"Now Listen to Me..."

July 01, 2024 / Arthur Grant

Just some thoughts on this month’s happenings:

Classic film screenings from around the world this July include:

In Valencia, Spain, Culturarts Generalitat IVAC – La Filmoteca at the Edificio Rialto will be presenting Ulzana’s Raid (1972, as part of their CONTEMPORARY WESTERN series) on Tuesday, July 2 and Saturday, July 6.

Click on the film’s image for more information on this screening. To discover more of July’s programming including other films playing in Valencia, Spain at the Edificio Rialto, Castelló, Spain at the Paranimf of the Universitat Jaume I, and Alicante Spain at the Arniches Theatre, click on the banner image above.

In London, United Kingdom The Prince Charles Cinema will present Network (1976) Wednesday, July 3, Eraserhead (1977) Friday, July 5, The Night of the Hunter (1955) Friday, July 5, Tokyo Story aka Tôkyô monogatari (1953, a 35mm print) Sunday, July 7 and Friday, July 12, Carnal Knowledge (1971, a 4k presentation) Tuesday, July 9, Blue Velvet (1986, a 35mm print) Saturday, July 13, Taxi Driver (1976, a 35mm print) Saturday, July 13, Merrily We Go to Hell (1933, as part of their Focusing on Female Filmmakers Series) Thursday, July 18, Psycho (1960) Saturday, July 20, Celine and Julie Go Boating aka Céline et Julie vont en bateau (1974, a 35mm print) Sunday, July 28, The Godfather (1972, a 35mm print) Sunday, July 28, The Searchers (1956) Sunday, July 28, and The Landlord (1970) on Monday, July 29.

* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.

Click on the film’s respective image for more information. To see July’s complete programming, click on The Prince Charles Cinema banner above.

In theatres across the U.S. Flashback Cinema is presenting Jaws (1975) on Wednesday, July 3.

Click on the poster image for more information. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Flashback Cinema banner above.

In Taipei, Taiwan The National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra will present The Little Mermaid (1989) with live musical accompaniment featuring Alan Menken’s enchanting score on Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5.

Click on the above image for more information.

In Melbourne, Australia The Astor Theatre is presenting The Shining [Extended Edition] (1980, a 4k digital presentation) on Thursday, July 4.

Click on the poster image for more information on this screening. To see the rest of July’s schedule, click on The Astor Theatre banner above.

In Santa Monica (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Aero Theatre will present Jaws (1975, a 35mm print) Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, American Cinematheque’s own pristine 70mm archival print, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Friday, July 5, Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7, In the Line of Fire (1993, a 70mm print, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Sunday, July 7, North by Northwest (1959, a New 70mm Restoration, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Wednesday, July 17, Apocalypse Now [147 minute Theatrical Version] (1979, a Rare 70mm Print Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum and the Martin Scorsese Collection, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Tuesday, July 23, Manhunter (1986, Michael Mann’s Personal 70mm Print, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Thursday, July 25, Vertigo (1958, World Premiere of a New 70mm Print of the 1996 Restoration, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Friday, July 26, Lawrence of Arabia (1962, The American Cinematheque’s own pristine 70mm archival print, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28, and Spartacus (1960, a 70mm print, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) on Sunday, July 28.

* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.

In Hollywood (part of greater Los Angeles) California, The American Cinematheque Egyptian Theatre will present Jaws (1975, a 35mm print) Friday, July 5, Inception (2010, a 70mm print, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Saturday, July 6, North by Northwest (1959, a New 70mm Restoration, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Friday, July 12, Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, The Wild Bunch (1969, a 70mm print, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Saturday, July 13, Vertigo (1958, World Premiere of a New 70mm Print of the 1996 Restoration, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Friday, July 19, Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, Apocalypse Now [147 minute Theatrical Version] (1979, a Rare 70mm Print Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum and the Martin Scorsese Collection, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, and Manhunter (1986, Michael Mann’s Personal 70mm Print, as part of their Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2024) on Sunday, July 21.

* Note: Some of the above showtimes are matinees only.

For more information specifically on each of these programmes, click on the corresponding image. To see the entire month of July’s programming including other films showing at The Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, and The Los Feliz 3 Theatre in Los Feliz (also part of greater Los Angeles), click on the American Cinematheque banner.

