35mm Double Feat: OUTSIDE THE LAW w/ YOUNG DESIRE
Mary Nolan Double Feature: OUTSIDE THE LAW (1930) in 35mm with YOUNG DESIRE (1930) in 35mm Tragic and magnetic, Mary Nolan remains one of the most fascinating actresses of late silent and early sound cinema. This double feature showcases her remarkable talent and offers a haunting glimpse of the career that might have been. A Ziegfeld Follies dancer, Nolan fled to Europe in 1924 following a scandal, reinventing herself as a leading lady in 17 German films. Returning to the U.S. three years later, she landed major roles opposite Lon Chaney and John Gilbert before signing with Universal, which placed... read more
Mary Nolan Double Feature: OUTSIDE THE LAW (1930) in 35mm with YOUNG DESIRE (1930) in 35mm Tragic and magnetic, Mary... read more
99 RIVER STREET
John Payne plays a washed-up boxer framed for the murder of his wife. Evelyn Keyes plays his sexy gal pal, using all her wiles to bust the set-up. 99 RIVER STREET is a near-perfect 1950s crime saga, perhaps the signature film of director Phil Karlson, with a dynamite screenplay by Robert Smith. (Note courtesy of the Film Noir Foundation.) DIR Phil Karlson; SCR Robert Smith, from the short story “Crosstown” by George Zuckerman. U.S., 1953, b&w, 83 min. NOT RATED read more
John Payne plays a washed-up boxer framed for the murder of his wife. Evelyn Keyes plays his sexy gal pal,... read more
ACE IN THE HOLE
[a.k.a. THE BIG CARNIVAL] Ruthless reporter Charles “Chuck” Tatum (Kirk Douglas) — and everybody else — exploits a doomed man trapped in a cave in Billy Wilder’s most venomous attack on American greed. (The man’s wife, played by Jan Sterling, on why she is not praying for her trapped husband: “Kneeling bags my nylons.”) Noteworthy elements include suspenders-wearing Porter Hall as the only decent man in the film and the most amazing focus-pull in screen history at the climax. ACE IN THE HOLE is based in part on the 1925 Floyd Collins case — the real reporter won a Pulitzer... read more
[a.k.a. THE BIG CARNIVAL] Ruthless reporter Charles “Chuck” Tatum (Kirk Douglas) — and everybody else — exploits a doomed man... read more
ALIAS NICK BEAL
The Faustian fable is given full noir treatment by director John Farrow, scripter Jonathan Latimer and cameraman Lionel Lindon. The devilish Nick Beal (a mesmerizing Ray Milland) materializes out of the fog to “assist” a crusading district attorney (Thomas Mitchell) who has declared that he would “give anything” to convict a local mobster. Soon, the DA begins a miraculous campaign for governor, bolstered by Beal’s connections and the encouragement of his most enticing acolyte (Audrey Totter). This supernatural fable is a logical extension of the era’s best noir films in style and theme. (Note courtesy of Noir City Hollywood.) DIR... read more
The Faustian fable is given full noir treatment by director John Farrow, scripter Jonathan Latimer and cameraman Lionel Lindon. The... read more
BATTLE ROYALE - 25th Anniversary
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of visionary director Kinji Fukasaku's BATTLE ROYALE with a new theatrical release in partnership with Iconic Events. This special screening is presented in 4K along with a new interview with the screenwriter — Kinji's son Kenta — sharing an intimate look at the forces that shaped his father and how they inspired his final film. BATTLE ROYALE is an intense and brutal story about Japanese high school students who are sent off by their government with three days to kill each other — until only one remains. With its blend of social commentary and high-stakes action,... read more
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of visionary director Kinji Fukasaku's BATTLE ROYALE with a new theatrical release in partnership with Iconic... read more
BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN
[Бронено́сец «Потёмкин»] [BRONENOSETS POTYOMKIN] That BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN was banned in several countries as communist propaganda only validates the artistic power of perhaps the most famous Russian film of all time. Focusing on one episode of the country’s revolutionary years, this agitprop spectacular is the story of a mutiny on a military ship anchored off the port of Odessa. Mistreated by the officers, sailors of the Potemkin decide to fight, supported by sympathizers ashore. For filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein, employing stars or even singling out one protagonist was too bourgeois; in his masterpiece, the hero is the masses. The notorious Odessa steps... read more
[Бронено́сец «Потёмкин»] [BRONENOSETS POTYOMKIN] That BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN was banned in several countries as communist propaganda only validates the artistic power... read more
BELÉN
We are excited to present an encore screening of the 2025 AFI Latin American Film Festival Closing Selection, back by popular demand. Advance reservations are recommended. Please note that AFI Latin American Film Festival All-Access Passes are not accepted for this added screening. Inspired by the powerful true story chronicled in Ana Correa’s acclaimed book “Somos Belén,” BELÉN marks a striking sophomore directorial effort for Argentine actress Dolores Fonzi (PAULINA, TRUMAN), who also delivers a powerhouse performance in the role. In Argentina’s conservative Tucumán province, a young woman (Camila Plaate, THE SNATCH THIEF) is wrongfully accused of infanticide following an... read more
We are excited to present an encore screening of the 2025 AFI Latin American Film Festival Closing Selection, back by... read more
Berry Gordy's THE LAST DRAGON - 40th Anniversary
This action-packed story of bravery, dedication and physical prowess tests the limits and goals of a once mysterious self-defense art form. Martial arts expert Leroy Green (Taimak) seeks to achieve the “final level” in his craft — the level beyond the dragon, beyond excellence. On his quest, Leroy falls in love with beautiful singer and video disc jockey Laura Charles (Vanity). Together they confront a power-hungry record producer bent on revenge against the young singer, as well as a bloodthirsty egomaniac determined to fight and permanently defeat Leroy. In this romantic tale centered on the life and death struggle between... read more
This action-packed story of bravery, dedication and physical prowess tests the limits and goals of a once mysterious self-defense art... read more
A BETTER TOMORROW (1986)
[英雄本色] A BETTER TOMORROW is the tale of two brothers: Sung Tse Ho (Ti Lung), a successful senior-ranking Triad counterfeiter, and the younger Sung Tse Kit (Leslie Cheung), a fledgling graduate of the Hong Kong police academy. A schism forms when Kit learns his brother is a criminal; Ho struggles to reform himself to regain his younger sibling’s trust, with plenty of heists, double-crosses and shoot-outs along the way. Chow Yun-Fat costars as Sung Tse Ho’s best friend and partner-in-crime in a role that launched him to superstar status and was the first of five film collaborations with writer/director John... read more
[英雄本色] A BETTER TOMORROW is the tale of two brothers: Sung Tse Ho (Ti Lung), a successful senior-ranking Triad counterfeiter,... read more
BODY AND SOUL (1925)
An escaped convict surfaces in Tatesville, Georgia, where he passes himself off to the local populace as Rev. Isaiah T. Jenkins and sets about bilking the congregation of their hard-earned money. Paul Robeson is magnetic in his screen debut — the only film he made with pioneering independent filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. Robeson plays the dual role of the phony preacher and his long-lost twin brother, Sylvester, with whom he vies for the affections of an impressionable young congregant named Isabelle. DIR/SCR/PROD Oscar Micheaux, SCR from Micheaux’s novel. U.S., 1925, b&w, 95 min. NOT RATED read more
An escaped convict surfaces in Tatesville, Georgia, where he passes himself off to the local populace as Rev. Isaiah T.... read more
BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA
Francis Ford Coppola’s return to horror, after only ever dabbling in the genre with his debut feature DEMENTIA 13, is a passionately seductive adaptation of Bram Stoker’s famous novel that gives the gothic tale a romantic twist, as this Dracula is truly motivated by love, not lust. When Count Dracula (Gary Oldman) discovers that Mina (Winona Ryder), the fiancée of young solicitor Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves), is the spitting image of his late wife Elisabeta, he embarks on a bloody journey to England to claim her for his own. Both operatic and campy, Coppola’s DRACULA is a lavish production featuring... read more
Francis Ford Coppola’s return to horror, after only ever dabbling in the genre with his debut feature DEMENTIA 13, is... read more
Breaking Plates and Smashing the Patriarchy
This program of 10 rollicking shorts takes inspiration from the freedom of the first years of cinema to bring a boundary-smashing brawl and a creative revolution for women to the screen. It kicks off with Karen Pearlman’s BREAKING PLATES (2023), a contemporary docudrama inspired by the creative mayhem and wild physicality of “Cinema’s First Nasty Women,” a collection of deliciously mischievous silent shorts which feature some of the earliest rebel women to take to the silver screen. The interplay of gestures of protest across the program is sharply comedic and delightfully entertaining, celebrating women who refuse to be boxed in... read more
This program of 10 rollicking shorts takes inspiration from the freedom of the first years of cinema to bring a... read more
THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN
James Whale’s follow-up film to 1931’s FRANKENSTEIN is a beloved classic in its own right, at times emotionally poignant and at others campy fun. No sooner has Boris Karloff’s Monster learned a few words than he starts to make demands — for a mate! Elsa Lanchester’s Bride, with her streaked, stand-up frizz, is just as recognizable today as Karloff’s Monster. Fun special effects are courtesy of Ernest Thesiger’s demented Doctor Pretorius and his bottled collection of miniature men! DIR James Whale; SCR William Hurlbut, based on concepts from “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley; PROD Carl Laemmle, Jr. U.S., 1935, b&w, 75... read more
