The Chaplin Talkies / Saturday Matinees in September
As he headed into the sound era, Chaplin stuck by his guns and continued to craft silent films of exquisite beauty; the astounding success of City Lights and Modern Times hushed all naysayers who thought silents were extinct. But, as The Great Dictator’s milleu of European fascism demanded a more healthy realism than any of Chaplin’s previous cinematic spells of magic, he bid adieu to the ol’ inter-titles, never looked back -- and in a quest for new kinds of stories to tell, eventually even retired the Tramp, the comic persona that made him beloved the world over. Join us as we celebrate all four of the master’s starring roles in the talkies he directed, with three of the four presented in brand-new 35mm prints! Also, be sure to check out our Chaplin Silents series on Wednesdays in September and October!
9/4 @ 2:00pm / Series: The Chaplin Talkies
The Great Dictator (new 35mm print!) “Speak -- it is our only hope.” - Commander Schultz, The Great Dictator
After holding out on making talkies longer than any other filmmaker, ironically the first film in which Chaplin spoke turned out to be one of his greatest and most beloved successes, one that still captivates audiences up to this day with its blend of heartfelt humanist intentions and the captivating physical comedy that Chaplin had so rigorously perfected. Inspired in part by a bizarre twist of fate that lead to both himself and the rising fascist dictator of Germany to sport the same tiny moustache, The Great Dictator finds Charlie in the dual roles of the wound-up, gibberish-spewing “Adenoid Hynkel” (leader of the fictional dictatorship Tomania) -- and The Tramp as a heroic Jewish barber who, after a Rip Van Winkle-like hospitalization, ruffles the goverment’s feathers. Featuring the famous “balloon ballet” sequence, along with countless other classic mirthful setpieces and an outstanding turn by beautiful co-star Paulette Goddard, The Great Dictator is “an impassioned plea for peace, tolerance, and humanity” (Allmovie).
Dir. Charles Chaplin, 1940, 35mm, 124 min.
Watch an excerpt from "The Great Dictator"!
Tickets - $10
9/11 @ 2:00pm / Series: The Chaplin Talkies Limelight (new 35mm print!)
Chaplin told his children Limelight was to be his last film, and his greatest; and while he went on to make more films, it was in fact his farewell to Hollywood (he never made a film in the U.S. again), and is saturated with the melancholy, the wistful backwards glances, and the introspection of any true swansong. Set in the music halls of London where Chaplin spent his youth, in the year of 1914 (the year Chaplin made his first silent, and left world of theater behind), Limelight is the tale of Calvero, a once-great, aging alcoholic clown who befriends and supports a young ballerina who’s also down on her luck. With a cameo by Buster Keaton -- marking the only time the two great clowns have ever been on film together -- and plot of deep sentiment, melodrama, and sweetness that evokes the films of his bygone era, Limelight seems not just a goodbye to Hollywood, but another heartfelt gopdbye to silent films in general. “We cannot go back to silent films, and perhaps I merely romanticize them.” -- Charlie Chaplin.
Dir. Charles Chaplin, 1953, 35mm, 137 min.
Watch an excerpt from "Limelight"!
Tickets - $10
9/18 @ 2:00pm / Series: The Chaplin Talkies A King In New York (new 35mm print!)
Made in the height of the McCarthy era, A King in New York’s explicit political satire of American values went unreleased in this country for almost 15 years after it was made -- leading to the unproven belief that it was a cynical film, relaying Chaplin’s anger having been more-or-less exiled from the U.S in the ‘50s. While the film certainly skewers many aspects of American culture that must have riled Chaplin at the time -- such as the infestation of television and of product placement -- A King in New York is still a good-spirited romp, a film made by a man who clearly loves and misses the country that nurtured his career, and its tone is more bittersweet than bitter. Even though this is Chaplin’s last leading role, his skill at farce and pantomime are still evident, and even with his new budgetary limitations (such as having to recreate New York City on cheap London sets), the film contains many of his funniest scenes in the sound era.
Dir. Charles Chaplin, 1957, 35mm, 110 min.
Watch an excerpt from "A King In New York"!
