Win tickets to ‘Sparks’ premiere at Cinequest Film Festival

February 19, 2013 by

“Sparks,” a superhero noir thriller set in the 1940s, is slated to make its world premiere on Friday, March 1, at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, Calif. “Sparks” will debut as a feature-length film and graphic novel.

The story focuses on a masked vigilante named Ian Sparks, whose pursuit of a notorious criminal leaves Sparks’ life in ruins.

The film version pairs two of Hollywood’s rising stars, Chase Williamson (“John Dies at the End”) and Ashley Bell (“The Last Exorcism Part II”), with an award-winning supporting cast: Clancy Brown, Clint Howard, Jake Busey and William Katt.

Chase Williamson

As for the filmmakers, Christopher Folino and Todd Burrows directed “Sparks.” Producers are Folino, Tyler Endicott, Mike Anthony Smith and Eric D. Wilkinson.

“Sparks” will premiere at 7 p.m. Friday, March 1, at the California Theatre in San Jose. The cast and crew will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening. There will be another screening and Q&A at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at the San Jose Repertory Theatre. A third screening will take place at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, at the San Jose Repertory Theatre. Folino will attend.

If you would like to be entered into a random draw to win tickets to the premiere on March 1, follow Film Noir Blonde on twitter and retweet a “Sparks” tweet. Two winners will be selected; each will win two tickets. Winners will be notified via twitter on Feb. 28 and tickets can be collected March 1 at the California Theatre’s will-call window.

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Susan Andrews to introduce ‘Laura’ at the Egyptian Theatre

February 19, 2013 by

The delightful, urbane and unapologetically posh film noir “Laura” (1944, Otto Preminger) screens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Here’s a quick synopsis from the event organizers: Investigating a murder, chain-smoking Detective McPherson (Dana Andrews) falls in love with the dead woman, only to find out it wasn’t she who was murdered. The brilliant cast includes Gene Tierney as the gorgeous Laura, Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker and Vincent Price as Laura’s fiancé, Shelby Carpenter. The film is said to have been an inspiration for David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.”

You can read my full review of “Laura” here.

Dana Andrews’ daughter, Susan Andrews, will introduce the movie. Author Carl Rollyson will sign copies of his book “Hollywood Enigma: Dana Andrews” at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby. (“Laura” was recently released on Blu-ray and is a great addition to your film library.)

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On Valentine’s Day, much noir love from FNB

February 14, 2013 by

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! This sounds like a book to love: “The Noir Forties: America from Victory to Cold War” by Richard Lingeman.

From the LA Times review: “Films noir,” Lingeman declares at the outset, “are a key for unlocking the psychology, the national mood during those years.” But despite its title, The Noir Forties is not a book about the films – for that, readers should turn to J. Hoberman’s recent book An Army of Phantoms: American Movies and the Making of the Cold War, and to the classic More Than Night: Film Noir in its Contexts by James Naremore. Instead, Lingeman’s book provides a broader history of the brief but crucial period when the world of the New Deal died and the iron cage of Cold War politics and culture was forged. It would remain in place for the next 45 years.

Meanwhile, if you are in need of last-minute Valentine’s gift ideas for your guy(s), click here.

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Happy 80th birthday, Kim Novak!

February 13, 2013 by

Lovely Kim Novak in a still from “Vertigo,” one of her most famous movies.

One of our all-time favorite film noir blondes, Kim Novak, turns 80 today. She was born Marilyn Pauline Novak in Chicago, where as a young woman she found work as a model. She moved to Los Angeles to continue modeling but instead became an actress.

Among her many screen credits, she is perhaps best known for her work in “Picnic” (1955), “The Man with the Golden Arm” (1955), “Pal Joey” (1957), “Vertigo” (1958) and “Bell Book and Candle” (1958).

“For every answer,” Novak once said, “I like to bring up a question. Maybe I’m related to Alfred Hitchcock or maybe I got to know him too well, but I think life should be that way.”

TCM will honor Novak with a tribute night and screening of four films on March 6. The evening will open with the premiere of Kim Novak: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival, a one-hour interview special hosted by TCM’s Robert Osborne and taped at last year’s festival in Hollywood.

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The Space airs short films exploring Hitchcock’s early work

February 13, 2013 by

In conjunction with the recent U.K. release of the film “Hitchcock” (starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren), The Space, an on-demand digital arts service developed by Arts Council England and the BBC, is offering a special treat for Hitch fans. The Space will air five short films that provide context to the master of suspense and his early work.

“The Pleasure Garden” (1925) was the first full film Hitchcock directed.

The set of short films, commissioned by the British Film Institute, includes:

Alfred Hitchcock from the archive

Hitchcock gives his insight into the workings of Hollywood, talking candidly about stars’ salaries and the difficulty of working with well-known actors.

Hitchcock at the picture palace

Historians Henry K. Miller and Matthew Sweet whisk viewers back to 1920s Britain – the era of the picture palace that saw the young Hitchcock learn his craft, refine his art and establish himself as an innovative, ambitious filmmaker.

Seeds of genius: “The Pleasure Garden”

Film historian Charles Barr and the BFI’s silent film curator Bryony Dixon explore Hitchcock’s distinctive style of visual storytelling, focusing on Hitchcock’s first full-length, finished film “The Pleasure Garden” (1925).

Restoring “The Pleasure Garden”

The unique story of how the BFI restored “The Pleasure Garden,” almost a century after it was made.

Scoring “The Pleasure Garden”

This short film follows composer Daniel Patrick Cohen’s journey to create a new score for this seminal Hitchcock work.

You can watch the films here.

