September 18th 2014. Pick of the Day.
New York City's premiere resource for classic film screenings in the metropolitan area. Offering reviews, recommendations, venues and a host of links keeping classic film and the silver screens alive.
I've been the lucky ticket holder to two (count-'em-TWO!) in-person film screenings/discussions this week; the New Yorker's Richard Brody intro'ing Truffaut's MISSISSIPPI MERMAID at the French Institute, and last night's post-screening discussion of Roberto Rossellini's ROME, OPEN CITY from daughter, and screen icon in her own right, Isabella. Forgive me if I'm somewhat less excited by the week's remaining rep film sked. It's perhaps equally worthy of our collective enthusiasm. I'm just feeling spolied.
Continuing series today include The Great War: A Cinematic Legacy at MoMA and The Tenth Dimension: Edward D. Wood, Jr. at Anthology Film Archives. The rundown is as follows;
Film Forum
ROME, OPEN CITY (1945) Dir; Roberto Rossellini
THE CONFORMIST (1970) Dir; Bernardo Bertolucci
MoMA
The Great War: A Cinematic Legacy
SHOUT AT THE DEVIL (1976) Dir; Peter R. Hunt
Anthology Film Archives
The Tenth Dimension: Edward D. Wood, Jr.
TAKE IT OUT IN TRADE (1970) Dir; Edward D. Wood, Jr.
PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (1956) Dir; Edward D. Wood, Jr.
Today's Pick? It ain't as sexy as Magnani and it ain't as screwy as Ed Wood, but it is a series I've been doing my damnedest to highlight since its inception 6 weeks ago. I've gone to this particular well some four times, at least, in the last 45 days, focusing on such indelible works of war cinema as Hawks' DAWN PATROL, Fuller's BIG RED ONE, and Borzage's A FAREWELL TO ARMS, films all familiar to me in some form. Today, however, I choose this series and push a film I've never seen. A men-on-a-mission flick co-starring WWII vet Lee Marvin and BBC vet Roger Moore. The 70's were a helluva decade.
Peter R. Hunt's SHOUT AT THE DEVIL screens tonight at MoMA as part of their slowly winding-down series The Great War: A Cinematic Legacy. Yes I have a bias against Moore, mostly because he was instrument of the Bond series' worst tendencies. But if he holds his own with Lee Marvin, I may just forgive some past sins. Some, mind ye.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in September '14 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. For the monthly overview and other audio tomfoolery check out the podcast, and follow me on SoundCloud! For reviews of contemporary cinema and my streaming habits (keep it clean!) check out my Letterboxd 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 safe, sound, don't fuck wth Lee Marvin.
-Joe Walsh
