September 23rd 2013. 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.
As is usually the case the month's final week finds the classic film fan's choices slimming considerably. Choices today include Terry Gilliam's (co-) directorial debut, Stanley Kubrick's first critical and commercial success, and a couple of other flicks I know precious little about. You get honesty at this website. Today's only ongoing series is Anthology Film Archives' Middle Ages on Film. Here's the meager rundown;
Film Forum
THE KILLING (1956) Dir; Stanley Kubrick
NORTHERN LIGHTS (1978) Dirs; John Hanson & Rob Nilsson
Anthology Film Archives
LANCELOT DU LAC (1974) Dir; Robert Bresson
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975) Dirs; Terry Jones & Terry Gilliam
Today's Pick? I'm going with Jones & Gilliam's MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL at Anthology Film Archives. If ever the times called for an expert mocking of the buffoonery exhibited by the powers that be, that time be now. The Terrys famously clashed as co-directors, Gilliam obsessed with the visuals and Jones focused squarely on performance, yet their lone collaboration behind the camera produced not only the best of the three proper Python flicks (no small boast) but one of the greatest movie comedies all-time, one that may find seating at a round table with DUCK SOUP, THE BANK DICK, DR. STRANGELOVE, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, ANIMAL HOUSE, AIRPLANE! and SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT. Gilliam tried the patience of all involved reportedly, in one instance halting filming while insisting on the perfect amount of diffusion for a shot, prompting John Cleese to inquire "is smoke funny?" Gilliam's response may well have been "yes", as the resulting look of the film, inspired as much by the mis-en-scene of neo-realist auteurs like Pasolini as the Python's own spartan budget, contributes greatly to the "historically accurate" feel of the film, and helps the set-ups and payoffs hit their mark with greater impact. Indeed, in an early example of meta storytelling they comment on their movie's thin coffers whence regarding the clopping of cocoanut shells to suggest non-existant horses' hooves. That's just the opening scene of the film, too. There are few comedies that stand the test of time, even fewer I feel I might offer to the interplanetary death squads once they land in order to justify humanity's continuation. Although the troupe thankfully mostly remain with us King Arthur himself, the great Graham Chapman, sadly left us quite some time ago. So here's your opportuniy to catch the Once and Future King the way he was meant to be seen.
For more info on this and all September's classic screenings click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. And be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Back tomorrow more of the goods, til then be safe and sound and make sure the next guy/gal is too!
-Joe Walsh