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Lee Marvin on the big screen at American Cinematheque

February 7, 2013 by

Lee Marvin

One of the screen’s top tough guys, Lee Marvin (1924-1987) is being honored with a film program at the American Cinematheque. The series starts Friday, Feb. 8, and runs until Feb. 21; movies will be shown at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica and the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

The tribute to Marvin will include “Point Blank,” “The Killers,” “Cat Ballou,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” a rare print of “Hell in the Pacific” and “The Professionals.”

The New York native and former Marine (a Purple Heart recipient) was working as a plumber’s assistant when he stumbled into acting. Marvin was a natural for roles in war movies and later expanded his range to tackle more complex, nuanced parts. One of our faves: the menacing, misogynistic Vince Stone, who scalds his girlfriend Debby (Gloria Grahame) with hot coffee in 1953’s “The Big Heat.”

Jim Jarmusch

Director Jim Jarmusch once told me at a film festival (with a not completely straight face) that he had founded a group called the Sons of Lee Marvin for tall dudes with deep voices. Maybe Jarmusch will show up at a screening, provided he can find a seat with extra leg room.

Special guests to honor Marvin include “Cat Ballou” director Elliot Silverstein, author Dwayne Epstein, actor Clu Gulager and Lee Marvin’s son, Christopher Marvin. Epstein will sign copies of his book “Lee Marvin: Point Blank” at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Aero Theatre lobby before the “Point Blank” screening.  I am eagerly awaiting my review copy of Epstein’s book and am told I will receive a copy to give away to a reader. Stay tuned.

See the American Cinematheque website for the complete Lee Marvin lineup. Additionally, there are French crime films and thrillers featured in the AC tribute to composer Michel Legrand, which runs Feb. 8-26.

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LA County Museum hosts New York noir-neorealism series

February 6, 2013 by

Barry Fitzgerald stars in “The Naked City” by director Jules Dassin.

Mark your calendars: a great film noir series starts Friday at the Los Angeles County Museum.

The Naked City: New York Noir and Neorealism series will screen 10 films shot on location in and around New York during the period (1945-53) that photographer and filmmaker Stanley Kubrick spent documenting the city.

SaysSays the museum: “These films reveal a restless metropolis where you’re either on your way up, on your way down, or just laying low. It’s a city where you can never really disappear, not matter how dark the back alleys or how crowded the boulevards may be.”

The movies are as follows:

“The Naked City” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8
“Kiss of Death” 9:15 p.m. Feb. 8
“Where the Sidewalk Ends” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15
“The Thief” 9 p.m. Feb. 15
“Little Fugitive” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16
“The Window” 9 p.m. Feb. 16
“On the Waterfront” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22
“Force of Evil” 9:30 p.m. Feb. 22
“Killer’s Kiss” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23
“The Glass Wall” 8:45 p.m. Feb. 23

Support provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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Noir City 11 festival kicks off in San Francisco

January 25, 2013 by

Peggy Cummins

The Film Noir Foundation’s Noir City film festival starts tonight at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre. The fest will present its most expansive schedule yet – 27 films – including three new 35mm restorations.

This festival kicks off with a tribute to actress Peggy Cummins, legendary for her ferocious performance as carnival sharpshooter Annie Laurie Starr in “Gun Crazy” (1950, Joseph H. Lewis). As always, Noir City will feature classics and rarities.

Opening weekend will feature the world premiere of two of the FNF’s latest film restoration projects: “Try and Get Me!” (1950, Cy Endfield) and “Repeat Performance” (1947, Alfred L. Werker).

The San Francisco festival runs Jan. 25-Feb. 3, 2013. The festival (with variations on the program) travels to several other cities throughout the year.

We at FNB can’t wait for the Hollywood fest, which usually arrives in April.

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Dita Von Teese returns to LA, NYC and launches advice col

January 24, 2013 by

Dita von Teese photo by Steve Erle

Dita Von Teese‘s STRIP STRIP HOORAY! returns to LA Feb. 12-15 and to New York March 6-9. Meanwhile, Dita is XOJane.com’s newest advice columnist. She will provide ideas, including styling tips, on incorporating glamour into your everyday life.

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On the radar: photo l.a. show returns to Santa Monica, Lynch and Sirk films at the Aero, Carole Lombard classics on DVD

January 16, 2013 by

© Julius Shulman, Case study number 22, Playboy Image, C-print, 1960, Courtesy of Be-hold

Focus on style: photo l.a., now in its 22nd year, opens Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Work from 70 galleries and photography dealers from around the world will be on display. The show closes Jan. 21.

Auteurs at the Aero: On Friday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m., the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica has a cool double-feature: David Lynch’s 1986 neo-noir “Blue Velvet,” starring Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini and Dennis Hopper, and “All That Heaven Allows” (1955, Douglas Sirk), a subversive love story about the romance between a lonely widow (Jane Wyman) and her gardener (Rock Hudson).

The Carole Lombard DVD set

Lombard love: TCM is bringing three early and rarely seen Carole Lombard performances to DVD. Carole Lombard in the ’30s will be available exclusively through TCM’s online store beginning Monday, Jan. 21.

With her sparkling presence and sharp timing, the stunning Lombard delighted audiences in some of the greatest screwball comedies ever made, but she spent the early part of her brief career playing dramatic roles and romantic ingénues. (Lombard died in a plane crash in 1942.)

Highlighting her lesser-known films, this DVD set includes fully restored and re-mastered editions of “No More Orchids” (1932), “Brief Moment” (1933) and “Lady By Choice” (1934).

The collection also features an introduction by TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz and bonus materials, including production stills, behind-the-scenes photos, lobby cards and movie posters.

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