EVA MARIE SAINT 100th Birthday Celebration

In New York City, New York, Film Forum is presenting EVA MARIE SAINT 100th Birthday Celebration consisting of On the Waterfront (1954) Thursday, July 4 at 2:30 pm only and North by Northwest (1959) Thursday, July 4 at 7 pm only.

Seven Samurai (1954, the U.S. Premiere of a New Restoration in 4K) is being shown from Friday, July 5 – Thursday, July 18.

THE COMPLETE MELVILLE will run from Friday, July 26 – Thursday, August 1 for which the programme reads:

Melville's Army of Shadows will run from Friday, August 2 – Thursday, August 15 in a new 4K restoration.

“Melville was not just a father figure to the French New Wave. He was ascetic warrior priest.”
– J. Hoberman

A one-week, 13-film festival of classics by the great French director and Film Noir master Jean-Pierre Melville. Films include LE CERCLE ROUGE, UN FLIC, LE DOULOS, LE SAMOURAÏ, LE DEUXIÈME SOUFFLE, BOB LE FLAMBEUR, and MAGNET OF DOOM, with stars such as Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Lino Ventura, Catherine Deneuve, and Emmanuelle Riva.

* Note: Some of the showtimes may be matinees only.

For more information on either of the aforementioned series or Seven Samurai, click on the appropriate image above. For a complete calendar of all the films playing this month, click on the Film Forum banner.

In theatres across the U.S., Fathom Events is presenting Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, in celebration of Columbia Pictures 100th anniversary) Sunday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 10, and The NeverEnding Story (1984, a 40th Anniversary screening) on Sunday, July 21 and Monday, July 22.

Click on each film’s poster image for more information. To see this month’s entire schedule, click on The Fathom Events banner above.

In Auckland, New Zealand Academy Cinemas is presenting Brief Encounter (1945) Tuesday, July 9, Saturday, July 13, Thursday, July 18 and Friday, July 26, and Sword of Doom (1966) on Tuesday, July 9, Saturday, July 13, Sunday, July 21 and Saturday, July 27.

* Note: Some of the showtimes are matinees only.

To obtain more information specifically on each of these programmes, click on the corresponding image. To see the entire month of July’s programming, click on the Academy banner above.

In Los Angeles, California The Beverly Cinema will present a double bill of Man on the Moon (1999, a 35mm print, with Screenwriters Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski IN PERSON, schedules permitting, for a Q&A at the July 9th screening only) and Taking Off (1971, a 35mm print) Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10, and a double bill of Bringing Up Baby (1938, a 35mm print) and The Palm Beach Story (1942, a 35mm print) on Tuesday, July 16, Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18.

Click on the respective image for more information. To see the rest of July’s schedule, click on The Beverly Cinema banner above.

In Perth, Western Australia The West Australian Symphony Orchestra will present Frozen (2013) with live musical accompaniment featuring Christophe Beck’s Academy Award-winning music on Friday, July 12, Saturday, July 13 at 1 pm only and Sunday, July 14.

Click on the above image for more information.

In Detroit, Michigan The Redford Theatre will present American Graffiti (1973, a 35mm print) on Friday, July 12.

Click on the top image for more information. To see the entire month’s programming, click on The Redford Theatre banner above.

In Culpeper Virginia, The Library of Congress at the Packard Campus Theater is presenting Some Like It Hot (1959, a 35mm print) Friday, July 12, Smiles of a Summer Night aka Sommarnattens leende (1955, a 35mm print) Friday, July 19, and Modern Times (1936, a 35mm print) on Friday, July 26.

Click on the poster image for more information on each film’s screening. To see the rest of July’s schedule, click on the Packard Campus image above.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, The Cinematheque will be present Hélas pour moi (1993, as part of their JEAN-LUC GODARD FOREVER series) Thursday, July 18 and Friday, July 26, and Pierrot le fou (1965, as part of their JEAN-LUC GODARD FOREVER series) on Thursday, July 18, Saturday, July 20, Friday, July 26 and Sunday, July 28.

