The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is finished with the Castro, but it reopens Saturday at the JCCSF, the Roda, and the Cinearts at Palo Alto Square. The festival screenings are at the bottom of this newsletter. A The Maltese Falcon, Castro, Wednesday and Thursday. Dashiell Hammett’s novel had been filmed twice before, but screenwriter … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 27 – August 2
Month: July 2012
SF Film Society Cinema to Close
Bad news. The San Francisco Film Society Cinema will close at the end of August. I first heard about this, as a rumor, at the Silent Film Festival. But a Society spokesperson confirmed the rumor, and so I'm posting this announcement. I don't know what will happen to the theater, which is located in the … Continue reading SF Film Society Cinema to Close
Hava Nagila & Opening Night of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Opening night of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival got off to a slow start, but when the movie finally started--nearly 45 minutes late--it was worth the wait. No, there weren't crowd or (as far as I know) technical problems. The show started on time. It was just that the first part of the show … Continue reading Hava Nagila & Opening Night of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
What’s Screening: July 20 – 26
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival continues through the week. I've placed my Festival capsules below the Goyish ones. A- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Bridge, Thursday, 7:00. Corrupt political bosses appoint a naive, young idealist (James Stewart) senator because they think he’s stupid. The second and best film in Frank Capra’s common-man trilogy, Mr. … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 20 – 26
SF Silent Film Festival Report, Day 4
The Mark of ZorroBig fun. I don't think I've seen this theatrically before, and certainly never with so big and enthusiastic a crowd. People cheered, hissed, and laughed on cue. Dennis James kept things lively on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, and Fairbanks' antics and stunts were stunning.One thing I noticed about the story: Zorro is, … Continue reading SF Silent Film Festival Report, Day 4
SF Silent Film Festival, Day 3
The Irrepressible Felix the CatThis may have been the first theatrical, 35mm presentation of multiple Felix the Cat cartoons ever. The shorts were wild, crazy, bizarre, surreal, and hilarious. The accompaniment added much to the festivities. Donald Soosan and a drummer who's name I didn't get accompanied some of the shorts. Toychestra--a sextet playing toy … Continue reading SF Silent Film Festival, Day 3
SF Silent Film Festival, Day 2
Amazing Tales From the Vault This year's technical talk concentrated on digital restorations and distribution by major studios, with experts from Paramount and Sony (Columbia). I didn't take notes, so I'll just give you a quick overview: Wings was projected off a DCP Friday night. Paramount has made a 35mm negative and prints of the … Continue reading SF Silent Film Festival, Day 2
What’s Screening: July 13 – 19
The San Francisco Silent Film Festival runs through the weekend, and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival opens Thursday night. I'm hoping to catch every screening at the Silent festival (my recommendations are below) and that Jewish opening night. A- Bonsái, SF Film Society Cinema, opens Friday for one-week run. Right at the start, a … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 13 – 19
SF Silent Film Festival Report 1: Wings
I always felt that realistic sound effects weren't appropriate for silent films. I was wrong. Or perhaps this was just an exception. Realistic sound effects are fantastic if they're performed live by an ensemble directed by sound effects wizard Ben Burtt. Using bicycles, drums, a typewriter (I think) and devices that I couldn't possibly name … Continue reading SF Silent Film Festival Report 1: Wings
Jewish Film Festival Preview
I've been able to preview three shows coming to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, which opens a week from today. Here's what I thought of them: B+ Under African Skies You can find plenty of political music documentaries, but few that examine both sides of a difficult controversy. This doc, which examines the making … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival Preview
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