September 20th 2014.
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.
It's been since I can't remember when NYC's rep circuit has been this docile. Not that what's screening isn't cherce, mind yaz. It's just that so many venues haven't been this quiet at once, preparing to unleash their autumn skeds upon an unsuspecting and helpless classic film loving populace, asnooze for the moment, overwhelmed shortly. It's the Harkonnen siege of Arrakis all over again. You'll see.
Today's lone continuing series is 1939 - Hollywood's Golden Year at IFC Center. The repertory hijinskery be thus;
IFC Center
1939 - Hollywood's Golden Year
WHEN TOMORROW COMES (1939) Dir; John M. Stahl
TAXI DRIVER (1976) Dir; Martin Scorsese
THE HOLY MOUNTAIN (1972) Dir; Alejandro Jodorowsky
Film Forum
ROME, OPEN CITY (1945) Dir; Roberto Rossellini
THE CONFORMIST (1970) Dir; Bernardo Bertolucci
Avery Fisher Hall
MODERN TIMES (1935) Dir; Charlie Chaplin
Today's Pick? I've pretty much chosen all today's proceedings in the last few days or weeks or months, so I'll play the wild card; John Stahl's contribution to what has become enshrined as Hollywood's most precious 12 months, a period which saw the release of MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, GONE WITH THE WIND, GUNGA DIN, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS, STAGECOACH, YOUNG MR. LINCOLN, THE ROARING TWENTIES, THE WIZARD OF OZ, NINOTCHKA, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and so forth and so on and m'gawd bejeezus. While it may not get quite the same key lighting as its more esteemed cohorts, it is a work from the director of the original IMITATION OF LIFE and MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION, films Doug Sirk would later spin to dizzying melodramatic heights, as well as the film Martin Scorsese deems the first "Technicolor noir", the Gene Tierney-owned LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN. It also boasts the prominent prance of both Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne, so all these factors taken in full mitigate my decision this day. My lone objection? An 11am start time? On a Saturday? Oh hell, I'll just have to pretend I'm much older or criminally younger.
John M. Stahl's WHEN TOMORROW COMES screens today at IFC Center as part of the series 1939 - Hollywood's Golden Year. Lord how I love these early get-togethers. I may just go get baptized while I'm at it.
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, make sure the next knucklehead is too.
-Joe Walsh
P. S. We're swiftly returning to the winter climate, and believe it or not some of our fellow NY'ers have still yet to be made whole in the wake of the 2012 storm. Should you be feeling charitable please visit the folks at www.OccupySandy.net, follow their hammer-in-hand efforts to restore people's lives, and donate/volunteer if you have the inclination and availability. Be a collective mensch, Stockahz!