For more information about the individual screening mentioned, click on the appropriate image. For all of the films scheduled this month at The Cinematheque, click on the theatre banner above.

Noir City will take place in Portland, Oregon from July 19 - 21 with Eddie Muller hosting. Highlights include Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948, a 35mm print) Saturday, July 20, The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950, a 35mm print) Sunday, July 21 at 3 pm only, and In a Lonely Place (1950) on Sunday, July 21.

For more information including the complete schedule, click on the image above.

There are 30 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:

First up is Baby Face (1933), the Pre-Code sensation starring Barbara Stanwyck, reviewed here, and making her spirited appearance on Monday, July 1 at 8:30 pm PDT.

My next selection is Gold Diggers of 1933 reviewed here. The show must go on Tuesday, July 2 at (early morning) 1:15 am PDT.

Make way for the rapturous Stanley Donen directed musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), reviewed here, Wednesday, July 3 at 3 pm PDT.

This next TCM recommendation is made for its John Williams composed score more than anything else. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) has been reviewed here, and will be shown Saturday, July 6 at 5 pm PDT.

“Imagine a dish like this married to a mug like Benny McBride... the naked and the dead.”

Next up is Richard Fleischer’s little powder keg of a film noir Armored Car Robbery (1950), previously recommended here and set to explode in Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley Saturday, July 6 at 9:15 pm PDT and again Sunday, July 7 at 7 am PDT.

“The mattress is soft and there're hangers in the closet and stationary with ‘Bates' Motel’ printed on it in case you want to make your friends back home envious.”

Still another Hitchcock artistic triumph was, at the time (including throughout its primary creator’s career), the most audacious cinematic assault ever perpetrated on the movie going public or the Motion Picture Production Code for that matter. 1960's Psycho was previously reviewed here. The terror will begin Sunday, July 7 at 12:45 pm PDT.

If I was in charge of choosing a single film noir for someone only willing to see one in the entire canon, I would select Double Indemnity as its most fulfilling and accomplished representative. It has been previously reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: Double Indemnity. Thoughts of adultery, greed and murder will manifest themselves, immediately following Psycho, Sunday, July 7 at 3 pm PDT.

This will be a really bad day for anyone who encounters Them! (the giant mutant ants that is). The motion picture, however, is an exhilarating creature feature, previously reviewed here. Them! will march on TCM Tuesday, July 9 at 3:15 pm PDT.

In 1966, one of the more challenging films to face off against the Production Code (mentioned in Exploring the Artefacts #3: Code Breakers) was that year’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (reviewed here) remarkably delivering all of the guttural force of its theatrical origin while creating a more intimate, and cinema appropriate, dynamic all its own. Let the “games” begin Wednesday, July 10 at 8 am PDT.

Sadly, still another incredible performer from The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968) has been lost to us, this time its star, Alan Arkin (March 26, 1934 - June 29, 2023 R.I.P.) such a substantial loss to the acting community. Here is where viewers will discover why. A previous TCM recommendation here, movie lovers can realise a wealth of emotion by tuning in Sunday, July 14 at 3 am PDT.

Just letting viewers know that TCM will be showing Around the World in 80 Days (1956), previously reviewed here, on Sunday, July 14 at 1:45 pm PDT.

Another prior TCM recommendation is Robert Siodmak's expert 1949 film Criss Cross with Burt Lancaster and Yvonne De Carlo imbuing their characters with passion and complex individuality.

Criss Cross was previously reviewed here. It will cast its noirish spell on TCM Sunday, July 14 at 7 pm PDT.

Another top of the line screwball comedy released the same year as Sullivan’s Travels and, even more remarkably, from the same writer (co-writer here along with Monckton Hoffe) / director is The Lady Eve (1941) reviewed here. See for yourself on Monday, July 15 at 6:30 pm PDT.

(From left) Charles Coburn, Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda

James Garner, Rod Taylor and Eva Marie Saint star in the intriguing “Mission Impossible” prototype espionage thriller 36 Hours (1964), previously reviewed here. The hour to watch will occur Thursday, July 18 at 5 pm PDT.

(From left) Rod Taylor, James Garner, Eva Marie Saint

Next up is a light-hearted and charming Christmas holiday treat: Ernst Lubitsch's The Shop Around the Corner (1940).

