July 21st 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.
Continuing series this day include True Crime! at Film Forum, Glorious Technicolor at MoMA, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: The Films of Pedro Costa at the Film Society, Indie 80's at BAM Cinématek, CinéSalon - Jean-Claude Carrière: Writing the Impossible at the French Institute, and One-Film Wonders at Anthology Film Archives. Let us now praise the greatest repertory film scene in the world;
Film Forum
THE TRUE STORY OF JESSE JAMES (1957) Dir; Nicholas Ray
NED KELLY (1970) Dir; Tony Richardson
THE THIRD MAN (1949) Dir; Carol Reed
MoMA
THE GARDEN OF ALLAH (1936) Dir; Richard Boleslawski
TONIGHT AND EVERY NIGHT (1945) Dir; Victor Saville
NOTHING SACRED (1937) Dir; William A. Wellman
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: The Films of Pedro Costa
LAND OF THE PHAROAHS (1955) Dir; Howard Hawks
TRAS-O-MONTES () Dirs; António Reis & Margarida Cordeiro
DAINAH LA METISSE (1932) Dir; Jean Grémillon
BAM Cinématek
WILDROSE (1984) Dir; John Hanson
French Institute/Alliance Française
CinéSalon - Jean-Claude Carrière: Writing the Impossible
MAY FOOLS (1990) Dir; Louis Malle
Anthology Film Archives
ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE (1973) Dir; James William Guercio
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER (1984) Dir; Tom Schiller
Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) Dir; Ivan Reitman
Today's Pick? It's been some time since I directed my blinkers specifically at a most special venue and the current series they've booked. So let's get Gallic this sweltering day, and ceberate a filmmaker who doesn't normally get the love reserviored for, say, a Truffaut or a Renais, or even a Becker or Demy. Yet he worked forever and in different capacities and genres, first making his bones as Jacques Cousteau's DP, then segueing into pre-Nouvelle Vague noir, then embroiling himself in one of the most famous legal decisions regarding film pornography in cinema history, and for the bulk of the remainder of his career rattling off films inspired, experimental, and in some cases completely unhinged. He was sometimes less than great, but he was never boring. He's a fave, and I'm glad the critical and sentimental tide apears to be turning in his favor. So I dedicate my fealty this day to him, and to the prospect that his spirit remains very much aglow.
Louis Malle's MAY FOOLS unspools in wondrous 35mm at the French Institute/Allaince Française, as part of the series CinéSalon - Jean-Claude Carrière: Writing the Impossible. Film programmer Delphine Selles-Alvarez will b eon hand to intro the evening screening, and these talks are not to be missed. As not to be missed as the complimentary wine served at the post-film discussion in the theater's reception area. Is there anything the French DON'T do better, fer chrissakes?!?
For more info on these and all NYC's rep film screenings in July '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. The warm cuddle of the sun's friendlier disposition seems finally to have arrived, 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!
