April 24th 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.
Personally, I think it'd be a better world if the horses drove the carriages and the men drew them. Maybe not for the tourists. Or the traiffic. Or the streetsweepers. But by God I have an opinion on this controversy and I'll settle on it one day!
Ahem.
Today's continuing series include An Auteurist History of Film and Marco Bellocchio: A Retrospective at MoMA, and Back with a Vengeance at BAM Cinematek. Hilarity ensues;
Film Forum
GODZILLA (1954) Dir; Ishiro Honda
MoMA
BELLE DE JOUR (1967) Dir; Luis Buñuel
DEVIL IN THE FLESH (1986) Dir; Marco Bellocchio
BAM Cinematek
FLAMINGO ROAD (1949) Dir; Michael Curtiz
THE LITTLE FOXES (1941) Dir; William Wyler
BowTie Chelsea Cinemas
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965) Dir; Robert Wise
Today's Pick? I avoid double-dipping like the ebola virus but I'm very tempted to give the big guy, Honda's GODZILLA, a second endorsement in three days. Likewise regarding Luis Buñuel's deconstruction of middle class values and Catherine Deneuve's wardrobe in BELLE DE JOUR. But I must shine the spotlight finally on BAM's welcome redux of their excellent February series Vengeance is Hers, the equally badass Back with a Vengeance, today featuring two hell-hath-no-fury turns by bitter rivals and future BABY JANE co-dependents Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, respectively featured in Michael Curtiz's FLAMINGO ROAD and William Wyler's THE LITTLE FOXES. The former follows the journey of Crawford's carnival dancer from sordid scandal-maker to respectable society maven (what could possibly potboil?), while the latter features Bette Davis as a woman whose ambitions are constrained in a world run by men, and her ultimate victory over testosterone-driven shenanigans through sheer steely determinism. As was her wont. While this isn't offered as a traditional 2-fer I'm still making both films, separate admissions and all, my double feature Pick today, if only because the lenghty trip alone makes me wanna get the most out of my time at BAM. I'm exactly 25 minutes away by train. That's Manhattanite kvetching for ya.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in April '14 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. For the monthly overview listen in to the inaugural podcast! 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 enjoy the winter while you can, it won't last much longer*.
-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 the 2012 hurricane. Be a mensch.
*Please tell me it's not going to last much longer? Please?
