February 26th 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.
Today's continuing series consist of MoMA's ongoing Auteurist History of Film, and the Film Forum's massive The Complete Hitchcock. Earn this.
Film Forum
NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock
MR. AND MRS. SMITH (1941) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock
RICH AND STRANGE (1931) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock
TO CATCH A THIEF (1956) Dir; Alfred Hitchcock do you see a pattern forming here?
MoMA
ECHOES OF SILENCE (1965) Dir; Peter Emanuel Goldman
Today's Pick? Let's go with the 2-fer of Hitchcock's MR. AND MRS. SMITH and RICH AND STRANGE, screening at Film Forum as part of The Complete Hitchcock. Big Al wasn't solely, morbidly concerned for the entirety of his career with paranoia, suspense and murder. Ok wait, that's not true, he was almost certainly nearly wholly obsessed with these exact themes, but not for lack of attempt to stretch beyond. Indeed, the wordless beginnings of his career included a boxing melodrama (THE RING) and a class comedy (CHAMPAGNE), but once he established the parameters of what would famously forever come to be known as a Hitchcock film Tha Mahstah rarely frolicked without, only attempting variations on the genre which had come to bear his name. One such famous example, the only ventured during his Hollywood tenure, was a complete departure from his CV and, perhaps, a trespass into those of Leo McCarey, Gregory La Cava, Frank Capra and my beloved Howard Hawks; the screwball comedy. He could find no better cinematic accomplices than the genial Robert Montgomery and chaotic glamour babe Carole Lombard, portraying an unhappily married couple who discover their marriage, courtesy of a technical error, is invalid. Of course, upon this discovery, one of them must then die. NAH, I'm messin' with ya, but the sub-sub-genre of the "comedy of remarriage" is spun in a very Hitchcockian manner, and if you only know His Hitchness from his justifiably more famous works of nerve-wracking tension, you're in for a pleasant surprise. The most terrifying thing on display here is a wedding ring. Such is life.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in February '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 tomorrow with a brand new Pick, til then safe, sound, make sure the next knucklehead is too.
-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.