James Whale’s follow-up film to 1931’s FRANKENSTEIN is a beloved classic in its own right, at times emotionally poignant and... read more
BULLET IN THE HEAD
[喋血街頭] Three close friends (played by Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Jacky Cheung and Waise Lee) flee the police in Hong Kong and abscond to Vietnam with dreams of profiting off the war as drug smugglers. Amid the turmoil of the war, the three men find their brotherly bonds tested as they become mixed up with a box of gold while coming under fire from all angles in the conflict. Originally planning to create a prequel to A BETTER TOMORROW, director John Woo was inspired by the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident to rework the film into a production that drew comparisons to... read more
[喋血街頭] Three close friends (played by Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Jacky Cheung and Waise Lee) flee the police in Hong Kong... read more
CAGED (1950)
CAGED is one of the best “women behind bars” movies ever made. Sentenced to prison for her role in a robbery that killed her husband, innocent Marie Allen (Oscar®-nominated Eleanor Parker), undergoes a degrading transformation in the “joint.” Co-writer Virginia Kellogg (T-MEN) went undercover as an inmate in several southern prisons to research the groundbreaking and controversial script. (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR John Cromwell, SCR Virgina Kellogg, Bernard C. Schoenfeld, from Kellogg’s article “Women Without Men”; PROD Jerry Wald. U.S., 1950, b&w, 97 min. NOT RATED read more
CAGED is one of the best “women behind bars” movies ever made. Sentenced to prison for her role in a... read more
A CHINESE GHOST STORY
[倩女幽魂] Ning Tsai-Shen (Leslie Cheung) takes shelter in an abandoned rural temple where he meets the beautiful Nieh Hsiao-Tsing (Joey Wong) and becomes instantly smitten. Unfortunately for them both, Hsiao-Ting is a ghost trapped in the human world by a vengeful tree spirit. This discovery sets Tsai-Shen on a journey alongside Taoist swordsman Yen Che-Hsia (Wu Ma) to liberate her so she can move on to the afterlife. Winner of five Golden Horse Awards including Best Feature Film, A CHINESE GHOST STORY became a cult hit in mainland China thanks to its winsome mix of comedy, romance and idealism. (Note... read more
[倩女幽魂] Ning Tsai-Shen (Leslie Cheung) takes shelter in an abandoned rural temple where he meets the beautiful Nieh Hsiao-Tsing (Joey... read more
CITY ON FIRE (1987)
[龍虎風雲] Hardened undercover cop Ko Chow (Chow Yun-Fat) is on the verge of retiring from the force when he is asked to take on one last case: A dangerous gang of jewelry thieves is wreaking havoc in Hong Kong, having killed an undercover officer and murdered another in a heist gone wrong. Chow must infiltrate the gang while shielding his true identity from both the thieves and the inept police force tasked with taking them down. Filmmaker Ringo Lam’s gruesome thriller would go on to be a major inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s breakthrough debut RESERVOIR DOGS. DIR/PROD Ringo Lam; SCR... read more
[龍虎風雲] Hardened undercover cop Ko Chow (Chow Yun-Fat) is on the verge of retiring from the force when he is... read more
Count Gore De Vol presents TREMORS (1990)
Join us for some creepy good fun when local TV legend Count Gore De Vol (Dick Dyszel) returns to present another cult favorite in the spirit of the original CREATURE FEATURE broadcasts, including vintage clips from the Count’s vault and interactive fun and games. The desert town of Perfection, Nevada. Population:14 — but after a series of grisly and mysterious murders, it may soon be zero. With everyone fearing a serial killer on the loose, local handymen Valentine “Val” McKee (Kevin Bacon) and Earl Basset (Fred Ward) discover the true menace is something far worse: giant worm-like creatures roaming underground.... read more
Join us for some creepy good fun when local TV legend Count Gore De Vol (Dick Dyszel) returns to present... read more
Craig Barron presents THE RAINS CAME in 35mm
Oscar®-winning visual effects artist Craig Barron is not only a leading figure in modern visual effects but also a renowned film historian, museum curator and educator with a deep focus on the history of cinematic illusions — from Hollywood’s studio era to the digital age. In an extended introduction, Barron will break down the groundbreaking visual effects of THE RAINS CAME — the first film to win the Academy Award® for Best Special Effects, triumphing over THE WIZARD OF OZ and GONE WITH THE WIND. His presentation will illuminate the technical artistry behind the film’s astonishingly realistic monsoon, earthquake and... read more
Oscar®-winning visual effects artist Craig Barron is not only a leading figure in modern visual effects but also a renowned... read more
CRY DANGER in 35mm
Robert Parrish’s directorial debut is one of the wickedest, wittiest revenge yarns of the original film noir era. Former song-and-dance man Dick Powell caps several years of success in the crime genre as savvy ex-con Rocky Mulloy, now working to clear his partner’s name. The film offers a uniquely LA noir landscape, where seedy hangouts and hilly streets sparkle with California sunshine, and low-rent trailer parks replace tenements. Playing opposite Powell are the ravishing Rhonda Fleming and the redoubtable Richard Erdman, one of the great wisecrackers of all time. (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR Robert Parrish; SCR William Bowers;... read more
Robert Parrish’s directorial debut is one of the wickedest, wittiest revenge yarns of the original film noir era. Former song-and-dance... read more
CUERPO CELESTE
Under the hot summer sun of the Atacama Desert, 15-year-old Celeste (Helen Mrugalski) is celebrating New Year’s Eve with her family at the beach. Her parents are archaeologists, ostensibly searching for whale bones in the sand. When the clock strikes midnight, it will be 1990, a new decade that will bring the end of Augusto Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship and the beginning of a better future. However, a life-altering incident stops the celebration dead in its tracks, forcing Celeste and her mother to figure out a new way forward. A year later, Celeste returns to the same coastal town, her eyes... read more
Under the hot summer sun of the Atacama Desert, 15-year-old Celeste (Helen Mrugalski) is celebrating New Year’s Eve with her... read more
DAY OF THE DEAD (1985)
After surviving the zombie apocalypse, a small group of scientists and military men look for answers in a secure underground bunker in Florida. Convinced they can tame the reanimated, the scientists have focused their domestication efforts on Bub, a zombie turned star pupil. But all hell breaks loose, and they are soon forced to fight for their survival. The third chapter in George Romero’s zombie series, following NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) and DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978), was a milestone for zombie special effects, with blood and guts at their absolute best, courtesy of makeup gurus Tom Savini... read more
After surviving the zombie apocalypse, a small group of scientists and military men look for answers in a secure underground... read more
DETECTIVE STORY (1951)
Against the backdrop of a typical day in New York’s 21st Precinct squad room, no-nonsense Detective Jim McLeod (Kirk Douglas), a stalwart and hard-nosed member of the force, faces a moral conflict after discovering that his wife (Eleanor Parker) once used the services of a crooked obstetrician (George Macready), now accused of killing a woman during an illegal abortion. In addition to highlighting Douglas’ star-turn performance, the film also functions as a stellar ensemble drama. William Wyler directs a talented supporting cast, including Joseph Wiseman and Lee Grant in their screen debuts; Grant received an Academy Award® nomination for Best... read more
Against the backdrop of a typical day in New York’s 21st Precinct squad room, no-nonsense Detective Jim McLeod (Kirk Douglas),... read more
DETOUR (1945)
DETOUR is dominated by the amazing performance of Ann Savage as Vera, a woman made out of emotional ice. She is picked up on the highway by Al Roberts (Tom Neal), a man running away from his past in a car he stole after the driver died. In a bizarre twist, it turns out Vera knew the driver, and she dominates Roberts as she directs his life into patterns he does not want or understand. There has never been a femme fatale quite like Savage’s character in this extraordinary film, directed by the auteur of the Poverty Row studios, Edgar... read more
DETOUR is dominated by the amazing performance of Ann Savage as Vera, a woman made out of emotional ice. She... read more
Double Feature: GO WEST with SEVEN CHANCES
100th Anniversary | Restored 4K DCP GO WEST (1925) Heeding the expansionist call of Horace Greeley, an idealistic young man (Buster Keaton) known only as “Friendless” hops a freight train westward to meet his destiny, landing at a cattle ranch in Arizona. His attempts at bronco busting, cattle wrangling and even dairy farming end in hilarious failure, but he does draw the attention of the sweetest gal on the ranch: a darling cow named Brown Eyes. Bovine and cowboy form a tender, inseparable bond — until Brown Eyes and the other cattle are wrangled onto a train bound for a... read more
100th Anniversary | Restored 4K DCP GO WEST (1925) Heeding the expansionist call of Horace Greeley, an idealistic young man... read more
DOWN AND OUT IN AMERICA with THE STRONGER
4K Restoration DOWN AND OUT IN AMERICA Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature, Lee Grant’s exploration of Reagan-era America takes us from the heartland, where farms that have fed the U.S. for a century are being dismembered by local banks, through to the tent cities of Los Angeles and welfare hotels of New York. This film is a groundbreaking and unforgettable look at life inside an America we have been too quick to forget, as timely and terrifying as ever. DIR Lee Grant; PROD Joseph Feury, Milton Justice. U.S., 1986, color, 57 min. NOT RATED Preceded by:... read more
4K Restoration DOWN AND OUT IN AMERICA Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature, Lee Grant’s exploration of... read more
DREAMS
