I am so enjoying writing for ScreenPrism, a wonderful site that delves into movies, TV and more. A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about how Vertigo (1958) beat out Citizen Kane (1941) in the 2012 Sight & Sound poll. Just yesterday, my newest article was posted: How is Film Noir Like the Book of Ecclesiastes? The answers may surprise you… Hope you enjoy it!
We may not have had a huge crowd for our Film Noir Double Feature yesterday at the Severna Park Library, but those who came had a great time and enjoyed some great discussion.
Today, at the Severna Park Library, where I work, we’re going to do something we’ve never done before: a double feature. Not only that, but a film noir double feature! Both movies are free AND so is the popcorn! I hope you’ll join us.
Our particular licensing agreement doesn’t allow me to give the titles to these films here, but if you click on the link above, you’ll find them as well as where we’re located. But if you’d like to venture a guess at the films before clicking on the link:
11:00am – This film features Ray Milland in a really tight spot as a murder suspect. Brilliantly stylized with wonderful characters and performances, this effective noir could also be thought of as “A Large Timepiece.”
1:30pm – “Marie Windsor on a train” is probably enough information for most noir fans to figure out the title of this movie. It’s quite a journey and it also features one of my favorite noir actors, Charles McGraw. Definitely a white-knuckle ride!
We’ve scheduled these films at these times in order to give folks a chance to grab some lunch at one of our local restaurants between movies. Or bring a bag lunch/to go order with you – that’s cool. I hope to see you there!
Photo: I Found It at the Movies
Thank you to those of you who have made streaming suggestions based on my current no-physical-media dilemma (described in yesterday’s post). Although no one commented here on the blog, several of you commented via Twitter (@awolverton77) and Facebook. I took a serious look at two of those suggestions:
My Blu-ray player gave up the ghost/bit the dust/crapped out – choose your favorite phrase – last night. (Not my player pictured above – It’s not that bad!) I’ve ordered a new one, but until it arrives, my options are streaming from Amazon, Netflix or Hulu.
Suggestions? If you’re reading this blog, you know that I primarily like film noir, neonoir, suspense and maybe the occasional horror film. Criterions are good, too.
So let’s do this: give me some titles, I’ll pick one at random and review it here on the blog in the next couple of days while I’m waiting for my new player to arrive. And to make it a little more fun, give me your one sentence pitch on why I should watch your selection. (If I’ve seen it before, I’ll let you know.)
Let the suggestions begin! Thanks in advance!
Photo: Audubon
The films for the Noir City DC film noir festival have been announced! Once again, the AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center will host the event October 15-23. Here’s the line-up:
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week (Doc. 2016) Ron Howard
Hulu streaming (1:45)
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week is still in theaters, but you can now stream it exclusively on Hulu, which I did tonight. If you’ve been a Beatles fan for decades (like me), you probably think you’ve already seen it all. Some experts have guessed that hardcore fans have already seen at least 90% of the footage in the new documentary, but you know we’re going to watch for that 10%. (Heck, I’d watch for 1%.)
Okay, so October obviously belongs to horror, and so next month may be a bit light on new film noir releases, but remember that November (or Noirvember, if you prefer) is just around the corner. In the meantime, I hope these October noir releases – many of which are European – will give you something to consider. (Unless otherwise indicated, these are U.S. Region A Blu-ray releases.)
High Sierra (1941)
Directed by Raoul Walsh
Produced by Hal B. Wallis and Mark Hellinger
Written by John Huston and W.R. Burnett, based on the Burnett novel
Cinematography by Tony Gaudio
Edited by Jack Killifer
Music by Adolph Deutsch
Warner Bros.
TCM Greatest Classic Gangsters – Humphrey Bogart DVD (1:40)
“You know, Mac, sometimes I feel like I don’t know what it’s all about anymore.”
– Roy Earle
It may be true that The Petrified Forest (1936) helped launch Humphrey Bogart’s career, but High Sierra (1941) made him a star. Roy Earle is a much more complex character than Duke Mantee and Bogart’s acting chops had developed nicely in the five years between roles. While High Sierra lifted Bogart to the upper tier of leading men, the film also signaled the demise of the gangster picture, a genre that had seemingly endless staying power in the 1930s.
I am so honored to be a contributor to ScreenPrism, a great website and discussion platform for those of us who love movies, can’t get enough of them, and often have questions about them.
If you’re not familiar with the site, please read their About Us page, which will tell you everything you need to know. You may even want to submit a question.
The question I recently answered for ScreenPrism:
Journeys in Darkness and Light 
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