December 17th 2014. Pick of the Day.
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I'm really starting to resent the 15th of the month, but not nearly enough as I do its extended family, today represented by the 17th. How dare you arrive so unexpectedly, so inconsiderately, so unwelcomed. I'll give you one day, good sir/madam, and then I must send you on your way to make room for a new tenant. I'm sure he or she will be more of a 3rd or 4th of the month type. I just know it.
Continuing series today include Chandler, Hammett, Woolrich and Cain at Film Forum, the tribs to actress Joan Bennett and filmmaker Robert Altman at MoMA, and The Last Laugh: An Alternate History of Spanish Comedy at the Film Society. The filmic foofaraw be thus;
IFC Center
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) Dir; Frank Capra
Film Forum
Chandler, Hammett, Woolrich and Cain
THE BIG SLEEP (1946) Dir; Howard Hawks
DEADLINE AT DAWN (1946) Dir; Howard Clurman
THE WINDOW (1949) Dir; Ted Tatzlaff
MoMA
DOCTOR'S WIVES (1931) Dir; Frank Borzage
THREE WOMEN (1977) Dir; Robert Altman
Film Society of Lincoln Center
The Last Laugh: An Alternate History of Spanish Comedy
THE CERTIFICATE (1969) Dir; Vincente Lluch
Today's Pick? I'm not committing to Bedford Falls just yet, as there's still a week remaining to locate Zuzu's petals. To paraphrase Don Vito corleone, Altman, eh, Altman. And I'm always ready to pick whichever Hawks film is currently unspooling in our fair metropolis, but if I did that I'd choose Howie 300 out of the 365 days on the calendar. I'd like to at least appear impartial.
So today I'm going with the unknown. And much as I'd like a pas-de-deux with the Joan Bennett series at MoMA, becuase she's a fave studio-era babe, I'm drawn to the series at the Forum. Not merely for the reason that it's a two-fer, but that weighs into the decision. Plus the popping corn's exceptional. And Susan Hayward. I believe I've successfully made my point.
Ted Tatzlaf's THE WINDOW and Harold Clurman's DEADLINE AT DAWN screen as a double feature at Film Forum today as part of their series dedicated to four of the most gloriously poisoned pens of the noir era; Chandler, Hammett, Woolrich and Cain. Bring a date. Or a suspect.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in December '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!
P. S. We're fully entwined in winter's embrace, 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!
