May 9th 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.
Okay, now begins the calendar period, which really lasts until the year's finished, frankly, that sees my focus pulled (no pun intended) in myriad directions at once. Two spectacular programs dedicated to Japanese cinema, one underway and one starting up next week, fight for world cinema braggin' rights with the Forum's just begun program of Satyajit's Ray's most celebrated trilogy. Later this month a new series devoted to 35mm kicks off at AFA, while MoMA has planned a massive celebration for Technicolor's centennial. So of course, as luck woukd have it, I've chosen now as the moment when I fully dive into all 4 seasons of PORTLANDIA on Netflix. I'm not easy on myself, in case you haven't already guessed.
New and continuing series this day include Deneuve x 8 at IFC Center, The Apu Trilogy at Film Forum, Japan Speaks Out! Early Japanese Talkiesat MoMA, Rockin' the Roach! - Wave Two: The Silent Clowns Film Series at the Library for the Performing Arts, and Rain the Color of Blue with a Little Red in it at Anthology Film Archives. The four-perf foofaraw be thus;
IFC Center
SCENE OF THE CRIME (1985) Dir; Andre Techine
MAD MAX (1979) Dir; George Miller
Nitehawk Cinema
TOP SECRET! (1985) Dirs; Zucker - Abrams - Zucker
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) Dir; George A. Romero
DEATH WISH (1974) Dir; Michael Winner
Film Forum
PATHER PANCHALI (1955) Dir; Satyajit Ray
MoMA
Japan Speaks Out! Early Japanese Talkies
TIPSY LIFE (1933) Dir; Sotoji Kimura
ROMANTIC AND CRAZY (1934) Kajiro Yamamoto
WIFE BE LIKE A ROSE (1935) Dir; Mikio Naruse
MIKEY AND NICKY (1976) Dir; Elaine May
Library for the Performing Arts
Rockin' the Roach! - Wave Two: The Silent Clowns Film Series
THE SLEUTH (1922)
SOLD AT AUCTION (1923)
SITTIN' PRETTY (1924)
THE OLD WAR HORSE (1924)
THE CARETAKER'S DAUGHTER (1925)
WHAT WOMEN DID FOR ME (1927)
Anthology Film Archives
Rain the Color of Blue with a Little Red in it
PURPLE RAIN (1984) Dir; Albert Magnoli
THE HARDER THEY COME (1972) Dir; Perry Henzell
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) Dir; Robert Zemeckis
Today's Pick? Rare is the opportunity to witness the Silent Clowns brandishing their wares. Well, once a month, really. But not even every month. You don't think that counts as rare? In Manhattan? With all this other stuff?!?
Today the trio of Bruce Lawton, Steve Massa and Ben Model, all three film programmers/historians, the latter one of the finest silent film accompanists in the world, extend their previous series, one dedicated to Hal Roach, the silent comedy pioneer whose work helped contribute to the modern language of cinema as greatly as the work of Griffith, Lang and Von Stroheim. You get six short silents today, all most likely unspooling in some sort of emulsified iteration. Bonus; admission is free. Demerit; seating is limited and these events have become extremely popular, so be sure to get there about 45 minutes before showtime to grab the armrest real estate of your liking. Otherwise you risk becoming a fire hazard, and don't ya think libraries got it tough enough these days?
ROCKIN' THE ROACH! WAVE TWO screens today at 2:30pm at the Library for the Performing Arts as part of the The Silent Clowns Film Series. Should you suddenly hear a piano marking your steps toward the entrance beware of banana peels, falling safes and Laurel and Hardy. Especially the latter pair.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in May '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 seem to be entering, finally, the warm cuddle of the sun's friendlier disposition, 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!
