February 26th 2015. Pick of the Day.
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Show me any crisis in the world right now, show me violent skirmishes engaged in by peoples of differing beliefs, show me natural disasters caused by climate change, show me even the threat of asteroids and comets potentially colliding with our planet, and then show me, I dare you, something worse than the sight of A-Rod arriving at spring training. Go on, I'll wait.
Ongoing and concluding series this day include the last attempt to get their arms around Charles Laughton at the Film Forum, the completely just valentine sent to Ginger Rogers at MoMA, and the plucky Chelsea Classics series at the BowTie Chelsea Cinema. The wimwammery be thus;
Film Forum
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS (1932) Dir; Cecil B. DeMille
ADVISE AND CONSENT (1962) Dir; Otto Preminger
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955) Dir; Charles Laughton
MoMA
VIVACIOUS LADY (1938) Dir; George Stevens
BowTie Chelsea Cinemas
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953) Dir; Fred Zinnemann
Today's Pick? Although it doesn't count as a traditional three-fer, I can't let the final day of the Laughton Lovefest at Film Forum pass without shining my Kliegs uponst it once more. So yes, while you'll have to pay a separate admission for all three films, I suggest they are three films fully worth the cost and effort; a film from the earliest period of his career, indeed of sound cinema itself; a work from the end of his glorious CV, one that showcases his scene-chomp as well as his command of the camera; and his lone directorial effort, a sad fact perhaps, but also one that puts him in the exlusive 1.000 batting average club few directors may lay claim to. Just think about the depth and breadth, the sheer sheerity the man brought to the world of film, and now think how much less precious the form would be had he never existed. He remains, and will forever do, among my most prized.
Cecil B. Demille's THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, Otto Preminger's ADVISE AND CONSENT, and the man's own THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER all screen today as part of Film Forum's close-out of its Charles Laughton trib. don't be fooled, the word aught might well be part of the man's name, but so is the word ton. And that's about the worst attempt at a clever compliment I've ever made. Hey, at least I ain't Travolta!
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in February '15 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 soon with new Picks 'n perks, 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!
