mensch.