Another interesting upcoming event: On Friday, September 19, the 4Star will screen a silent martial arts film made in Shanghai in 1929. Red Heroine tells the story of a young woman rescued from an evil army by a Daoist hermit named White Monkey. Thanks to White Monkey's training, she can soon fight villains, fly, disappear … Continue reading Silent Martial Arts Movie on the Way
Category: Upcoming & Local
Coming Attractions
Sorry I've been ignoring all of you lately. A few interesting items: We all know that Bullitt, Harold and Maude, and Vertigo were shot in the Bay Area. So were a lot of silent films. On Tuesday, September 9, Silent Film Festival Artistic Director Stephen Salmons will discuss locally-shot silent pictures in an event hosted … Continue reading Coming Attractions
Upcoming at the Rafael
Just a quick note about what to expect at the Rafael over the fall. Tributes: Both Ingmar Bergman and Irving Thalberg will receive retrospectives. (I don't believe the phrase "brilliant and historically-important filmmaker" can accurately refer to two more different people.) Bergman's runs October 13-19, and will include a multimedia installation called "Ingmar Bergman: The … Continue reading Upcoming at the Rafael
New PFA Schedule
The July/August Pacific Film Archive schedule arrived in yesterday's mail. It makes me want to move permanently into that theater. They're running five series this summer, honoring a director, a cinematographer, a novelist, a studio, and an aspect ratio. The studio is United Artists, receiving its yet another 90th anniversary retrospective. But unlike the UA … Continue reading New PFA Schedule
Jewish Film Festival
Two of my biggest passions--Judaism and cinema--come together this summer like they do every summer for the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. (Come to think of it, some of my other big passions--music, history, and sex--turn up here, as well.) The organizers are calling the 28th SFIFF the largest one ever, with “70 films from … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival
Cocteau and Kahlo at SFMOMA
Just before I left on vacation I received a press release for two upcoming series at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I’m finally now getting to it. As the name implies, Jean Cocteau: The Orphic Trilogy screens only three films, Le Sang d’un poète (Blood of a Poet), Orphée (Orpheus), and Le Testament … Continue reading Cocteau and Kahlo at SFMOMA
70mm at the Castro
The good news: The Castro‘s 3rd annual 70mm Film Festival opens July 1. The bad news: It’s smaller than last year’s. Whether this was because of disappointing box office or problems getting prints, it doesn’t bode well for the future of this great way to see big movies. (If you’re not sure what I’m talking … Continue reading 70mm at the Castro
Silent Film Festivals
School is out, and parents yearn for quiet. What better time to get out of the house and watch a silent film? Perhaps that's why the Bay Area's two big weekend-long celebrations of movies with live music come two weeks apart in late June and early July. If you've never experienced that unique blend of … Continue reading Silent Film Festivals
Summer at the Stanford
I just saw the Stanford‘s summer schedule. As usual, it’s the best time of the year to see classic Hollywood films on the Peninsula. Someone has put a lot of thought into the double bills, most of which go together nicely for an evening’s entertainment. And every other Wednesday they screen a silent, most with … Continue reading Summer at the Stanford
Recession Hits Speakeasy Theaters
Just a quick note on changes to Speakeasy's Parkway and Cerrito. Mostly the Parkway. I guess the Parkway must be losing some momentum, customer-wise. First, Speakeasy spokeperson Will Viharo announced that his Thrillville series, which he's been splitting between the two theaters, will find its permanent home at the Cerrito. Then, just this week, he … Continue reading Recession Hits Speakeasy Theaters
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