December 5th 2013. Pick of the Day.
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Today is the literal calm before the rep circuit storms. Continuing series are limited to the Film Society's Yasujiro Ozu foot massage and MoMA's Auterist History of Film. The whole megillah;
Film Forum
MAUVAIS SANG (1986) Dir; Leos Carax
Film Society of Lincoln Center
AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON (1962) Dir; Yasujiro Ozu
EQUINOX FLOWER (1958) Dir; Yasujiro Ozu
MoMA
BILLY LIAR (1963) Dir; John Schlesinger
Clearview BowTie Cinemas
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) Dir; Frank Capra
Today's Pick? They may not screen 35mm but I'm always happy to support the efforts of the Chelsea Classics crew over at Chelesa's BowTie Cinemas. The theater in general strikes a nice balance between smaller arthouse fare and the requisite Hollywood blockbuster. Hence the sounds of Katniss Everdeen's killing spree will inevitably bleed over into Bruce Dern's humble odyssey from Montana to Alexander Payne's NEBRASKA. The Classics series doesn't have the access to celluloid prints that most other repertory venues enjoy but they still offer the communal viewing experience in a genuine movie theater, and their programming is generally, and somewhat refreshingly, geared toward populist film entertainment from the studio era. Hence such past selections as Joseph L. Mankewicz's CLEOPATRA, Hitchcock's THE BIRDS, and Michael Curtiz's CASABLANCA.
Tonight they go with a Capra gem, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, filmed in 1941 when the director was hot off box office hits like MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON and MEET JOHN DOE, but not released until three years after filming to contractually accomodate the still popular Broadway play's run. By the time it played to packed movie houses Capra was already 3 years into his military service and deep into his WHY WE FIGHT propaganda doc series, so wartime audiences were no doubt grateful for a pick-me-up from the feel-good auteur, even though it came in a much darker package that previously witnessed. A top-form Cary Grant goes toe-to-toe, verbally and physically, with fed up girlfriend Priscilla Lane, a no-doubt cracked pair of aunts (Josephine Hull and Jean Adair), and a brother (Raymond Massey) who sorta kinda looks like Boris Karloff. Only because Karloff was still performing in the play when filming commenced. ARSENIC may be slightly second tier Capra, but it's also one of the few examples of his black comic sensibilities allowed at the fore. It'd make a great double bill with Hitchcock's SHADOW OF A DOUBT or Chaplin's MONSIUER VERDOUX. A Cinegeek can wish.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic screenings in December '13 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the screen. And be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter! Back tomorrow with a brand spankin' new Pick, til then chew yer gum responsibly and make sure you brought enough for everybody in the classroom. Huzzah, Suckahz!
-Joe Walsh
