April 24th 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 of you what may be unawares, I've not only committed to an 11-film, 27-hour Marvel Movie Marathon next week, one that concludes with the premiere of THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, I've also made a charity fundraising drive out of the whole mishegoss. Should you be interested in the exacts regarding how to sponsor me and where to donate, I direct you to the Facebook Event page here. From all others, I will accept nothing less than your utter confusion, so successfully does it help to pave my road in this world. Geek LIFE, suckahz!
New and continuing series this day include Acteurism: Joel McCrea at MoMA, the kickoff of the 42nd Chaplin Award at the Film Society, Justice in Film at the New York Historical Society, Beyond Cassavetes: Lost Legends of the New York Film World at Anthology Film Archives, and the eternally swank Cabaret Cinema at the Rubin Museum. The Bell & Howell brouhaha be thus;
Film Forum
FORBIDDEN GAMES (1952) Dir; René Clément
MoMA
DEAD END (1937) Dir; William Wyler
Film Society of Lincoln Center
42nd Chaplin Award: Robert Redford
JERMIAH JOHNSON () Dir; Sydney Pollack
THE CANDIDATE (1972) Dir; Michael Ritchie
New York Historical Society
Justice in Film
JEZEBEL (1938) Dir; William Wyler
Anthology Film Archives
Beyond Cassavetes: Lost Legends of the New York Film World
BAD GIRLS GO TO HELL (1965) Dir; Doris Wishman
Landmark Jersey Loews
EASY RIDER (1969) Dirs; Dennis Hopper & Peter Fonda
Rubin Museum of Art
FUNNY FACE (1955) Dir; Stanley Donen
Nitehawk Cinema
THE KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE (1977) Dir; John Landis
ALTERED STATES (1980) Dir; Ken Russell
Today's Pick? I'd go with the Redford double bill at Lincoln Center, except that it promises discounted ticket packages and seemingly no other info regarding such. Shame, these are two really exceptional works featuring the Sundance Daddy. Clément's dark postwar parable tempts mightily, but I still have a couple of weeks to make that my choice. EASY RIDER, never. So it really comes down to a trio of gems screening in museum spaces. Donen's dance with Astaire and Hepburn is never less than effervescent, and Wyler's recreation of Manhattan's West Side dock life of the 30's always impresses. However, I realize it's been ages since I chose a venue that offers quality screenings and intriguing guest speakers, one that I almost never think to spotlight. So let's take care of that, and spend some time with a pair of very special ladies.
William Wyler's JEZEBEL, featuring one of the earliest iconic perfs from the great Bette Davis, screens tonight at the New York Historical Society, as part of their Justice in Film series. Mz. Davis is joined offscreen by the director's daughter, the actress/filmmaker Catherine Wyler, who will provide insight into her father's process and discuss the themes of the film. Seating is limited, so get there early. You don't wanna miss a night with these two extraordinary talents!
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in April '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!