After a passionate fling with affluent philanthropist Jennifer (Academy Award® winner Jessica Chastain) in Mexico, ballet dancer Fernando (real-life dancer Isaac Hernández) crosses the border with the cash she left him, intent on rekindling their romance and realizing his dream of dancing in the U.S. His sudden appearance stateside both surprises and intrigues Jennifer, who welcomes the young man back into her life — except when her friends and colleagues are around. As Fernando comes to realize, Jennifer will do a lot to support him but even more to protect her own elite status. Director Michel Franco’s chilly yet erotic... read more
After a passionate fling with affluent philanthropist Jennifer (Academy Award® winner Jessica Chastain) in Mexico, ballet dancer Fernando (real-life dancer... read more
FALSE FACES (1932)
The major studios would not touch this incendiary exposé of a medical con man, so top actor-director Lowell Sherman (THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR THEM) turned to a Poverty Row studio to bring it to the screen. This thinly veiled biopic of the notorious Henry Schireson, the “King of the Quack Doctors,” offers a searing portrait of greed, manipulation and unchecked ego. Before becoming a top director, Sherman was known for playing scoundrels, and he delivers a chilling performance as Dr. Silas Brenton, a charismatic sociopath who seduces women into undergoing cosmetic surgery, despite having no real surgical skill... read more
The major studios would not touch this incendiary exposé of a medical con man, so top actor-director Lowell Sherman (THE... read more
FEMALE (1933)
With few exceptions, pre-Code Hollywood was a world dominated by predatory men, but FEMALE stands out as a rare reversal, featuring Ruth Chatterton as a powerful woman who turns the tables. As a ruthless auto executive by day, she uses her position to seduce and discard a series of male subordinates. Those who mistake her attention for affection are swiftly dispatched. Her latest target — played by Chatterton’s then-husband, George Brent — attempts to challenge her worldview, leading to unexpected complications. One of the few Hollywood films to let a female character wield sexual power on the same terms men... read more
With few exceptions, pre-Code Hollywood was a world dominated by predatory men, but FEMALE stands out as a rare reversal,... read more
THE FLAMENCO GUITAR OF YERAI CORTÉS
[LA GUITARRA FLAMENCA DE YERAI CORTÉS] One fateful night, rapper Antón Álvarez, better known as C. Tangana, witnessed an awe-inspiring performance by the gifted young flamenco guitarist Yerai Cortés. Inspired to pick up the camera for the first time, Álvarez follows the budding musician as he writes and records his deeply personal debut solo album. Drawing on the traditions of his gitano roots, while still pushing the boundaries of contemporary flamenco, Cortés exhumes his family’s painful history to craft a masterwork. But as he tries to reconcile the past and his parents’ difficult relationship, Cortés’ own struggles with his girlfriend,... read more
[LA GUITARRA FLAMENCA DE YERAI CORTÉS] One fateful night, rapper Antón Álvarez, better known as C. Tangana, witnessed an awe-inspiring... read more
FOLLOW THRU (1930)
A wild and delightfully racy pre-Code musical comedy with a golf twist, FOLLOW THRU swings into the spotlight in a stunning new digital restoration — in two-color Technicolor! Adapted from the 1929 Broadway hit, the story follows a spirited young golfer (the effervescent Nancy Carroll, radiant in color) as she is pursued by a charming golf pro (Buddy Rogers). Meanwhile, comic sidekicks (Jack Haley and Zelma O’Neal, reprising their Broadway roles) steal scenes with their sharp timing and nimble dance routines. Thelma Todd adds extra spice as a wealthy widow and golf champion on the hunt — for both trophies... read more
A wild and delightfully racy pre-Code musical comedy with a golf twist, FOLLOW THRU swings into the spotlight in a... read more
FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
“It's alive! It's alive!” Colin Clive’s Henry Frankenstein determines to create life itself, but proper brain procurement proves the sticking point. James Whale’s horror classic deviates wildly from Mary Shelley’s source novel — and film history is all the better for it. Boris Karloff poignantly conveys the Monster’s own terror and humanity beneath memorably grotesque makeup by Jack Pierce. DIR James Whale; SCR Francis Edward Faragoh, Garrett Fort, from the play adaptation by John L. Balderston, the play by Peggy Webling and the novel by Mary Shelley; PROD Carl Laemmle Jr. U.S., 1931, b&w, 71 min. NOT RATED FREE for... read more
“It's alive! It's alive!” Colin Clive’s Henry Frankenstein determines to create life itself, but proper brain procurement proves the sticking... read more
FRANKENSTEIN (2025) in 35mm
Oscar®-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. (Note courtesy of Netflix.) DIR/SCR/PROD Guillermo del Toro; SCR from the novel by Mary Shelley; PROD Scott Stuber, J. Miles Dale. U.S, 2025, color, 150 min. RATED R read more
Oscar®-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings... read more
FRANKENWEENIE (2012)
Adapted from Tim Burton’s 1984 live-action short film, this quirky feature-length homage to Universal’s classic FRANKENSTEIN films and the 1950s creature features of Burton’s youth is lovingly rendered in black-and-white stop-motion animation. When science-loving kid Victor Frankenstein’s faithful pup Sparky dies, he devises a plan to reanimate his canine companion. But when his stitched-up pooch gets loose, chaos and paranoia break out in the sleepy suburb of New Holland. The film features the voices of Burton regulars Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau and Winona Ryder, plus Martin Short and Charlie Tahan. DIR/PROD Tim Burton; SCR John August, from the 1984 short... read more
Adapted from Tim Burton’s 1984 live-action short film, this quirky feature-length homage to Universal’s classic FRANKENSTEIN films and the 1950s... read more
THE FRESHMAN (1925)
Harold Lamb, a naïve, wide-eyed freshman, heads off to Tate University hoping to emulate his movie idol, The College Hero, and springboard himself to popularity. He even makes the football team — as a combination water boy/tackling dummy. But he gets his chance to make a name for himself in the big game, when his football coach, with injured starters and a badly depleted bench, has no choice but to put Harold on the field. Will the spindly and bespectacled frosh make good or be trampled underfoot by the rival team’s rugged leatherheads? THE FRESHMAN was Harold Lloyd’s most successful... read more
Harold Lamb, a naïve, wide-eyed freshman, heads off to Tate University hoping to emulate his movie idol, The College Hero,... read more
THE GARDEN OF EDEN (1928)
This sly, sexy romantic comedy follows wide-eyed Toni (silent star Corinne Griffith), a naïve Viennese pretzel baker who leaps at the chance to audition for the opera, only to discover the ad is a front. Upon arriving in Budapest, she learns the nightclub madam (Maude George) is recruiting girls not for the operatic stage but for more dubious nightclub “entertainments.” Toni’s disastrous debut — complete with a flustered performance and a lecherous aristocrat (Lowell Sherman) who mistakes her for part of the evening’s amusements — sends her fleeing in comic panic. She and a girlfriend escape to the Hotel Eden... read more
This sly, sexy romantic comedy follows wide-eyed Toni (silent star Corinne Griffith), a naïve Viennese pretzel baker who leaps at... read more
THE GOLD RUSH
The Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) tries his luck as a prospector in wintry Alaska, striking a rich vein of comedic gold (if little of the real stuff) in this dazzling silent classic. Writing for The New Yorker, Richard Brody praised Chaplin: “Whether staving off hunger by cooking his boot or doing a dainty dance with a pair of dinner rolls, Chaplin confronts the moral implications of every delicious, meticulously realized gag. As the poor man of refinement, the overlooked wanderer despairing of romance, the survivalist imp of defiant pride, Chaplin is the apotheosis of the world’s despised and downtrodden, and... read more
The Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) tries his luck as a prospector in wintry Alaska, striking a rich vein of comedic... read more
HARD BOILED
[辣手神探] Mobsters are smuggling guns into Hong Kong. The police orchestrate a raid at a teahouse, but ace police detective “Tequila” Yuen (Chow Yun-Fat) loses his partner amidst the chaos. Fueled by vengeance, he continues his investigation but finds there is an undercover cop, Alan (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), who has already gained the trust of the lead arms dealer Johnny (Anthony Wong). Forced to work together, Tequila and Alan team up to take Johnny down in one of cinema’s most brazen and delirious action-packed finales. Before departing Hong Kong for Hollywood to make films like FACE/OFF and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II,... read more
[辣手神探] Mobsters are smuggling guns into Hong Kong. The police orchestrate a raid at a teahouse, but ace police detective... read more
HELL'S HALF ACRE
Ready for a hundred-proof dose of “Tiki Noir”? Evelyn Keyes plays a woman who goes undercover as a taxi dancer in Honolulu’s notorious red-light district in order to search for her missing GI husband. Toss sultry and statuesque Marie Windsor into the mix and it is noir nirvana with a slack-key guitar soundtrack. (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR/PROD John H. Auer; SCR Steve Fisher. U.S. 1954, b&w, 90 min. NOT RATED read more
Ready for a hundred-proof dose of “Tiki Noir”? Evelyn Keyes plays a woman who goes undercover as a taxi dancer... read more
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS
[KAKUSHI TORIDE NO SAN AKUNIN] [隠し砦の三悪人] The fastest and funniest of Akira Kurosawa’s many samurai pictures combines terrific action with broad comedy captured in breathtaking widescreen cinematography — the director’s first foray into the format that would become his signature visual style. Two luckless peasants are bullied into serving a gruff, mysterious stranger (Toshirō Mifune) who promises payment in gold. As the adventures and perils mount, the two discover that they are actually on a secret mission to transport a young warrior princess through enemy territory and restore her to her throne. George Lucas based STAR WARS’ C-3PO and R2-D2... read more
