December 29th 2015. Pick of the Day.
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Yet another repertory calendar year finds itself near its imminent close. So many wonderful memories, so many great series from so many diligent, exceptional programmers. I cannot believe it'll nearly be a year since I witnessed the William Friedkin intro/Q&A to CITIZEN KANE, part of the Film Forum's celebration of Orson Welles' centennial. That BAM's Carpenter-fest is 11 months in the rear view mirror. Janus Film's glorious restoration of Satyajit Ray's APU TRILOGY, the tribs to widescreen scope that featured both the fulfillment of the spectrum and its absence. Glorious Technicolor, Mexican Noir, and all those wonderful outdoor screenings every summer affords. Hot damn what a terrific year for film lovers of all stripes, of both classic cinema and its deeper nooks, and even the newbies and their attempts to match or even top the gold. Grateful to live in this Movie-Mad Metropolis of Manhattan Isle and its outer environs, and to share my passions with you who find yourselves similarly afflicted. 2016 promises to be an equally great 12 pages on the wall. For now, however, let's celebrate what's left on this remarkable 2015 slate.
Film Forum
BALL OF FIRE (1941) Dir; Howard Hawks
Yo, whaddaya want from me? This is what I got. Today's Pick ARE YOU FRIGGIN' SERIOUS??? Even if it WAS a crowded slate this messy late December eve there's no way I'm lettin' a masterpiece of screwball comedy, from one of my fave directors who also helped bring the sub-genre into existence to begin with, pass without making it my Pick. Honestly, I could've chosen this puppy several times during its criminally brief weeklong run. To paraphrase one of his masterworks, me and Hawks...well it's me and Hawks.
Howard Hawks' lone collaboration with ace screenwriting duo Bily Wilder and Charles Brackett, the former of whom would challenge all of Hawks' recollections regarding the input he had to the finished shooting script (and he wasn't alone), resulted in a scrwball gem entitled BALL OF FIRE, which was also, unbelievably, the director's lone collaboration with the formidable Barbara Stanwyck. How Hawks, who became so well-regarded for his treatment of powerful female characters in his work, to the extent that the term Hawksian Woman has become a thing, never came to work with Babz one more than this one occasion is a mystery to film lovers worldwide. Let's just be glad that they brought the street glamour poetry of one Sugarpuss O'Shea to the screen. It is everything their partnership should have produced.
Hawks' BALL OF FIRE unspools in an archival 35mm print for at least today and tomorrow at Film Forum, and possibly beyond should it find itself the willing recipient of one of the Forum's regular repreives. Considering the power of its leading lady's sweet talk, I'd go 80-20 that's a good bet.
For more info on these and all NYC's rep film screenings in December '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!