Beneath an inventive situation comedy veneer, however, lies a serious underlying message regarding relationships and how concepts (basically relating to the idea that there must be someone "better" for us out there) often get in the way of a more fulfilling union based on care and concern for one another. The Shop Around the Corner, previously praised here, will open Friday, July 19 at 6:45 am PDT.

As mentioned in the first TCM recommendation this month, 1933’s Baby Face, this next film offers a sort of male version of the same goal: to climb the corporate ladder. Plus, it is sure to succeed as a fun and lively musical to watch. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967) was previously reviewed here. Lessons will begin on TCM Saturday, July 20 at 9 am PDT.

Next up are 2 films showing back-to-back that both concern athletic competition.

First is the Academy Award Best Picture winning film Chariots of Fire (1981), which benefits greatly from its iconic score by Vangelis Papathanassiou, ever so briefly reviewed here as part of an article on films from the 80s, and showing Sunday, July 21 at 5 pm PDT.

Few biopics are as inspirational as Michael Curtiz’ Jim Thorpe - All American (1951), a previous TCM recommendation here, and one that can be appreciated again Sunday, July 21 at 7:15 pm PDT.

One of the finest westerns ever made is Top Ten Western #4. Sam Peckinpah's elegiac Ride the High Country (1962) will ride into TCM territory Monday, July 22 at 8:30 am PDT.

Randolph Scott as Gil Westrum (on the left) and Joel McCrea as Steve Judd

The more psychologically disturbing, (than monstrously horrifying) 1941 version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has Spencer Tracy in the title role. This was previously critiqued here. The Dr. will begin his transformation Monday, July 22 at 10:15 pm PDT.

One of director John Frankenheimer’s more accomplished films is Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), reviewed here as part of our “Dish of the Day” series, and arriving at TCM Wednesday, July 24 at 2:15 pm PDT.

Next up are 2 films directed by Stanley Kubrick playing back-to-back:

Stanley Kubrick took the entire film community, along with noir fans, by (a perfect) storm with his innovative 1956 take on the caper genre, The Killing previously recommended here. "The best-laid plans..." will be presented on TCM Wednesday, July 24 at 5 pm PDT.

That's actually Rodney Dangerfield in the crowd (Standing on the ground, second from the right).

After directing the stylish and innovative 1956 heist film The Killing, Stanley Kubrick, with the assistance of Producer James B. Harris, turned his extraordinary talents to more relevant material with Paths of Glory (1957). The results were astonishing. U.S. TCM subscribers can discover for themselves Wednesday, July 24 at 6:30 pm PDT.

This next recommendation is a modest but skilfully mounted western packed with suspense, The Stalking Moon (1968), perviously reviewed here. The stalking will begin Thursday, July 25 at 7:15 pm PDT.

(From left) Gregory Peck, Eva Marie Saint, Nolan Clay

My next TCM film to see is Fritz Lang’s 1952 Clash by Night which has been reviewed as a DVD recommendation here. The clash will occur on TCM Sunday, July 28 at 1:15 pm PDT.

Next are 2 films featuring Richard Egan playing back-to-back:

"Complaining about the far-fetched circumstances in films noir is like objecting to the lack of realism in a Picasso painting. What I mean is that lovers of these criminally rich cinematic delights oughtn’t to bother picking out the implausibilities, since they are practically a hallmark of noir's style."

I've written this before when introducing Split Second (1953), a film noir that presents some rather unlikely occurring, but fascinating situations. See for yourself Monday, July 29 at 10:15 am PDT.

RKO’s Tension at Table Rock is an obscure western from 1956, previously reviewed here and making a rare but welcome appearance on TCM Monday, July 29 at 11:45 am PDT.

One of my past TCM recommendations, reviewed here, is 1945’s The Lost Weekend. Billy Wilder's portrayal of a struggling alcoholic contains a powerhouse performance by Ray Milland. The bottle can be found on TCM Monday, July 29 at 6:30 pm PDT.

Next up is Alfred Hitchcock's dazzling thriller, Foreign Correspondent (1940), previously reviewed here. His main character’s precarious globe trotting assignment will begin Tuesday, July 30 at 9:15 am PDT.