[KAKUSHI TORIDE NO SAN AKUNIN] [隠し砦の三悪人] The fastest and funniest of Akira Kurosawa’s many samurai pictures combines terrific action with... read more
HIGH AND LOW (1963)
[TENGOKU TO JIGOKU] [天国と地獄] Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of American crime master Evan Hunter’s novel “King’s Ransom” makes for a thriller of the highest order: intellectually rich, pulse-pounding entertainment. Wealthy businessman Kingo Gondo (Toshirō Mifune) receives a ransom letter for his son, only to discover the kidnappers mistakenly grabbed the son of his chauffeur. Along with chief detective Tokura (Tatsuya Nakadai), Gondo becomes personally involved in the case, journeying from his castle-in-the-sky penthouse to the lower depths of Tokyo’s squalid slums. DIR/SCR Akira Kurosawa; SCR/PROD Ryūzō Kikushima; SCR Hideo Oguni Eijirō Hisaita, from the novel “King’s Ransom” by Evan Hunter; PROD... read more
[TENGOKU TO JIGOKU] [天国と地獄] Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of American crime master Evan Hunter’s novel “King’s Ransom” makes for a thriller... read more
I ONLY REST IN THE STORM
[O RISO E A FACA] Pedro Pinho’s (THE NOTHING FACTORY) provocative, sprawling drama follows Sérgio (Sérgio Coragem), a Portuguese NGO worker sent to Guinea-Bissau to complete an environmental impact report on a proposed new highway. But Sérgio seems to spend most of his time and energy partying in the city with his new acquaintances Diára (Cleo Diára, who was named Best Actress in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival), who runs a bar, and Guilherme, or Gui (Jonathan Guilherme), a femme nonbinary Brazilian expat, both of whom Sérgio is smitten with. Sérgio’s work requires him... read more
[O RISO E A FACA] Pedro Pinho’s (THE NOTHING FACTORY) provocative, sprawling drama follows Sérgio (Sérgio Coragem), a Portuguese NGO... read more
IKIRU
[TO LIVE] [生きる] In a role which was the apotheosis of his career, the great Everyman actor Takashi Shimura plays Kanji Watanabe, a 30-year veteran City Hall bureaucrat who, after a terminal cancer diagnosis, comes to appreciate his life for the first time. Ingeniously structured in two parts — Watanabe’s final months, with a mix of hard reflection, carefree spontaneity and inspired last-gasp effort; and in flashback as his colleagues attempt to imperfectly understand the man and his actions — Kurosawa’s moving film ranks among his finest achievements. Roger Ebert notably said, “I think this is one of the few... read more
[TO LIVE] [生きる] In a role which was the apotheosis of his career, the great Everyman actor Takashi Shimura plays... read more
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
Sidney Poitier stars as Virgil Tibbs, a Philadelphia homicide detective passing through rural Mississippi and wrongly detained by bigoted sheriff Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) on a murder charge. Once cleared, he helps the sheriff solve the case. Poitier and Steiger electrify the screen as their mutual antipathy turns to grudging respect; Lee Grant is outstanding in a supporting role as the victim’s angry widow, with Warren Oates as a creepy deputy. The film won five Oscars®, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Steiger. Quincy Jones’ blues-infused score, with a title song performed by Ray Charles, received a Grammy® nomination... read more
Sidney Poitier stars as Virgil Tibbs, a Philadelphia homicide detective passing through rural Mississippi and wrongly detained by bigoted sheriff... read more
INFERNO (1953) in 3D
It is the essential Noir City plot: illicit lovers hatch a “foolproof” scheme to bump off the woman's rich, domineering husband. But what if the husband, left for dead in the scorching desert, does not die? What if that husband, crippled but hell-bent on revenge, is played by the indomitable Robert Ryan? Watch as unmerciful nature takes on unbreakable man in amazing 3D and stereophonic sound! Toss in titanic, Titian-tressed Rhonda Fleming as the deceitful, voluptuous vixen, and you have got perhaps the best 3D movie of the original Hollywood stereo-optic craze! Not on DVD! (Note courtesy of Noir City.)... read more
It is the essential Noir City plot: illicit lovers hatch a “foolproof” scheme to bump off the woman's rich, domineering... read more
KICK IN (1931) in 35mm
Clara Bow’s final film for Paramount plays like a pre-Code noir, steeped in desperation, corruption and moral ambiguity. In what was touted as her first dramatic starring role, Bow gives a raw, sympathetic performance as Molly, the loyal wife of an ex-con trying to go straight. When a crooked friend steals a diamond necklace from the district attorney’s safe, the couple is caught in a web of manipulation, used as pawns by the police in a bid to recover the stolen goods. Things spiral further when Molly’s coke-addicted brother entangles them deeper in the crime and corrupt detectives frame the... read more
Clara Bow’s final film for Paramount plays like a pre-Code noir, steeped in desperation, corruption and moral ambiguity. In what... read more
THE KILLER (1989)
[喋血雙雄] John Woo’s third film collaboration with Chow Yun-Fat launched Woo to international acclaim and caught Hollywood’s eye in the process. Chow Yun-Fat plays Ah Jong, a hit man exhausted by bloodshed and looking to retire. During what is supposed to be his final job, Ah Jong accidentally blinds singer Jennie (Sally Yeh) and must take on one more job to pay for the operation to restore her eyesight. Featuring high-octane sequences and shoot-outs, including the first appearance of Woo’s trademark doves, THE KILLER quickly cemented itself as an action classic. DIR/SCR John Woo; PROD Tsui Hark. Hong Kong, 1989,... read more
[喋血雙雄] John Woo’s third film collaboration with Chow Yun-Fat launched Woo to international acclaim and caught Hollywood’s eye in the... read more
THE KILLING (1956)
Ex-con hard case Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) assembles a crew of colorful lowlifes to pull off a daring daytime racetrack heist before he absconds with his girlfriend (Coleen Gray). Poor judgment, bad luck and a faithless wife conspire to undo their big score, and, as things fall apart, this time-fractured puzzle of a story comes together. The screenplay was co-written by director Stanley Kubrick and pulp great Jim Thompson; the sharp cinematography is by Lucien Ballard. DIR/SCR Stanley Kubrick; SCR Jim Thompson, from the novel “Clean Break” by Lionel White; PROD James B. Harris. U.S., 1956, b&w, 84 min. NOT... read more
Ex-con hard case Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) assembles a crew of colorful lowlifes to pull off a daring daytime racetrack... read more
KISS OF DEATH (1947)
The pinnacle of Darryl F. Zanuck and 20th Century Fox’s brief infatuation with New York-set docudramas is this legendary film noir, directed by Henry Hathaway from a script by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer. Arrested following a botched jewelry store heist, Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) plans to keep quiet about his accomplices and do his time. But after he and his family are viciously betrayed, Nick begins a dangerous cooperation with DA Louis D’Angelo (Brian Donlevy), agreeing to become a deep undercover informant in exchange for having his sentence commuted and getting visitation time with his young children. But as... read more
The pinnacle of Darryl F. Zanuck and 20th Century Fox’s brief infatuation with New York-set docudramas is this legendary film... read more
THE LANDLORD (1970)
What begins as an oddball farce — a privileged young man buys a tenement building, intending to convert it into a psychedelic bachelor pad — evolves into something much more complex as the naïve Elgar (Beau Bridges) spends time getting to know the African American tenants he had planned to evict. Oscar®-winning editor Hal Ashby’s directorial debut boasts bold visuals, with Elgar’s overlit, whiter-than-white family estate contrasting with the shadowy, well-worn apartment building in the pre-gentrified neighborhood of Park Slope, Brooklyn. The cinematography is by Gordon Willis, who would soon become a legend for THE GODFATHER, while the detailed production... read more
What begins as an oddball farce — a privileged young man buys a tenement building, intending to convert it into... read more
THE LONG WAIT
Johnny McBride (Anthony Quinn) is injured in a car accident and wakes to discover he has no memory and no fingerprints! Then he discovers he is wanted for murder! This Mickey Spillane story has one of the genre’s kinkiest climaxes, making maximum use of fifties femme Peggie Castle. (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR Victor Saville; SCR/PROD Lesser Samuels; SCR Alan Green, from the novel by Mickey Spillane. U.S., 1954, b&w, 94 min. NOT RATED read more
Johnny McBride (Anthony Quinn) is injured in a car accident and wakes to discover he has no memory and no... read more
Lost and Found Cartoons with Jerry Beck
A fantastic showcase of recent restorations and rediscoveries from the golden age of animation, this program highlights the work of legendary rivals of Walt Disney — Max Fleischer, Paul Terry and Ub Iwerks — alongside forgotten gems and milestones from animation history. Curated by renowned cartoon historian Jerry Beck (author of more than 15 books on animation), the lineup features rare shorts that chart the evolution of the art form: the birth of iconic characters, ambitious series that never quite found their audience and bold experiments with early color and sound technologies. With Jerry Beck’s insightful introductions, you will get... read more
A fantastic showcase of recent restorations and rediscoveries from the golden age of animation, this program highlights the work of... read more
THE LOVE PARADE (1929)
THE LOVE PARADE was the first screen musical comedy from Ernst Lubitsch, the legendary master of romantic wit and sexual innuendo. In her film debut, Jeanette MacDonald plays the independent monarch of Sylvania, who falls for a charming but scandal-prone count (Maurice Chevalier), recently expelled from the Paris embassy for his many amorous escapades. But once love blossoms, a question lingers: Can the count settle for playing second fiddle to a reigning queen? Their witty courtship unfolds alongside a second romance between the count’s nimble valet (the scene-stealing Lupino Lane) and the queen’s spirited maid (Lillian Roth). And as for... read more
