November 19th 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.
Returning and continuing series this day include Modern Matinees: The Film Library at 10 and To Save and Project: The 13th MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation at MoMA, and Jack Smith Selects (From the Grave) at Anthology Film Archives. The moving image mishegas be thus;
Film Forum
JOHNNY GUITAR (1954) Dir; Nicholas Ray
MOANA WITH SOUND (1926/80) Dirs; Robert, Frances and Monica Flaherty
MoMA
Modern Matinees: The Film Library at 10
THE MARK OF ZORRO (1920) Dir; Fred Niblo
To Save and Project: The 13th MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation
GET YOUR MAN (1927) Dir; Dorothy Arzner
THE UNKNOWN ORSON WELLES: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and KING LEAR (1969/85) Dir; Orson Welles
BowTie Chelsea Cinemas
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953) Dir; Howard Hawks
Anthology Film Archives
Jack Smith Selects (From the Grave)
CRY OF THE BEWITCHED (1957) Dir; Alfredo B. Crevenna
EL (1953) Dir; Luis Buñuel
Nitehawk Cinema
FINGERS (1978) Dir; James Toback
Today's Pick? I'm sorely tempted by the Wellesfest unspooling as part of MoMA's exceptional annual crowdsurf of film prez, and even though it's a BluRay screening Hawks' lone musical, the film that arguably made Marylin Monroe, begs my box-check. But really, I can't takes sides against Harvey Keitel, especially when he appears in genuine 35mm.
James Toback's FINGERS, if not Keitel's signature role then at least in the conversation, unspools in glorious celluloid this eve at the Nitehawk Cinema as part of their monthly series dedicated to Times Square's glory grindhouse era, The Deuce. A friend of mine once worked at an ice cream joint on the Upper West Side, and one day Keitel walked in and asked for a cone with extra sprinkles. Starstruck, my friend went speechless and simply prepped the confection. He handed it over and made the transaction, then, desperate for a connective moment, he blurted out the following question; "Hey, are you really as bad a guy as all the guys you play in the movies?"
To which Keitel paused, pondered, then answered, "Only if I don't get enough sprinkles."
So take that anecdote with you into tonight's screening. It'll only add, trust me.
For more info on these and all NYC's rep film screenings in November '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 warmer, fiercer cuddle of the sun's sunnier disposition has begun its annual wane, 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!
