July 22nd 2014. Pick of the Day.
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Right about now, 45 years ago, Neil and Buzz were clocking some quality time inside the Lunar Module in the Mare Tranquilitatis. So hey, if they could amuse themselves by staying indoors on a July afternoon, you think you're better than Neil and Buzz?
Continuing series today include Femme Noirs at Film Forum, Lady in the Dark: Crime Films from Columbia Pictures, 1932-57 at MoMA, Overdue at BAM Cinématek, and A Richard Pryor Triple Play hosted by BAM Cinématek at Putnam Triangle Square. The mishegoss as follows;
Film Forum
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT (1964) Dir; Richard Lester
NIAGARA (1953) Dir; Henry Hathaway
ANGEL FACE (1952) Dir; Otto Preminger
MoMA
CHINATOWN AT MIDNIGHT (1949) Dir; Seymour Friedman
THE SNIPER (1952) Dir; Edward Dmytryk
BAM Cinématek
I LOVE MELVIN (1953) Dir; Don Weis
THE ADVENTURES OF HAJI BABA (1954) Dir; Don Weis
Symphony Space
CHAPLIN SHORTS: PAYDAY, SUNNYSIDE/THE IDLE CLASS (1919-21) Dir; Charlie Chaplin
BAM Cinématek - Putnam Triangle Plaza
WATTSTAX (1973) Dir; Mel Stuart
Today's Pick? Any outdoor screening tempts mightily during the summer months, and Mel Stuart's WATTSTAX is one of the all-time champeen music fest docs. The trio of Chaplin silent shorts up at the otherwise dark Symphony Space intrigues, especially as I like to take every opportunity to encourage further rep film bookings at the old Thalia theater. Nicks Pinkerton and Rapold revive their Overdue series at BAM Cinématek tonight, paying trib to the otherwise little-discussed director Don Weis. And the Fab Four still hold court at Film Forum. Apparently the act's a hit. However I'm throwing my selective and highly sought after love today toward another screening at the Forum, or screenings rather. July is by all evidence Film Noir month, as both MoMA's programming of the Columbia crime film series and Film Forum's trib to the fatal fillies of the 40's and 50's seems to attest. Today I'm siding with the latter, a double bill highlighting the best 50's Hitchcock flick Hitchcock never made, and a devious turn from the otherwise snow-pure Jean Simmons. Plus the Forum's popcorn is better than MoMA's.
Whaddaya mean MoMA doesn't sell popcorn? Are you sure? Then who was that guy I bought..eh, let's just you and I forget I ever mentioned it. I'm supposing they don't sell Sour Patch Kids? No?
Henry Hathaway's NIAGARA and Otto Preminger's ANGEL FACE screen as a double bill today as part of the series Femme Noirs at the Film Forum. What about Pepsi? MoMA doesn't sell Pepsi either?
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in July '14 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. For the monthly overview and other audio tomfoolery check out the podcast, and follow me on SoundCloud! For reviews of contemporary cinema and my streaming habits (keep it clean!) check out my Letterboxd 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 check yer heaters at the door, mugs, before I hand yaz a fresh one!
-Joe Walsh
P. S. Even though we've fully entered the summer months and therefore not often as mindful of the displaced, some of our fellow NY'ers are yet to be made whole since Hurricane Sandy hit nearly two years ago. Check in with the good folks at Occupy Sandy to see if you can't still volunteer/donate to our neighbors in need. Be a mensch.
