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
Tag: Gary Cooper
What’s Screening: January 13 – 19
Don't worry about it being Friday the 13th. The movies playing around here this week seem to be generating good vibes. You can see Harold Lloyd, with the movie that made me fall in love with silent comedy. But if you prefer your slapstick with dialog, there's a full weekend of Jackie Chan. Also, there … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 13 – 19
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
What’s Screening: August 5 – 11
A lot of vintage movies will play on Bay Area big screens this week. The Stanford is playing a Gary Cooper double bill. The Roxie screens Taxi Driver. The Rafael continues its Pixar series. The Thing stays at the New Mission for several days. BAMPFA continues its Sam Fuller series, while the New Parkway has … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 5 – 11
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
Movies I’ve recently seen: Nomadland | Judas and the Black Messiah | Morocco & March of the Wooden Soldiers
Here again are two new films that everybody's talking about and two films made more than 80 years ago. That wasn't intended. A Nomadland (2020) After Fern loses her husband, job, and home (Frances McDormand), she goes on the road in her van, working temporary jobs, getting by, and befriending other "nomads." She doesn't consider … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Nomadland | Judas and the Black Messiah | Morocco & March of the Wooden Soldiers
Buster Bookends Silent Film Festival
Buster Keaton's first MGM feature and penultimate silent, The Cameraman, opens this year's San Francisco Silent Film Festival on May Day (May 1st). Four days of bleary eyes and stiff backs - and a lot of fun - later, the festival will close with Keaton's second feature, and in my opinion, his first feature masterpiece, … Continue reading Buster Bookends Silent Film Festival
What’s Screening: August 10 – 16
Jim Jarmusch, Gary Cooper, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Gene Kelly grace Bay Area movie theaters this week. Also, one film festival. Warning: I had to write this newsletter two weeks early. It may be missing several worthwhile screenings. Festivals The Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival opens tonight and runs through Sunday New films opening A The … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 10 – 16
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