August 6th 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.
Guess what day it is? GUESSGUESSGUESSGUESSGUESS!
Yeah. It's Wednesday. Wait I got that joke wrong. Lemme start again. Oh the Hell with it.
New and continuing series this day include An Auteurist History of Film and The Great War: A Cinematic Legacy at MoMA, If You Meet Klaus Kinski, Pray for Your Death at Anthology Film Archives, and the 2nd 1/2 of BAM Cinématek's comprehensive Luis Buñuel trib. Abandon all Humpday blahs, ye who proceed forth;
Film Forum
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) Dir; Billy Wilder
MoMA
DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978) Dir; Terrence Malick
THE FALSE FACES (1919) Dir; Irvin V. Willat
THE BETTER 'OLE (1926) Dir; Charles Reisner
Anthology Film Archives
CREATURE WITH THE BLACK HAND (1967) Dir; Alfred Vohrer
IF YOU MEET SARTANA, PRAY FOR YOUR DEATH (1968) Dir; Gianfranco Parolini
BAM Cinématek
THE GREAT MADCAP (1949) Dir Luis Buñuel
THE RIVER AND DEATH (1955) Dir; Luis Buñuel
Pier One, Riverside Park South
ANCHORS AWEIGH (1945) Dir; George Sidney
Today's Pick? Malick's DAYS OF HEAVEN is always a welcome addition to our rep screens, Néstor Amendros' ethereal camerwork justly garnering the DP a well-deserved Oscar (though collaborator Haskell Wexler voiced some displeasure over his ballot omission). The Luis Buñuel program at BAM Cinématek cruises slowly closer to the end of the auteur's Mexican period, showcasing both an early and a later entry in this phase. Two examples of veteran madman Klaus Kinski's late 60's B-flick genre work, in both the Krimi (BLUE HAND) and Spaghetti Western (SARTANA) veins, prove only once more what a freakin' bellringer he truly was. And Godblessim' for it. And yes, Billy Wilder's seeming template for the entirety of 40's noir unspools its digital 1's and 0's as part of its brand spankin' new DCP spitshine. But I've got one more day to make that my choice above all others. What we don't have a lot more of is outdoor screenings. And as I'm nearly cinematically illiterate when it comes to the golden age of the Hollywood musical, I will today combine both my desperate cling to what remains of Summer '14 with my ever-parched thirst for film genre knowledge.
Really, though, I'm just goin' with the best shaved Italian Ice vendor in the city. At least outside the Bronx. Yes, the singing, the dancing, the romantic Technicolor shenanigans, all entice mightily. But freshly shaved Italian Ices. Don't tell me how to spend a summer in NYC.
George Sidney's ANCHORS AWEIGH, the first of three co-starring efforts between dancer Gene Kelly and mic heartthrob Frank Sinatra, screens this evening at sunset, Pier One at Riverside Park South. Besides the ebullient crooning and canoodling, it boasts a legendary dance number with Kelly and one Jerry Mouse, star of MGM's cartoon division, the first seamless color film stock interaction between a live action and an animated character. You may decide which is which. There is a threat of early rain, but should we be done with the sprinklers early enough odds are the park will go ahead with the screening as planned. Summer is ever too fleet of foot, my fellow NY'ers. Take every opportunity to indulge in it.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in August '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 safe, sound, make sure the next knucklehead is too. Excelsior, Stockhaz!
-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.
