March 25th 2015. 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.
For those who don't know, I've signed on to the upcoming 27-hour Marvel Movie Marathon, something we mentioned jokingly at the last Marvel Movie Marathon. As in we didn't think it would actually be a thing. The first, which began with 2008's IRON MAN at 11am and concluded with the first AVENGERS film at midnight, lasted for fifteen hours. The upcoming shenanigans, well, you do the math. I normally only discuss repertory cinema on this site and my Twitter and Instagram feeds. However, just for the head's up, I'm announcing I'll be live-tweeting/Instagramming/whatever-new-social-media-thingy-they-devise-between-then-and-now'ing during that movie theater sleepover. For anyone who longs to follow the decline of civilized nehavior in a bio-dome setting, this is for you. Just wait'll the crowd realizes the venue's run out of RedVines!
Continuing series today include the Ginger Rogers champagne bubble bath at MoMA, and The Killer Must Kill Again! Giallo Fever, Part Two at Anthology Film Archives. The cinegeekery be thus;
Film Forum
TALES OF HOFFMANN (1951) Dirs; Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger
CHINA IS NEAR (1967) Dir; Marco Bellocchio
MoMA
THE FIRST TRAVELING SALESLADY (1956) Dir; Arthur Lubin
Anthology Film Archives
The Killer Must Kill Again! Giallo Fever, Part Two
BAY OF BLOOD (1971) Dir; Mario Bava
DIRTY PICTURES (1971) Dir; Umberto Lenzi
Today's Pick? HOFFMANN's been cosen, and not really sold on the Bellocchio. What really tempts today is the Giallo madness at AFA, featuring the great Bava at his peak and the man who kicked off, for better or worse, the Italian cannibal craze, Senor Umberto Lenzi. But truth be told, my herat belongs to a luminous lady this day, as the final entry in her two-month trib screens these next three days. She first gained prominence as co-star to master hoofer Fred Astaire, later crafting a successful solo career, ultimately winning a lil' gold guy of her very own for her perf in the classic KITTY FOYLE. She could and did do it all, never backing away from a new challenge; indeed, besting them. When folks talk about the glamour and radiance of the Old Hollywood, they could simply speak this woman's name and sum up the whole conversation. Hell, you could speak it whenever you simply need something to smile about.
The ebullient Ginger Rogers stars in Arthur Lubin's THE FIRST TRAVELING SALESLADY at MoMA, as part of their Acteurism series. Yep, I'm smiling.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in March '15 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. 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 mercifully feeling the loosening of winter's embrace, but 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!
