Today, I sauntered into the Castro Theatre to catch a double-bill at the 8th Annual Film Noir fest.
Festival Dates
January 22nd - January 31st
In a press release, the creator of the scintillating festival (which has gained in enormous popularity over the past couple of years) underscored the uniqueness of the annual event.
"It is the only festival of classic cinema in the world in which all the proceeds go towards the preservation of film."
"Our goal," stressed Eddie Muller, "is to not only save films but to maintain, for as long as we can, the communal experience of going to the movies as it was when these films were first screened."
By the way, Muller is known to the locals as the "Czar of Noir".
Also, the Noir offers up a double-bill, for an economical ten bucks.
"Fly-by-night" was a fun off-beat feature (Paramount) directed by legendary Robert Siodmark.
Essentially, it is a romantic comedy, with suspenseful undertones.
Not on DVD yet, folks!
Deported (also directed by Siodmark) is a slightly-disguised film bio of gangster Lucky Luciano.
A drama that entertains and captivates the audience.
Not on DVD yet, folks!
For the most part, the afternoon was a relaxing respite from it all, until some psycho slipped into the empty seat next to me.
On a couple of occasions when filmgoers seated in the chairs nearby laughed out loud at the sparkling witty dialogue - and sight gags - she'd turn and scold the captivated film buffs.
"That's not funny," she'd bark out in a nasty tone of voice.
At this juncture, I felt sorry for the poor thing; after all,she was obviously not a very intelligent individual.
It was crystal clear to moi, as well, that all the high brow art whizzed right over her head.
She must be brain dead, eh?
Frankly, I thought she would have been better off taking a hike down to the hospital, to have a chat with a psychiatrist.
Indeed!
I half-expected her to snatch out a hatchet from her purse and start carving up the lot of us in her midst.
No kidding!
4 stars to the Castro Theatre, though!
It is not always possible to keep every wacko out, after all.
No comments:
Post a Comment