THE LOVE PARADE was the first screen musical comedy from Ernst Lubitsch, the legendary master of romantic wit and sexual... read more
MARY RYAN, DETECTIVE in 35mm
Intended as the first in a series of B features about an intrepid policewoman (stylish and vivacious Marsha Hunt), this engaging entry was the only one produced. Although modestly budgeted, it has adept direction, a sharp and satisfying script from B veteran George Bricker and a supporting cast of B stalwarts such as John Litel, Harry Shannon and June Vincent. (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR Abby Berlin; SCR George Bricker; PROD Rudolph Flothow. U.S., 1949, b&w, 68 min. NOT RATED read more
Intended as the first in a series of B features about an intrepid policewoman (stylish and vivacious Marsha Hunt), this... read more
THE MIND READER (1933)
Warren William, the undisputed King of Pre-Code, stars as a slick-talking sideshow barker who finds opportunity in the mind-reading racket. As the fraudulent psychic “Chandra the Great” — a name borrowed from a box of cookies — he rises to carnival fame before briefly trying to go straight to impress his new wife (Constance Cummings). But the lure of easy money proves too strong. Reinvented as the upscale “Dr. Munro,” he begins preying on high-society clients, using tips from wealthy families’ chauffeurs to expose adulterous husbands to their unsuspecting wives. Aiding William’s con man are loyal sidekicks played by character... read more
Warren William, the undisputed King of Pre-Code, stars as a slick-talking sideshow barker who finds opportunity in the mind-reading racket.... read more
MURDER, MY SWEET
This film marked the transition of actor Dick Powell from romantic musical lead to film noir tough guy. Playing Raymond Chandler’s detective and knight-errant Philip Marlowe, he searches for a singer named Velma and finds himself caught up in a tangled web of blackmail and murder. Along the way, he becomes involved with a wealthy man’s unscrupulous gold-digging wife (Claire Trevor) and the stepdaughter who despises her (Anne Shirley). Mike Mazurki gives a standout performance as the mentally challenged, physically powerful ex-con Moose Malloy, who hires Marlowe to find Velma. (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR Edward Dmytryk; SCR John... read more
This film marked the transition of actor Dick Powell from romantic musical lead to film noir tough guy. Playing Raymond... read more
MY MUSIC WITH RHIANNON GIDDENS
Voices from the American Railroad: Indigenous and Immigrant Stories in MY MUSIC WITH RHIANNON GIDDENS FREE SCREENING! Tickets are limited to four per reservation and are not a guarantee of admission. You must be seated at least 15 min. prior to showtime. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. Empty seats will be released to standby line guests. Join the AFI Silver Theatre and Strathmore on Indigenous Peoples' Day for a powerful evening exploring the untold stories of the immigrant and indigenous peoples that helped build America’s Transcontinental Railroad. The program will feature two compelling episodes of PBS’s MY MUSIC... read more
Voices from the American Railroad: Indigenous and Immigrant Stories in MY MUSIC WITH RHIANNON GIDDENS FREE SCREENING! Tickets are limited... read more
MY TRUE STORY in 35mm
Mickey Rooney directed this unusual drama, produced in association with True Story magazine. Helen Walker (NIGHTMARE ALLEY) gives a fantastic performance as an ex-con who gets railroaded into working with a gang of thieves who are after an unusual payoff: a supply of myrrh, the secret ingredient used in “Temptation” perfume. A true rarity! (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR Mickey Rooney; SCR Howard J. Green, Brown Holmes; PROD Milton Feldman. U.S., 1951, b&w, 67 min. NOT RATED read more
Mickey Rooney directed this unusual drama, produced in association with True Story magazine. Helen Walker (NIGHTMARE ALLEY) gives a fantastic... read more
THE MYSTERIOUS GAZE OF THE FLAMINGO
[LA MISTERIOSA MIRADA DEL FLAMENCO] Queer love, in all its capacities, shines with contradictory exuberance at the dawn of the AIDS epidemic in Diego Céspedes’ audacious debut. Melding elements of melodrama and western with a contemporary twist, the film is set in a reimagined desert town in 1980s Chile where 11-year-old Lidia is raised by pageant star Flamingo (played by a charismatic Matías Catalán) in a commune of crossdressers led by the fierce Mama Boa (Paula Dinamarca). Routine drag festivities in the cantina are halted by the sudden reappearance of Flamingo’s past lover, a mysterious miner named Yovani, as rumors... read more
[LA MISTERIOSA MIRADA DEL FLAMENCO] Queer love, in all its capacities, shines with contradictory exuberance at the dawn of the... read more
THE NARROW MARGIN (1952) in 35mm
This B-movie beauty easily ranks among the best films in director Richard Fleischer’s long and better-budgeted career. Tough-as-nails cop Walter Brown (Charles McGraw) must guard a mob widow (Marie Windsor), due to testify before a grand jury, on a transcontinental train trip from Chicago to LA. The trouble is that some associates of her deceased husband would prefer she not make that trip. All aboard! The Oscar®-nominated story comes courtesy of Martin Goldsmith (DETOUR) and Jack Leonard (HIS KIND OF WOMAN); George E. Diskant works wonders with the close-quartered cinematography. DIR Richard Fleischer; SCR Earl Felton, from a story by... read more
This B-movie beauty easily ranks among the best films in director Richard Fleischer’s long and better-budgeted career. Tough-as-nails cop Walter... read more
NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR (1922)
[NOSFERATU, EINE SYMPHONIE DES GRAUENS] Casting a long and terrifying shadow over the genre, German silent film master F. W. Murnau's uncredited appropriation of Bram Stoker's “Dracula” set the standard for all vampire flicks to come. Max Schreck’s monstrous Count Orlok is singularly frightening, repulsive and beastly, where Bela Lugosi was courtly and Christopher Lee seductive. DIR F. W. Murnau; SCR Henrik Galeen, from the novel “Dracula” by Bram Stoker; PROD Enrico Dieckmann, Albin Grau. Germany, 1922, b&w/hand-tinted color, 94 min. Silent with English intertitles. NOT RATED Also part of Halloween on Screen. read more
[NOSFERATU, EINE SYMPHONIE DES GRAUENS] Casting a long and terrifying shadow over the genre, German silent film master F. W.... read more
OKAY, AMERICA! (1932) in 35mm
Lew Ayres stars as a fast-talking tabloid gossip columnist and radio broadcaster — a power broker and provocateur clearly modeled on real-life newspaperman Walter Winchell (who, 25 years later, also inspired the ruthless Burt Lancaster character in SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS). This was the first Hollywood feature to directly reflect the national trauma of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, and one of four Winchell-inspired films released within a five-month span in 1932. When the daughter (Margaret Lindsay) of a cabinet secretary is abducted, Ayres’ character leverages his underworld connections to track down the racketeers responsible. He then uses his political clout... read more
Lew Ayres stars as a fast-talking tabloid gossip columnist and radio broadcaster — a power broker and provocateur clearly modeled... read more
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (Digital)
From Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson comes ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, starring Academy Award® winner Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside Oscar® winners Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn, plus Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Wood Harris and Alana Haim. When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunites to rescue one of their own’s daughter. DIR/SCR/PROD Paul Thomas Anderson; PROD Adam Somner, Sara Murphy. U.S., 2025, color, 162 min. RATED R For showtimes for ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER in 70mm, click here. read more
From Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson comes ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, starring Academy Award® winner Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside Oscar®... read more
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER in 70mm
From Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson comes ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, starring Academy Award® winner Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside Oscar® winners Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn, plus Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Wood Harris and Alana Haim. When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunites to rescue one of their own’s daughter. DIR/SCR/PROD Paul Thomas Anderson; PROD Adam Somner, Sara Murphy. U.S., 2025, color, 162 min. RATED R Looking for more showtimes? Click here for tickets for ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (Digital) read more
From Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson comes ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, starring Academy Award® winner Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside Oscar®... read more
ORWELL: 2+2=5
George Orwell was one of the most visionary authors of the 20th century, whose novels “1984” and “Animal Farm” foretold a chilling, all-too-believable authoritarian future. Acclaimed director Raoul Peck (I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, the Academy Award®-nominated documentary), working in collaboration with the Orwell Estate, seamlessly interweaves historical clips, readings from Orwell’s diary, cinematic references and dynamic modern-day footage to craft what is not only a definitive portrait of the writer himself but also an entirely fresh take on how remarkably relevant and prophetic his work has become. Peck does not simply present the information but demonstrates new ways of... read more
George Orwell was one of the most visionary authors of the 20th century, whose novels “1984” and “Animal Farm” foretold... read more
OUT OF THE PAST (1947)
