I just discovered this mini-movie festival celebrating the Transcontinental Railroad 150 Anniversary. It's happening at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, starting tonight and running through Sunday. Some highlights: The History of Railroads in the Niles Canyon, Friday, 7:30 The event starts with Henry Baum, President of the Pacific Locomotive Association, explaining the history of … Continue reading Niles Museum celebrates the Transcontinental Railroad with movies and trains
Tag: John Ford
What’s Screening: June 21 – July 11
I'm writing this very long newsletter on June 11, just before taking a few weeks off Bayflicks. I thought I'd let you know about at least some of what's coming up while I'm off. And because I wrote this early, I'm missing a lot of things. For instance, I know nothing about what will screen … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 21 – July 11
What’s Screening: June 14 – 20
Orson Welles revealed, the first movie director gets her due, Chaplin comes to America, and Frank Capra goes to Washington. Also, Hollywood's best western and one big festival. All this and more on Bay Area movie screens this week. Festivals Frameline opens Thursday The Week's Big Event A+ Stagecoach (original, 1939 version), New Mission, Sunday, … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 14 – 20
What’s Screening: August 17 – 23
John Ford and John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, Carl Sagan, Elia Kazan, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Mel Brooks light up Bay Area movie screens this week. But no film festivals. Also, I'm changing the Lebowskies section to Frequently-revived classics. The Big Lebowski doesn't screen as often as it used to. Promising events She Wore a … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 17 – 23
What’s Screening: August 3 – 9
Conventional war, nuclear war, a secret marriage, and jigsaw puzzles. All that and a closing festival on Bay Area screens this week. Warning: I had to write this newsletter a week early. It's likely missing several worthwhile screenings. Festivals The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival closes Sunday. Read my reports. New films opening A- Puzzle, … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 3 – 9
The Greatest Western: Stagecoach
Nine determined people face mortal danger, their own demons, and society's built-in prejudices as they journey from one town to another in John Ford's classic western from 1939, Stagecoach. I first saw Stagecoach in a film history class almost 45 years ago. It immediately became my all-time favorite western, and remains so to this day. … Continue reading The Greatest Western: Stagecoach
What’s Screening: October 5 – 11
The Mill Valley Film Festival continues through the week. My Mill Valley recommendations and warnings are at the end of this newsletter. A Fort Apache, Pacific Film Archive, Sunday, 6:00. Even though it's told entirely from the white man's view, the first and best film in John Ford's cavalry trilogy leaves no doubt who the … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 5 – 11
What’s Screening: June 22 – 28
In festival news, Frameline LGBT continues through Sunday. A- Oslo, August 31, Kabuki, Embarcadero, Rafael, opens Friday. Anders, a recovering drug addict living in a clinic in the country, gets a day’s leave to return to Oslo for a job interview. The trip will also give him a chance to catch up with some friends. … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 22 – 28
What’s Screening: May 4 – 10
No festivals this week, which is kind of a relief. But I'm starting this newsletter with a wonderful gem I saw at the San Francisco International Film Festival: A Headhunters, Clay, Shattuck, Piedmont, opens Friday. Roger Brown (Aksel Hennie) leads the good life. He’s rich, powerful, and has a beautiful wife. But even his high-paying, … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 4 – 10
My Best Movie-Going Experiences of 2011
Happy New Year! With 2011 now consigned to the pages of history (and probably mythology), it's time to look back at my favorite movie-going experiences of 2011. These aren’t the best films of 2011, the best films I saw at festivals that didn't get a theatrical release, or even the best restorations. These are simply … Continue reading My Best Movie-Going Experiences of 2011
Bayflicks 