October 14th 2014. Pick of the Day.
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I am almost fully decompressed from my attendance at this year's New York Film Fest, the 52nd iteration of said and my first as member of the fourth estate. I am also, but not quite, finished bragging about the latter fact. Cut a Cinegeek some slack, making these kinds of memories is like discovering gold in the Andes to me and my folk. Thankfully one NYFF series has yet to conclude, what I fondly came and will forever refer to as the Mankrospective, the Film Society's career overview of one-time Hollywood titan Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It encounters today, however, competition most stiff, butting up directly against Film Forum's equally persuasive hosannah to filmmaker Frank Capra. Who will win this battle for my affections? Read on...
Ongoing series today include CAPRA! at Film Forum, Joseph L. Mankiewicz - The Essential Iconoclast at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and Monsters on Main Street! at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Forward, the Light Brigade!
Film Forum
LOST HORIZON (1937) Dir; Frank Capra
THE MATINEE IDOL (1928) Dir; Frank Capra
Live piano accompaniment from Steve Sterner.
THE DONOVAN AFFAIR (1929) Dir; Frank Capra
A special movie & live actor presentation
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Joseph L. Mankiewicz - The Essential Iconoclast
THE HONEY POT (1967) Dir; Joseph L. Mankiewicz
ESCAPE (1948) Dir; Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Tarrytown Music Hall
Monsters on Main Street!
THE BIRDS (1963) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock
Today's Pick? I'm sticking with the guy who brung me. As it were. The closing features of the Mankiewicz trib, 1967's THE HONEY POT and 1948's ESCAPE, both featuring Mank alter-ego Rex Harrison and his pendulous bark, screen tonight at the Film Society's Howard Gilman Theater, part of their schmancy newish Elinor Bunin Monroe complex, a psychiatric term for which I'm still being evaluated. And hope never to be cured of. I can't recommend these films strongly enough, nor can I elucidate my gratitude sufficiently to those who enabled my stroll through Mank's career, indeed my entire time spent at the festival. My concluding bookend article, also titled In Search of Joe Mankiewicz, will appear later today or tomorrow. I hope you read it, I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you've gotten something out of my daily coverage of the series. I've most assuredly gained new focus and esteem for the man responsible for some of my favorite films, now responsible for new faves. Vive film, suckahz.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in October '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 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!