Ex-private eye Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) tries to make a new life for himself in the country, but his past catches up with him — first in the form of his former employer, mob boss Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas), then in bad girl Kathie Moffat (Jane Greer), whose earlier romantic getaway with Bailey had ended on a murderous note. Dizzyingly told in flashback, blending dreamy romanticism with doomy cynicism, this is arguably the ultimate film noir, a coolly vicious love triangle between Mitchum’s Bailey, iconic in his trench coat and laconically cool; Greer’s Moffat, la femme plus fatale, a serial... read more
Ex-private eye Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) tries to make a new life for himself in the country, but his past... read more
PEKING OPERA BLUES
[刀馬旦] During the turbulent period following the 1911 Revolution, Tsao Wan (Brigitte Lin), a general’s daughter, joins a guerilla movement that would depose her father. She crosses paths with opera troupe member Bai Niu (Sally Yeh) and fleeing courtesan Sheung Hung (Cherie Chung). The three women become embroiled in the political turmoil of their time as they each seek their own form of independence. Brimming with humor and action, Tsui Hark’s PEKING OPERA BLUES received six Hong Kong Film Awards nominations. DIR/PROD Tsui Hark; SCR Raymond To; PROD Claudie Jan Chung. Hong Kong, 1986, color, 106 min. In Cantonese and... read more
[刀馬旦] During the turbulent period following the 1911 Revolution, Tsao Wan (Brigitte Lin), a general’s daughter, joins a guerilla movement... read more
PERFECT BLUE REMASTERED
[PĀFEKUTO BURŪ] [パーフェクトブルー] “Who are…you?” Mima Kirigoe, a former pop idol, makes a bold transition into acting, taking on a role in a drama that includes a disturbing assault scene, and even releasing a provocative nude photo book. Her dramatic reinvention grabs public attention, but also provokes unease among her fans, her manager and even herself as she struggles with the rapid shift from her days as a pop idol. As a stalker begins to shadow her, a screenwriter and a photographer are murdered one after another. “Did I kill them?” Mima begins to wonder if a split personality is... read more
[PĀFEKUTO BURŪ] [パーフェクトブルー] “Who are…you?” Mima Kirigoe, a former pop idol, makes a bold transition into acting, taking on a... read more
PHANTOM LADY (1944)
Loyal and lovely Carol (Ella Raines) is “one hep kitten” as she high-heels her way through the noir demimonde, searching for the one woman who can save her boss from a murder rap. Director Robert Siodmak and cinematographer Woody Bredell wring every juicy bit of shadowy mystery from the novel by master of suspense Cornell Woolrich. Famous for Elisha Cook Jr.’s manic interlude as a wigged-out jazz drummer in orgiastic frenzy, PHANTOM LADY is a truly seminal noir classic. (Note courtesy of Noir City Chicago.) DIR Robert Siodmak; SCR Bernard C. Schoenfeld, from the novel by Cornell Woolrich. U.S., 1944, b&w, 87 min.... read more
Loyal and lovely Carol (Ella Raines) is “one hep kitten” as she high-heels her way through the noir demimonde, searching for... read more
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925/1929)
A vengeful, masked composer (Lon Chaney) prowls the depths of the Paris Opera House, appearing only when his love for the beautiful young singer Christine (Mary Philbin) can be stifled no longer. Lon Chaney, “the Man of a Thousand Faces,” created one of his most iconic and haunting performances in this hugely influential gothic melodrama. This restoration by Film Preservation Associates features the original tints and Technicolor of the 1929 theatrical version, as well as the meticulously hand-colored sequences that reproduce the Handschiegl Color Process. DIR Rupert Julian; SCR Elliott J. Clawson, Raymond L. Schrock, from the novel “Le Fantôme... read more
A vengeful, masked composer (Lon Chaney) prowls the depths of the Paris Opera House, appearing only when his love for... read more
THE PLASTIC AGE (1925) in 35mm
Clara Bow’s breakthrough film casts her as Cynthia Day, a jazz-mad college co-ed caught up in a love triangle between two roommates: the earnest athlete (Donald Keith) and his devil-may-care rival (Gilbert Roland). As Cynthia’s allure grows, the athlete begins to slip, both academically and on the field, until a raid at a speakeasy and a humiliating loss at a track meet force him to reevaluate his priorities. Based on Percy Marks’ bestselling novel, an exposé of collegiate life at a time when only 5% of eligible men (and even fewer women) attended college, the film paints a vivid portrait... read more
Clara Bow’s breakthrough film casts her as Cynthia Day, a jazz-mad college co-ed caught up in a love triangle between... read more
Pre-Code Cartoons (For Kids, Too!) with Jerry Beck
Join us for a wild ride through the forgotten corners of early 1930s animation! Before the Hays Code cleaned up Hollywood, cartoons were just as wild, surreal and outrageous as live-action films — sometimes even more so. Animation historian Jerry Beck, a professor at CalArts and author of more than15 books on classic cartoons, presents a handpicked lineup of his favorite pre-Code animated shorts, with an emphasis on the weird, the rare and the wonderful. Expect jazz-fueled antics and flapper-era flair from obscure studios you have likely never heard of. Jerry’s lively introductions will dive into the hidden history of... read more
Join us for a wild ride through the forgotten corners of early 1930s animation! Before the Hays Code cleaned up... read more
THE PROWLER (1951) in 35mm
Patrolman Webb Garwood is more interested in achieving the American Dream than he is in protecting it for others. After answering a woman’s distress call about a Peeping Tom, Garwood hatches a nefarious plot to worm his way into her affluent but lonely life — and into her husband’s life insurance policy. Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes give stellar performances in this disturbing spider-and-fly romance, written covertly by legendary blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and directed by the soon-to-be-blacklisted Joseph Losey. Largely dismissed by critics upon its release, it is now regarded as one of Losey’s best American films, one that... read more
Patrolman Webb Garwood is more interested in achieving the American Dream than he is in protecting it for others. After... read more
RASHOMON
[RASHŌMON] [羅生門] The murder of a man and the rape of his wife in a forest grove are seen from four different perspectives. Considered one of the greatest films ever made, Akira Kurosawa’s meditation on the nature of “truth” transformed narrative cinema as we know it. Starring Toshirō Mifune, Machiko Kyō, Masayuki Mori and Takashi Shimura, the spellbinding psychological thriller won the Golden Lion at the 1951 Venice Film Festival and the Honorary Foreign Language Film Award at the 1952 Academy Awards®. DIR/SCR Akira Kurosawa; SCR Shinobu Hashimoto, from the short stories “Rashomon” and “In a Grove” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa;... read more
[RASHŌMON] [羅生門] The murder of a man and the rape of his wife in a forest grove are seen from... read more
RAW DEAL (1948)
Social worker Ann Martin (Marsha Hunt) and gangster’s moll Pat Regan (Claire Trevor) duke it out for the soul of homme fatal Joe Sullivan (Dennis O’Keefe) in this rambunctious display of quintessential noir pulp. Sullivan busts out of the slammer determined to get even with shyster gang boss Rick Coyle (Raymond Burr), who wants Sullivan dead before he reaches his San Francisco hideout. Stunning images by legendary cinematographer John Alton make this one of the most visually stylish noirs of them all. As Film Noir Foundation founder Eddie Muller likes to say, it is “Pure Pulp for Noir People.” (Note... read more
Social worker Ann Martin (Marsha Hunt) and gangster’s moll Pat Regan (Claire Trevor) duke it out for the soul of... read more
THE RECKLESS MOMENT
California homemaker Lucia Harper (Joan Bennett) longs to separate her headstrong daughter (Geraldine Brooks) from the influence of her bad-apple boyfriend (Shepperd Strudwick). But events spiral out of control, and soon mother and daughter are covering their tracks from an accidental homicide. Enter shady character Martin Donnelly (James Mason) — tall, dark and handsome, and in possession of evidence that would incriminate Lucia. Max Ophüls’ criminally underrated noir masterpiece weaves a weird, it-could-never-be romance with a twisty, tension-fueled plot. And it all takes place during the holiday season! DIR Max Ophüls; SCR Henry Garson, Robert Soderberg, from the short story... read more
California homemaker Lucia Harper (Joan Bennett) longs to separate her headstrong daughter (Geraldine Brooks) from the influence of her bad-apple... read more
RED BEARD
[AKAHIGE] [赤ひげ] This tale of a callow young doctor’s education revisits social issues of Akira Kurosawa’s earlier films from the vantage point and benefit of a life and directorial career enriched by some 20 years. Early 19th-century Japan: recent medical school grad Noboru Yasumoto (Yūzō Kayama) is unhappy to be sent to a provincial public clinic for his practical training instead of being given a cushy personal physician gig. When he meets hardcase head doctor Kyojō Niide, a.k.a. “Red Beard” (Toshiro Mifune, in his last role for Kurosawa), whose personal code of honor borders on the samurai’s bushidō, he thinks... read more
[AKAHIGE] [赤ひげ] This tale of a callow young doctor’s education revisits social issues of Akira Kurosawa’s earlier films from the... read more
RIEFENSTAHL
Filmmaker and Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl is considered one of the most controversial women of the 20th century. Her films TRIUMPH OF THE WILL and OLYMPIA are defined by their fascist aesthetics, perfectly staged body worship and the celebration of all that is “superior” and victorious, simultaneously projecting contempt for the imperfect and weak. But Riefenstahl — who first broke into the German film industry as an actress — spent decades after the war denying her association with Nazi ideology and claiming ignorance of the Holocaust. How did she become the Reich’s preeminent filmmaker if she was just a hired... read more
Filmmaker and Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl is considered one of the most controversial women of the 20th century. Her films... read more
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
