May 20th 2015. Pick of the Day.
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1982 was such a pivotal year in my childhood. It contained the Magic Summer, that concurrence of kiddie fare with adult budgets, and adult themes to boot. The genre fare that school vacay included such seminal classics as BLADE RUNNER, THE THING, TRON, STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, and THE ROAD WARRIOR. It was also the year that spawned my opening interview question; "What was your favorite film when you were 12 years old and is it still your favorite?" Twelve is that age, I believe, when film transitions, for those so inclined, from a passive pasttime to a deeper interest, maybe even an obsession, where the making of lists and the beginnings of essays become as fulfilling as the movie viewing experience itself. 1982 was also the year that saw the first step on a grand journey for a personality that would inform my film sensibilities, indeed my tastes in general, to a large degree.
He began as a cult figure in late night no-man's land, inviting fringe figures to beat their drums and sell their wares with the same level of interest, if not reverence, as his idol, the man who anchored the 11:30pm spot, one Johnny Carson. Eventually what began as a subversion of the talk show routine overtook its target and replaced it, becoming the founding block for an entire generation of celebrity culture, and therefore, because this is America, all popular culture entire. I latched onto this peculiar experiment initially because I was peculiar, hemming closely to underground and cult tastes. So much of what would become the defining works from the worlds of music and literature and, of course, film passed through this strange circus. Names now legendary in the industry made some of their first interview appearances, folks like Terry Gilliam and Jim Jarmusch and George Miller. Tonight this circus ends, its ringleader to retire finally, after 33 years of groundbreak, of pomp-takedown and ego-dismantle, of setting the yardstick high, and remaining the only person capable of nudging it higher. I was twelve when he began, when my summer vacation nite-owl self discovered him at the near-tail end of what used to be the broadcast day. From the start he made me feel a little more understood in this world, and I cannot deny that I will feel a little more lonely when he shuts the lights on his show for good. So here goes.
So long David Letterman. It's been a privilege.
Ahem.
Now to the rep sked. Continuing series this day include The Apu Trilogy at Film Forum, Actuerism: Joel McCrea and Japan Speaks Out!: Early Japanese Talkies at MoMA, and "Written" by Philip Yordan at Anthology Film Archives. The Stupid Human Tricks be thus;
Film Forum
APARAJITO (1956) Dir; Satyajit Ray
MoMA
THEY SHALL HAVE MUSIC (1939) Dir; Archie Mayo
Japan Speaks Out!: Early Japanese Talkies
ACROSS THE EQUATOR () Dir;
THE ONLY SON () Dir; Yasujiro Ozu
Anthology Film Archives
THE BRAVADOS () Dir;
THE BIG COMBO () Dir; Joseph H. Lewis
Tarrytown Music Hall
NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock
Today's Pick? Easy. Alfred Hitchcock's NORTH BY NORTHWEST at the Tarrytown Music Hall. The Metro-North express takes just about a half-hour, the theater charges $5 for the flick, and you get to spend some quality time in a beautiful old-timey section of NY state. The downside? Too much fun? Dunno, you tell me.
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!
