THE FRENCH HAD A NAME FOR IT / FRENCH FILM NOIR 1946-64
SAT—THU, DEC 13—18, 2014 ▪ ROXIE THEATER
Presented by Mid-Century Productions and I Wake Up Dreaming
SATURDAY MATINEE, DEC 13
(1960) 2:00
UNE MANCHE ET LA BELLE
A KISS FOR A KILLER
(1957) 4:30
SATURDAY EVENING
(1962) 7:00
CHAIR DE POULE
HIGHWAY PICK-UP
(1962) 9:00
SUNDAY, DEC 14
CHAIR DE POULE
HIGHWAY PICK-UP
(1962) 2:00, 7:00
(1960) 4:30, 9:15
MONDAY, DEC 15
CHAIR DE POULE
HIGHWAY PICK-UP
(1962) 7:00
(1960) 9:15
TUESDAY, DEC 16
UN TEMOIN DANS LA VILLE
WITNESS IN THE CITY
(1959) 7:00
J'IRAI CRACHER SUR VOS TOMBES
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVES
(1959) 9:15
WEDNESDAY, DEC 17
UNE MANCHE ET LA BELLE
A KISS FOR A KILLER
(1957) 7:00
UN TEMOIN DANS LA VILLE
WITNESS IN THE CITY
(1959) 9:00
THURSDAY, DEC 18
CHAIR DE POULE
HIGHWAY PICK-UP
(1962) 7:00
J'IRAI CRACHER SUR VOS TOMBES
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVES
(1959) 9:15
*Note that all films will be shown with English subtitles.
WEDNESDAY, DEC 17, 2014
UNE MANCHE ET LA BELLE / A KISS FOR A KILLER 7:00
Director Verneuil, a Turkish expatriate best known for his helming of THE SICILIAN CLAN (1969), is in top form here adapting a James Hadley Chase source novel (The Sucker Punch) into a well-modulated Gallic amalgam of SUNSET BOULEVARD and THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE. Vidal is the trophy husband of a rich dowager (Isa Miranda) who is slowly seduced into murdering her by his comely, cunning secretary (well-played by Bardot lookalike Mylène Demongeot). With crisp lenswork from esteemed French cinematographer Christian Matras (GRAND ILLUSION, LE RONDE). Dir. Henri Verneuil (1957, 98 min.)
UN TÉMOIN DANS LA VILLE / WITNESS IN THE CITY 9:00
France's greatest character lead in the 1960s and 70s, Lino Ventura, has his breakout role here, as a revenge murderer who finds that his "perfect crime" was witnessed by a cab driver and must try to eliminate him. As events unfold, Ventura finds that he is as much hunted as hunter. Stunning night photography from Henri Decaë (BOB LE FLAMBEUR, ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS), and an evocative score featuring jazz greats Kenny Clarke and Kenny Dorham. Dir. Eduard Molinaro (1959, 86 min.)