Recently engaged Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) stumble upon a castle in the middle of the night that is definitely not a hunting lodge for “rich weirdos.” A jump to the left and a step to the right later, they find themselves as guests of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), who does his best to make them “shiver with anticipation” at what he has in store for everyone at the Annual Transylvanian Convention. A satirical, musical tribute to classic science fiction and horror B-movies, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW has become a beacon, a touchstone and, for... read more
Recently engaged Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) stumble upon a castle in the middle of the... read more
RUNA SIMI
In Augusto Zegarra’s feature debut, we meet Fernando, a Peruvian single father who spends his days with his son Dylan, dubbing clips of animated films into Quechua, their shared Indigenous language. Far more than a hobby, this seemingly small and personal act is Fernando’s attempt to preserve his cultural heritage. When clips of their Quechua dubs go viral, an emboldened Fernando embarks on his most ambitious project yet: to dub the entirety of THE LION KING into Quechua. Zegarra captures these efforts — including casting, rehearsal and even attempts at contacting Disney for permission to screen the completed dub —... read more
In Augusto Zegarra’s feature debut, we meet Fernando, a Peruvian single father who spends his days with his son Dylan,... read more
SALLY, IRENE AND MARY (1925)
Joan Crawford, in one of her earliest roles, stars alongside Constance Bennett and Sally O’Neil as Broadway chorus girls searching for love, money and husbands in different ways. Sally (Bennett) is the eldest and wisest, content with her older lover who affords her a luxurious lifestyle; Irene (Crawford) is a hopeless and naïve romantic, easily seduced by the wrong man; and Mary (O’Neil) becomes engaged to a millionaire before a shocking event causes her to realize the error of her choice and return to her childhood sweetheart. The glamour and inequity of 1920s New York are on full display in... read more
Joan Crawford, in one of her earliest roles, stars alongside Constance Bennett and Sally O’Neil as Broadway chorus girls searching... read more
SANJURO
[TSUBAKI SANJŪRŌ] [椿三十郎] “You tired of being stupid yet?” After the enormous popularity of YOJIMBO, Akira Kurosawa followed with this sequel, pushing even further into all-out comedy. Toshirō Mifune reprises his role as the in-it-for-himself swordsman, this time happening upon a town torn between two rival politicians. When a youthful squad of untested samurai seeks to throw its support behind the seemingly more magnanimous of the two leaders, the wised-up Sanjūrō investigates, lending the youths his expertise with the blade and his equally sharp-tongued advice. DIR/SCR Akira Kurosawa; SCR/PROD Ryūzō Kikushima; SCR Hideo Oguni, from the novel “Peaceful Days” by... read more
[TSUBAKI SANJŪRŌ] [椿三十郎] “You tired of being stupid yet?” After the enormous popularity of YOJIMBO, Akira Kurosawa followed with this... read more
SAXOPHONE SUZY (1928)
[SAXOPHON-SUSI] The closest you will ever come to seeing a silent film musical, SAXOPHONE SUZY is a buoyant, high-spirited comedy that swings and practically dances off the screen. The story follows two Berlin girlfriends — an heiress (Anny Ondra) with dreams of the stage and a dancer (Mary Parker) yearning for an education — who swap identities on their way to London. Instead of arriving at a boarding school as her father wished, the heiress enrolls at the Tiller School for synchronized dancing. Cue mistaken identities, romantic mix-ups and eccentric dancing as a would-be suitor complicates matters further. This French-German... read more
[SAXOPHON-SUSI] The closest you will ever come to seeing a silent film musical, SAXOPHONE SUZY is a buoyant, high-spirited comedy... read more
SEVEN SAMURAI
[SHICHININ NO SAMURAI] [七人の侍] Hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, SEVEN SAMURAI has spawned imitations, including THE WILD BUNCH and 1960’s THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, but remains unsurpassed in its virtuosity — due in large part to filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s star and key collaborator, actor Toshirō Mifune, who cites this role as his all-time favorite. Farmers in a small hamlet hire seven samurai to protect them from pillagers. Though the village can only offer food in payment, each samurai takes on the near-suicidal mission for his own personal reasons. DIR/SCR Akira Kurosawa; SCR Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni;... read more
[SHICHININ NO SAMURAI] [七人の侍] Hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, SEVEN SAMURAI has spawned imitations, including... read more
SHAMPOO
Warren Beatty had kicked around the idea of a movie about a stud hairstylist as early as the mid-1960s, but in its long gestation from gag character to fully formed script and 1975 release, SHAMPOO acquired the hard-earned wisdom of post-60s disillusionment. Set on the eve of the 1968 election, though imbued with a Watergate-era sensibility, the movie follows Beverly Hills hairdresser George Roundy’s (Beatty) serial entanglements with bored socialite Felicia (Lee Grant), sassy Jackie (Julie Christie) and youngster Lorna (Carrie Fisher) — as it turns out, the wife, mistress and daughter, respectively, of a wealthy businessman (Jack Warden) —... read more
Warren Beatty had kicked around the idea of a movie about a stud hairstylist as early as the mid-1960s, but... read more
Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases
Co-presented by The Red Circle of Washington, DC In 2024, the BFI National Archive launched a major new project to restore Stoll Pictures’ epic Sherlock Holmes film series which ran from 1921–1923 and produced 45 shorts and two features, all starring Eille Norwood (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s favorite on-screen Sherlock and the record holder for most appearances on film as the famed sleuth). This program presents three of these short films, meticulously restored by the BFI National Archive’s Conservation Centre using a combination of the original negatives – acquired by the BFI from Stoll Pictures in 1938 – as well... read more
Co-presented by The Red Circle of Washington, DC In 2024, the BFI National Archive launched a major new project to... read more
THE SLEEPING CITY
Drug pushing and gambling set the stage for murder in THE SLEEPING CITY, a hardboiled film noir thriller filmed on the streets of New York, written by Jo Eisinger (GILDA, NIGHT AND THE CITY) and directed by George Sherman (BIG JAKE, LARCENY). When a doctor is shot dead outside Bellevue Hospital, detective Fred Rowen (Richard Conte, CRY OF THE CITY, THIEVES' HIGHWAY) is tasked with finding the killer. Posing as an intern, Rowen is befriended by the hospital’s elevator operator and a ward nurse (Coleen Gray, KISS OF DEATH, NIGHTMARE ALLEY) he begins to date. As his investigation continues and... read more
Drug pushing and gambling set the stage for murder in THE SLEEPING CITY, a hardboiled film noir thriller filmed on... read more
SMOULDERING FIRES (1925)
Greta Garbo’s favorite director, Clarence Brown, was not only a master of popular entertainment (THE RAINS CAME, NATIONAL VELVET) but also of nuanced, socially conscious dramas (INTRUDER IN THE DUST). SMOULDERING FIRES showcases his sensitivity and visual elegance in a story that feels strikingly modern. Stage legend Pauline Frederick delivers a powerful and layered performance as a wealthy, driven businesswoman whose life has been shaped by success — and loneliness. When she falls for a much younger man (Malcolm McGregor) working at her factory, the romance seems hopeful, until he meets her vivacious younger sister (Laura La Plante). With themes... read more
Greta Garbo’s favorite director, Clarence Brown, was not only a master of popular entertainment (THE RAINS CAME, NATIONAL VELVET) but... read more
SONG (1928)
[SCHMUTZIGES GELD] Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong had to leave Hollywood and relocate to Europe to secure the leading roles she was so often denied at home. SONG (also released as SHOW LIFE) marks the first of her three collaborations with German director Richard Eichberg — a key turning point in her career. In this new digital restoration, the film reveals the richness of its visual storytelling. The dingy, cramped boarding houses and bars sharply contrast with the sleek, spacious nightclubs that overlook the city, underscoring the film’s commentary on class and social mobility. Wong plays Song, a homeless, drifting... read more
[SCHMUTZIGES GELD] Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong had to leave Hollywood and relocate to Europe to secure the leading roles... read more
Spooky Looney Tunes Shorts Program 1
Enjoy a frightful time at the movies with this spook-tacular collection of eerie, absurd and downright hilarious short films featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Tweety, Marvin the Martian, Witch Hazel, Count Bloodcount and Gossamer. This shorts block includes: BEWITCHED BUNNY (1954) | Dir. Chuck Jones, 7 min. HYDE AND HARE (1955) | Dir. Friz Freleng, 7 min. SATAN’S WAITIN’ (1954) | Dir. Friz Freleng, 7 min. THE HASTY HARE (1952) | Dir. Chuck Jones, 8 min. DUCK AMUCK (1953) | Dir. Chuck Jones, 7 min. HAIR-RAISING HARE (1946) | Dir. Chuck Jones, 8 min. SCAREDY CAT (1948)... read more
Enjoy a frightful time at the movies with this spook-tacular collection of eerie, absurd and downright hilarious short films featuring... read more
Spooky Looney Tunes Shorts Program 2
Enjoy a frightful time at the movies with this spook-tacular collection of eerie, absurd and downright hilarious short films featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Tweety, Speedy Gonzales, Marvin the Martian, the Tasmanian Devil, Yosemite Sam, Witch Hazel and Gossamer. This shorts block includes: BROOM-STICK BUNNY (1956) | Dir. Chuck Jones, 7 min. HYDE AND GO TWEET (1960) | Dir. Friz Freleng, 7 min. CLAWS FOR ALARM (1954) | Dir. Chuck Jones, 7 min. WATER, WATER EVERY HARE (1952) | Dir. Chuck Jones, 7 min. HARE-WAY TO THE STARS (1958) | Dir. Chuck Jones, 7 min. THE ABOMINABLE SNOW RABBIT (1961) | Dir. Chuck... read more
Enjoy a frightful time at the movies with this spook-tacular collection of eerie, absurd and downright hilarious short films featuring... read more
STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR
From humble origins as a London fringe theater play to its meteoric rise, fall and resurrection as the biggest cult film of all time, this is the definitive story of the THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, which was first released in theaters 50 years ago on September 26, 1975. With intimate access to its creator Richard O’Brien and other major players such as Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Lou Adler, the documentary explores what makes the play and film so singular: their groundbreaking and transgressive themes, iconic performances and epic songs that took over popular culture. The unparalleled cult phenomenon... read more
From humble origins as a London fringe theater play to its meteoric rise, fall and resurrection as the biggest cult... read more
STRAY DOG (1949)
[NORA INU] [野良犬] While a rubble-strewn Tokyo swelters through a torrid heat wave, police detective Murakami (Toshirō Mifune) searches obsessively for his own stolen pistol — an eventual murder weapon — and its thief. As the chase progresses toward a riveting final confrontation, the young cop and the unseen killer disturbingly begin to seem more alike. Director Akira Kurosawa, a confessed admirer of Belgian detective fiction author Georges Simenon, adapted his own unpublished novel for this, his first detective film (the second being 1963’s HIGH AND LOW) and the real beginning of the genre in Japan. DIR/SCR Akira Kurosawa; SCR... read more
[NORA INU] [野良犬] While a rubble-strewn Tokyo swelters through a torrid heat wave, police detective Murakami (Toshirō Mifune) searches obsessively... read more
SUSPIRIA (1977)
The signature film of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento sends fresh-faced American dancer Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) off to a prestigious ballet school in Germany, where she is greeted by students fleeing in panic, secretive headmistresses (Joan Bennett and Alida Valli) and a series of murders and supernatural occurrences that grow increasingly gruesome. Does something more than the spirit of the dance live within the school’s walls? Propelled by a pounding soundtrack by Italian rock band Goblin and bold, almost impossibly stylized Technicolor visuals, this film is a landmark work of cinematic horror. DIR/SCR Dario Argento; SCR Daria Nicolodi, from... read more
The signature film of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento sends fresh-faced American dancer Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) off to a... read more
TALES FROM THE HOOD
When Stack, Ball and Bulldog roll up to the local funeral parlor to recover a stash of drugs, they meet eccentric mortician Mr. Simms (Clarence Williams III), who regales the young men with four wild and wicked tales about retribution. The gruesome stories follow a police officer haunted by the spirit of a Black civil rights activist whose racially motivated murder he helped cover up; a young, sensitive boy abused by a terrifying “monster” living in his own home; a racist Southern senator facing the wrath of living dolls possessed by the souls of murdered African slaves; a callous gangster... read more
When Stack, Ball and Bulldog roll up to the local funeral parlor to recover a stash of drugs, they meet... read more
TELL ME A RIDDLE
In her theatrical directorial debut, Lee Grant, working with screenwriters Joyce Eliason and Alev Lytle, adapts Tillie Olsen’s O. Henry Award-winning novella as a moving meditation on aging and coming to terms with the past. Melvyn Douglas and Lila Kedrova star as elderly Midwestern Jewish couple David and Eva. When David learns that Eva has terminal cancer, the two set out on a pilgrimage to visit their children and grandchildren, occasioning a reflection on the unexamined corners of their souls they have too long neglected in order to raise their family. Also featuring performances by Brooke Adams, Peter Coyote and... read more
In her theatrical directorial debut, Lee Grant, working with screenwriters Joyce Eliason and Alev Lytle, adapts Tillie Olsen’s O. Henry... read more
TENSION in 35mm
Audrey Totter pulls out all the stops portraying her ultimate “bad girl,” the vile voluptuary Claire Quimby, in one of the most underrated noir films of the forties. Richard Basehart plays a milquetoast pharmacist married to the oversexed and chronically unfaithful Claire. But this sad sack has a plan to get revenge. (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR John Berry; SCR Allen Rivkin, from a story by John D. Klorer; PROD Robert Sisk. U.S., 1949, b&w, 95 min. NOT RATED read more
Audrey Totter pulls out all the stops portraying her ultimate “bad girl,” the vile voluptuary Claire Quimby, in one of... read more
THIS DAY AND AGE (1933) in 35mm
When a beloved shopkeeper is gunned down by a gangster (Charles Bickford) running a protection racket, a high school student who witnesses the murder quickly discovers the limits of the legal system when it comes to confronting powerful criminals. This provocative social commentary, remarkably bold for its time, delivers a startlingly pro-lynching message. In control of city government for a day, the teens launch a vigilante campaign to purge the town of organized crime. In a chilling climax, they force a confession from the gangster they have already deemed guilty. The film showcases director Cecil B. DeMille’s masterful handling of... read more
When a beloved shopkeeper is gunned down by a gangster (Charles Bickford) running a protection racket, a high school student... read more
THRONE OF BLOOD
[KUMONOSU-JŌ] [蜘蛛巣城] Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” stars Toshirō Mifune as Taketoki Washizu, a victorious warlord in feudal Japan who becomes obsessed with — and ultimately enslaved by — his quest for power. When he becomes lost in a labyrinthine forest, Washizu encounters an old woman who prophesies that he will ascend to the throne, but his calculating wife (Isuzu Yamada) cajoles him into taking the throne by force, causing a series of bloody events to ensue. DIR/SCR/PROD Akira Kurosawa; SCR Shinobu Hashimoto, Ryūzō Kikushima, Hideo Oguni, from the play “The Tragedy of Macbeth” by William... read more
[KUMONOSU-JŌ] [蜘蛛巣城] Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” stars Toshirō Mifune as Taketoki Washizu, a victorious warlord... read more
TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY in 35mm
Handsome Steve Cochran with the perpetual 5 o’clock shadow racked up a slew of noir credits before his premature death in 1965, including WHITE HEAT, PRIVATE HELL 36 and THE DAMNED DON’T CRY. Here, he is an ex-con who has never been with a woman. Ruth Roman (STRANGERS ON A TRAIN) is a dime-a-dance dame with no use for sappy men. A hotel room, a dirty cop and a gunshot provide the perfect jumpstart for a fugitives-on-the-run love story. Imagine GUN CRAZY scripted by Steinbeck — it is that good. (Note courtesy of Noir City.) DIR Felix E. Feist; SCR... read more
Handsome Steve Cochran with the perpetual 5 o’clock shadow racked up a slew of noir credits before his premature death... read more
THE WILD PARTY (1929)
Clara Bow stars as the spirited leader of a rebellious group of friends — the self-styled “hard-boiled maidens” — who embrace a carefree, party-fueled lifestyle at a women’s college and show little interest in academics. After being thrown out of a school dance for their revealing outfits, the gang heads to a rough roadhouse, where the night takes a darker turn and Bow’s character is abducted by a group of drunken men. Though Bow was reportedly nervous during the making of this movie, her first talkie, her trademark charisma and boundless energy remain intact, giving the film much of its... read more
Clara Bow stars as the spirited leader of a rebellious group of friends — the self-styled “hard-boiled maidens” — who... read more
THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW (1944)
Gotham College professor Richard Wanley (Edward G. Robinson) becomes obsessed with a woman’s portrait in a shop window near his men’s club. While admiring the painting, he meets its flesh-and-blood subject (Joan Bennett) and is willingly lured up to her apartment for some champagne. When the woman’s boyfriend bursts in and gets the wrong idea, a lethal scuffle ensues, and before you can say “poor sap,” Wanley agrees to dump the body and cover up the death. As in SCARLET STREET, Robinson and director Fritz Lang make a great team, with the former perfectly evoking the dangerous pathos of a... read more
Gotham College professor Richard Wanley (Edward G. Robinson) becomes obsessed with a woman’s portrait in a shop window near his... read more
YI YI
[一一] (A ONE AND A TWO...) The extraordinary, internationally embraced YI YI (A ONE AND A TWO...), directed by the late Taiwanese master Edward Yang, follows a middle-class family in Taipei over the course of one year, beginning with a wedding and ending with a funeral. Whether chronicling middle-aged father NJ’s tentative flirtations with an old flame or precocious young son Yang-Yang’s attempts at capturing reality with his beloved camera, the filmmaker deftly imbues every gorgeous frame with a compassionate clarity. Warm, sprawling and dazzling, this intimate epic is one of the undisputed masterworks of the new century. (Note courtesy... read more
[一一] (A ONE AND A TWO...) The extraordinary, internationally embraced YI YI (A ONE AND A TWO...), directed by the... read more
YOJIMBO
[YŌJINBŌ] [用心棒] Tough guy Sanjūrō (Toshirô Mifune), an out-of-work, down-on-his-luck samurai, wanders into a lawless town beset by gang warfare and quickly finds his services much in demand by both factions. His response is to cynically play each side against the other — strange for a samurai but befitting filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s reputed source material, Dashiell Hammett’s hardboiled pulp novel “Red Harvest.” With its unprecedented mix of cartoon violence and sardonic humor, the film has had an influence that is hard to overstate, from Sergio Leone’s remake A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS and the entire spaghetti western genre of the 1960s... read more
[YŌJINBŌ] [用心棒] Tough guy Sanjūrō (Toshirô Mifune), an out-of-work, down-on-his-luck samurai, wanders into a lawless town beset by gang warfare... read more