(From left) Some guy reading a newspaper, Joel McCrea

My final TCM recommendation (reviewed here as a Blu-ray selection) is 1962’s The Manchurian Candidate scheduled to appear Wednesday, July 31 at 5 pm PDT.

TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above TCM related images. For those who live in parts of the U.S. other than the western region, the time zone can be adjusted in the upper right-hand corner of TCM's programme.

A Happy Birthday shout-out to the unique and lauded American documentarian Ken Burns, who turns 71 on July 29th.

“In so many films that I've done, short-sightedness is one of the major human themes. We live for the moment. No one's willing to do the necessary rolling up the sleeves until the catastrophe happens.”

His trademark style of cinematically bringing to life an enormous wealth of archival material, has resulted in not only a thorough exploration of subject matter but a vivid realisation of what it was to be alive during that time period. The heralded works of Ken Burns include: Brooklyn Bridge (1981, Oscar nominated), Huey Long (1985), The Statue of Liberty (1985), The Civil War (1990, an Emmy Award Winning TV Mini Series), Thomas Jefferson (1997, TV Mini Series), Frank Lloyd Wright (1998), Jazz (2001, a TV Mini Series), Mark Twain (2001, a TV Movie), The War (2007, a TV Mini Series), Baseball (1994 - 2010, a TV Mini Series), The Dust Bowl (2012, a TV Mini Series), The Vietnam War (2017, a TV Mini Series), Hemingway (2021, a TV Mini Series), Muhammad Ali (2021, a TV Mini Series), Benjamin Franklin (2022, a TV Series) and The U.S. and the Holocaust (2022, a TV Mini Series).

The Soundtrack recommendation of the month is Hans Zimmer's thunderous score to 1991's firey epic Backdraft.

The dramatic elements are overwhelming in both number and presentation to the point where the overall affect on the viewer is like that of being caught in an unwieldy cinematic inferno. Even those who withstand the overwrought high temperature readings would concede that each of its various threads, ranging from competing machismo to strained relationships, to firefighting including a fireman’s duties and acts of heroism, to an ongoing investigation that leads to a serial arsonist by way of a Hannibal Lecter type of correctional confrontation, as well as a government conspiratorial coverup, cannot be as effectively contained as its storytellers (similar to what the firefighters are up against) would have liked. Director Ron Howard’s heavy hand doesn’t help.

Hans Zimmer’s big (and first) orchestral score goes some way to harmonising all of the dramaturgical divergency on display. He also matches the considerable visual energy and might with enough thematic substance to stay with us after the other aforementioned embellishments have burned out.

Intrada has released this 2-CD expanded edition of one of Hans Zimmer's most prized scores. Click on the accompanying image for more information, along with ordering, from Screen Archives Entertainment.

It’s a Gift (1934)...

… previously reviewed here, is July’s Blu-ray (Region A) recommendation. It is now available from the manufacturer Kino-Lorber by clicking on the image below.

A.G.

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categories / Now Listen To Me
tags / Culturarts Generalitat IVAC – La Filmoteca, The Prince Charles Cinema, Flashback Cinema, The National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, The Astor Theatre Melbourne, The American Cinematheque, Film Forum New York City, Fathom Events, Academy Cinemas Auckland New Zealand, The Beverly Cinema, The West Australian Symphony Orchestra, The Redford Theatre Detroit, The Library of Congress Culpeper Virginia, The Cinematheque Vancouver, Noir City Portland, TCM Recommendations, Baby Face (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Armored Car Robbery (1950), Psycho (1960), Double Indemnity (1944), Them! (1954), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Criss Cross (1949), The Lady Eve (1941), 36 Hours (1964), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967), Chariots of Fire (1981), Jim Thorpe-All American (1951), Ride the High Country (1962), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Killing (1956), Paths of Glory (1957), The Stalking Moon (1968), Clash by Night (1952), Split Second (1953), Tension at Table Rock (1956), The Lost Weekend (1945), Foreign Correspondent (1940), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Ken Burns, Backdraft (1991) (Soundtrack)

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"Now Listen to Me..."