Tickets - $10
9/25 @ 2:00pm / Series: The Chaplin Talkies Monsieur Verdoux
“Among the great works of this century...” -- James Agee
“Now it shapes up as Chaplin’s most startling, most invigorating movie; its icy temperature is positively bracing after the hot syrup of his earlier work.” -- Time Out
“Film maudit turned cult classic, Charlie Chaplin’s Monsieur Verdoux is now widely considered one of his best works, and his most political. Chaplin immodestly proclaimed it ‘the cleverest, most brilliant film of my career.’ Nominated for the 1948 Academy Award® for Best Screenplay, and originating from a true story, this self-described ‘comedy of murders’ was based on an idea by Orson Welles, which Chaplin reportedly bought for five thousand dollars, in a refusal for it to be directed by anyone but himself...[P]lagued with censorship problems early on, and temporarily pulled from distribution in the U.S. at the height of the Cold War Hollywood witch-hunts, Verdoux was initially vilified for its risqué societal critique. A mordant satire that exemplifies the fine line between comedy and tragedy, Verdoux transcends the borders of genre, and deserves to be seen multiple times, especially in this new 35mm print.”- Andréa Picard, Cinematheque Ontario
Dir. Charles Chaplin, 1947, 35mm, 124 min.
Watch the trailer for "Monsieur Verdoux"!
Tickets - $10
Saturday Night Showcase / Early Saturdays in September
9/11 @ 7:00pm / Series: Saturday Night Showcase FREE SNEAK PREVIEW: Catfish (w/ co-directors & star in person!)
NOTE: To attend one must RSVP. One RSVP per person. Your RSVP does not guarantee you a seat. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended. Doors will open 30 minutes before showtime. No one will be admitted after the film has begun.
The filmmakers of Catfish -- the most buzzed about film at Sundance this year -- urge you not to say what the film’s about, and we agree. In fact, we urge you to resist Googling it, resist looking it up on Yahoo -- don’t even ask Jeeves! Catfish is a film that people can ruin for you, either by “spoilers”, or more importantly, the strength of their opinions -- part of the fun of the film is putting together your own point of view. We’re very excited to have a sneak preview of Catfish before its wide theatrical release, in order for you to be included in a small band of lucky Cinefamily folk that gets to make up their own mind before everyone else spoils the surprise. Be on the front line of the zeitgeist, and ask the director (in person!) your burning questions -- for you will have questions. Here’s your chance to walk into this incredible film knowing as little as possible, and be taken on a journey as strange, haunting, thought-provoking, discomforting, moving -- and yet familiar as modern life itself. Co-directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, star Nev Schulman and editor Zachary Stuart-Pontier will all be here for a Q&A after the screening!
Dirs. Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman, 2010, 35mm, 94 min.
(To attend one must RSVP. One RSVP per person. Your RSVP does not guarantee you a seat. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended. Doors will open 30 minutes before showtime. No one will be admitted after the film has begun.)
9/18 @ 7:00pm / Series: Saturday Night Showcase Lovers Of Hate (w/ director Bryan Poyser in person!)
Amongst the past few years’ worth of micro-indie cinema, Lovers of Hate stands out as one of the creepiest and most realistic films we’ve seen in quite a while. In this haunting tale of deceit and sibling rivalry, Rudy and Paul are two very different adult brothers whose long-standing tense relationship embodies their polar-opposite life paths: effortless success and blunt loserdom. Younger brother Paul is a gainful author of childrens’ novels, while Rudy, Paul’s childhood collaborator on the stories, drifts from job to job, unable to kickstart his own long-gestating book. They do share one thing, however: their love for Rudy’s soon-to-be ex-wife -- and when opportunistic Paul whisks her away to a romantic mountain chalet, the lovers have no idea that a sabotage-hungry Rudy has made it there first. A testament to three star-making performances and a tightly constructed script, director Bryan Poyser’s brilliantly executed game of cat and mouse delicately balances humor and despair while pushing characters to painful and hilarious extremes. There are no clear winners in this savage comedy about curdled love, but it is one thrilling ride. Bryan Poyser will be here in person for a Q&A after the screening!
The Great Dictator
Limelight
A King In New York
Monsieur Verdoux
FREE SNEAK PREVIEW:
Lovers Of Hate
