January 13th 2016. 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.
Apologies, Stockahz, for skipping Tuesday's post. I was still dealing with what was easily and instantly a worldwide trauma, the passing of a best friend who I never actually met, and the notion of proffering a Pick seemed a pointless exercise against the backdrop of such sorrow. Instead, I listened to a few tunes yesterday morning, songs that helped get me through some difficult years, that shaped the person that I've become. Enough now, the one-time David Jones would scoff at all this sorow as a morose indulgence. He always embraced life, and would want us all to get on with ours. Plus, he probably really is just knocking back a few Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters with whatever alien race he decided to visit. Let's raise a glass with him. And to him.
And now, back to the NYC rep film circuit. Today's lone series represent not limited choice, but wonders aplenty. They are the Bard-lovin' Stratford-On-Houston at Film Forum, and the Bert Williams Lime Kiln Club Field Day Program at MoMA. The classic film cornucopia be thus;
Film Forum
OTHELLO (1952) Dir; Orson Welles
MACBETH (1948) Dir; Orson Welles
CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (1965) Dir; Orson Welles
MoMA
Bert Williams Lime Kiln Club Field Day Program
A NATURAL BORN GAMBLER (1916) Dir; Edwin Middleton
LIME KILN CLUB FIELD DAY (1913) Dir; Edwin Middleton
Today's Pick? All love and respect to the Bert Williams program, celebrating the popular Carribean star of the teens whose Lime Kiln Club Field Day now stands as the earliest example of an all-black cast & crew-made film, discovered mere years ago and finally assembled by the experts at MoMA. But there's really no avoiding the Welles trip-bill today, which does require a separate admission for each film, but hey, don't that beat having to walk back out into this cold and maybe pay a taxi to take you to another warm spot? Hellwiddit, head to the Film Forum and spend the day watching a trio of Orson's adaps of the works of Willy the Shakes: 1948's MACBETH, 1952's OTHELLO, and his last great film, 1965's CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, fully restored in a brand spankin' new DCP resto and held over at the Forum til the 19th! Warm popcorn, hot coffee if ya so desire, and the combo of Orson & Bill. Nothing else comes close today. Tell winter exactly where it can go and what it can do by attending this awesome program today. To quote the Bard, they hold a miror up to nature. To quote another Bard, this is ourselves.
For more info on these and all NYC's rep film screenings in January '16 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. Winter's icy grip seems to have finally taken hold of our fair city, and 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!
