November 13th 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.
First winter storm of 2014. New York Knicks the proud owners of a 2-7 record. A sequel to DUMB & DUMBER looming like the polar vortex to our northern horizons. I can only say one thing in repsonse; Chris Nolan! Matt McConaughey! You'd BETTER not let me down!!!
New and continuing series today include Acteurism: The Emergence of Ann Sheridan, 1937-43 and To Save and Project: The 12th MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation at MoMA, Fassbinder: Romantic Anarchist, Part Two at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Ways to Freedom: Polish Film and the Rise to Democracyat Museu of the Moving Image, and the succintly-monickered The Deuce at the Nitehawk Cinema. Let's get to it, that blood ain't gonna drink itself;
Film Forum
ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (1939) Dir; Howard Hawks
VERTIGO (1958) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock
MoMA
Acteurism: The Emergence of Ann Sheridan, 1937-43
ALCATRAZ ISLAND (1937) Dir; William McGann
To Save and Project: The 12th MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation
HER SISTER'S SECRET (1945) Dir; Edgar G. Ulmer
JOE BULLET (1970) Dir; Louis de Witt
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Fassbinder: Romantic Anarchist, Part Two
CHINESE ROULETTE (1976) Dir; Rainer Werner Fassbinder
FEAR OF FEAR (1975) Dir; Rainer Werner Fassbinder
THE MARIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN (1979) Dir; Rainer Werner Fassbinder
BAM Cinématek
THE SACRIFICE (1986) Dir; Andrei Tarkovsky
Museum of the Moving Image
Ways to Freedom: Polish Film and the Rise to Democracy
BLIND CHANCE (1981) Dir; Krzysztof Kieslowski
Nitehawk Cinema
BLOOD FROR DRACULA (1974) Dir; Paul Morrissey
Today's Pick? I'm sorely tempted to revisit, for a second time this week, the great Howard Hawks' manifesto on duty, professionalism, and the state of just plain damn being good enough. Having flown with the ANGELS just this past Tuesday, I can fully attest to the pristine beauty of the newly minted DCP. As for the Hitchcock flick, I believe I've made my feelings known about it. Be you amongst those unaware, however, it goes thus: Sight and Sound poll, my ass!
MoMA offers a trio of intriguing unspoolings. The Ann Sheridan huggery offers the little-known ALCATRAZ ISLAND, while the preservation fest boasts a gem from basement-budget autuer Edgar G. Ulmer and an obscure actioner from the turbulent West African cinema of the early 70's. Playing your sked right, you could concievably pass the entire day under MoMA's projection booth glow, which I'm glad to say I've done many a time. However, a greater time-stealer beckons. A legendary cinematic titan who, in certain cases, is also known to be a time-giver. Lurk forth.
Speaking of all-dayers the Film Society resumes the second half of their comprehensive Fassbinder trib after a brief lull. Should you be of a spirit to bask in Walter Reade's darkness throughout this afternoon and evening a special bulk-buy tik for three or more screenings is available, and this series should not be taken in moderation, much in the same way it's focal filmmaking legend lived his life. Alas, I pass in favor of a character who really knew how to cheat death.
Rounding out today's tomfoolery are screenings of Tarkovsky's final film and Kieslowski's ode to solidarnosc, the former featuring a man's pact with God, the latter one between oppressed men. However, tonight, I really gotta give it up to a bargain most Faustian, a singular character's handshake with the very forces of worldly evil, hence becoming their favored emissary. Sure Lugosi begat his cinematic iteration, and Sir Christopher F***ing Lee retired the jersey on it, but are you really gonna pass up Udo Kier as history's most famous bloodsucker? Dick Cheney notwithstanding?
Paul Morrissey's BLOOD FOR DRACULA unspools tonight in glorious 35mm as part of the Nitehawk Cinema's monthly ode to Times Square's glory Grindhouse legacy: The Deuce! As I've mentioned they take great pains to tailor their excellent menu to pair with the films screening at my new fave theater in NYC. So order the burger bloody. Trust.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in November '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, carry some garlic and a crucifix with ya to Williamsburg.
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!
