May 14th 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.
So much going on in the NYC rep film circuit. So much yet to come, as summer arrives and the outdoor screenings bloom like blooming things. So much writing to attend to. And yet, all that I can think about is the new recipe Heinz mustard. Hot dog thoughts, begone! We have celluloid to discuss, which is among the few remaining ingredients still banned from hot dogs. Wait, lemme check the FDA updates...
Continuing series this day include The Apu Trilogy at Film Forum, Acteurism: Joel McCrea and Japan Speaks Out!: Early Japanese Talkies, both at MoMA, and the splendiferous celebration of Times Square's glory grindhouse past, The Deuce at the Nitehawk Cinema. The repertory rapscallionism be thus;
Film Forum
PATHER PANCHALI (1955) Dir; Satyajit Ray
MoMA
BED OF ROSES (1933) Dir; Gregory la Cava
Japan Speaks Out!: Early Japanese Talkies
A WOMAN CRYING IN SPRING (1933) Dir; Hiroshi Shimizu
SHINING LOVE (1931) Dir; Hiroshi Shimizu
THE NEIGHBOR'S WIFE AND MINE () Dir; Heinosuke Gosho
BowTie Chelsea Cinema
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1955) Dir; Billy Wilder
Nitehawk Cinema
WOLFEN (1981) Dir; Michael Wadleigh
Today's Pick? Yeah, Gregory Hines was amongst the coolest film figures of the last three and half decades. Yes, Albert Finney is a fave, and remains so even in his twilight 007 batsman years. And YES, the whole werewolf craze that consumed 1981-era Hollywood remains a beloved tract of childhood memory, one that also counts the equally fine, if not superior entries entitled THE HOWLING and AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, from directors Joe Dante and John Landis, respectively. What buries the needle for my selection this eve? A 30 year old Diane Venora. You wanna talk wolf, buddy? Get me started on a conversation about her. Ah-wooooooooooooooooo, indeed.
Michael Wadleigh's WOLFEN unspools tonight in a gloriously stepped-on 35mm print, fully representative of the era from whence it came, as part of the Nitehawk Cinema's series The Deuce! If my new favorite movie theater's root beer n' tater tots were the equivalent of a full moon, I'd be stalking its aisles on all fours. That didn't sound right. Whatehvz, I'm sticking with it.
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!
