January 31st 2014. 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.
HALLELLOO, HALLELLOO, IT'S 37 DEGREES, HALLELLOO!!!
To those of you who think I obsess over the weather in NYC far too much for a site dedicated to classic film screenings, I understand and share your obssession with all the excellent Cinegeekery offered up daily in our movie mad metropolis, and probably should focus more on matters cinematic. On the other hand, though, SHADDAP! It's my blog and I'll rant and moan about any damn thing I please, and this weather is my oldest and most hated foe! Soon, Winter, soon, the NFL will be put in its temporary grave, pitchers and catchers will report, and Spring will vanquish your black heart once more. MWAHAHAHA!
Anyway, new and continuing series this balmy evening include MoMA's ongoing Auteurist History of Film, Moving Image's See It Big!:Musicals, and the Rubin Museum's swank Cabaret Cinema. The goods look thusly;
MoMA
THE BIRDS (1963) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock
Film Forum
THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1947) Dir; Orson Welles
Museum of the Moving Image
A STAR IS BORN (1954) Dir; George Cukor
Rubin Museum
THE STING (1973) Dir; George Roy Hill
Nitehawk Cinema
THE OPENING OF MISTY BEETHOVEN (1976) Dir; Radley Metzger
Today's Pick? Let's hop on famous trial attorney Everett Sloane's yacht and go sailing with a platinum blonde Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles' terrible excuse of an Irish accent. Welles' THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI begins a week-long run at Film Forum in its newly spit-shined DCP iteration, so the plot should make about as much sense as it always has but Charles Lawton's DP work (aided by the legendary and uncredited Joseph Walker) should look absolutely stunning! This wackjob noir has many detractors, for reasons I'll never fathom, but it's unique, odd and tremendously entertaining, and stands as testament to the storytelling might of its maker, despite being short the director's cut by almost an hour! Even should you find the film no better than a gorgeous mess it's simply impossible to deny the power and influence of the legendary House of Mirrors climax, and if you've never seen this on the big screen, or, unthinkably, at all, you owe yourself a trip to the Cinephiliac temple on West Houston to experience one of the few productions Welles made for a major studio and with a proper budget. He never failed to please, sez me.
For more info on these and all NYC's remaining classic film screenings in January '14 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the 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 with a brand new Pick tomorrow, and the February '14 calendar goes live around midnight tonight! Til then DON'T YOU EVER UNDERESTIMATE SHERMAN! LOB! TAKE THE HAWKS PLUS 2 POINTS!
-Joe Walsh
P. S. Should you be feeling charitable during this harsh weather period please remember to check in with the good folks over at Occupy Sandy. Some of our NY neighbors are still feeling the effects of last year's hurricane. Be a mensch.
