This Saturday, I had a wonderful day at the Castro Theater. The event was A Day of Silents, which is part of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Five feature films and a collection of shorts, all made before 1930, with live musical accompaniment, comprised this event. So, let's start. Of Mice and Men (and … Continue reading Laughs, drama, and a Day of Silents
Tag: Ernst Lubitsch
What’s Screening: June 9 – 15
There's a lot of comedy in Bay Area movie theaters this week. Along with the Marx Brothers, there's Wes Anderson, Ernst Lubitsch, Mike Nichols, and Stanley Kubrick's only comedy Dr. Strangelove (and it's a masterpiece). There's even the crazy animation of Roger Rabbit. Also, the most famous porn film ever made – with the worst … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 9 – 15
Pre-Code Paramount on the Criterion Channel
As silent movies died and the talkies took over, movies became racier. The jokes got raunchier. The gowns were more revealing. And the bad girl could get the good guy – or maybe two good guys. This so-called "Pre-Code era" died in 1934, when the censors of the Production Code Administration took away much of the fun. … Continue reading Pre-Code Paramount on the Criterion Channel
Movies I’ve recently seen: Wildcat ֍ KIMI ֍ Glass Onion ֍ Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife ֍ Babylon ֍ This Place Rules
A lot of good films, or at least interesting ones, pop up at the end of the year. In this selection of Movies I've Recently Seen, there's only one vintage movie, along with five new pictures. Unfortunately, I've seen only one in a theater; there are fewer and fewer cinemas where I live. A Wildcat … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Wildcat ֍ KIMI ֍ Glass Onion ֍ Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife ֍ Babylon ֍ This Place Rules
My experiences at the Day of Silents
Yes, that's Silents, not Silence. It rained off and on in the Castro neighborhood, but it was dry and joyful (mostly) in the Castro theater. Two days before the Day, cinema made history. A selection of critics released their once-a-decade Sight & Sound of the Best Films of All Time. I'll get to that soon. … Continue reading My experiences at the Day of Silents
A Day of Silents at the Castro
Yes, that's Silents, not Silence. On Saturday, December 3, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival will have a one-day marathon of silent movies and live music. A Day of Silents will play at the Castro. These days, every time you go to that beautiful theater, you may be watching a movie there for the last … Continue reading A Day of Silents at the Castro
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Official Competition ֍ Forbidden Paradise ֍ Victor/Victoria ֍ Desert Fury
What movies have I seen recently (outside of the Jewish Film Fest)? There's a very funny Spanish movie, early Lubitsch, Julie Andrews disguised as a man disguised as a woman, and a mediocre melodramatic weepie. I saw two of these films in theaters, and I'll tell you which they are. Click the film's title to … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Official Competition ֍ Forbidden Paradise ֍ Victor/Victoria ֍ Desert Fury
What’s Screening: June 24 – 30
One of the Bay Area's most unusual and exciting movie theaters reopen this weekend, after two years and more. All around the Bay, there are films by such well-loved auteurs as Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott, Ernst Lubitsch, Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, Charlie Chaplin, and the MGM motion picture assembly line. Festivals & Series Frameline closes … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 24 – 30
What’s happening this summer at BAMPFA
You may have noticed that recently there haven't been any movies playing at the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). No, it's not closing down like so many theaters. It's just that the museum's Barbro Osher Theater always closes down in the last half of May. But coming in June, movies will return to the … Continue reading What’s happening this summer at BAMPFA
Pre-Code Paramount at the Criterion Channel
As silent movies died and the talkies took over, movies became racier. The jokes got raunchier. The gowns were more revealing. And the bad girl could get the good guy - or maybe two good guys. This so-called "Pre-Code era" died in 1934, when the censors of the Production Code Administration took away much of … Continue reading Pre-Code Paramount at the Criterion Channel
Bayflicks 