Noir City at the Egyptian
One of the best things about loving movies and living in Los Angeles is the opportunity to attend the many great film events that take place each year. Besides the more prestigious festivals like the LA Film Fest or AFI FEST, Los Angeles offers a plethora of film experiences because of revival houses like the New Beverly Cinema, the Nuart, and most importantly the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian and Aero theaters. The Egyptian is particularly special for film lovers here in LA, or as Alan Rode put it: “a movie cathedral”. It truly is the best place to see a film, and with their diverse programming it really doesn’t get any better. The people at the Egyptian have an incredible knowledge and passion for film, and that they share that knowledge and passion is one of the most exciting things for people with similar interests. I’ve already discussed my admiration for film-noir (if you haven’t figured it out by now let me say it’s my favorite type of film), so attending this festival was an opportunity I couldn't miss. The series is still going on, but what follows is a collection of short reviews for many of the films I’ve seen thus far.
Armored Car Robbery - Richard Fleischer (1950)
While Armored Car Robbery is described as a “B” noir, the film is still one of the most entertaining of its kind. It’s lean, quick, well-written, and wonderfully shot, and stars the great Charles MacGraw (who starred in Narrow Margin also directed by Fleischer) as an LA detective out to catch the criminals who stole a fortune and killed his partner. If this is a “B” film, what are most crime movies today?
Odds Against Tomorrow - Robert Wise (1959)
Perhaps my favorite noir of the festival. The best noir elevate the material into affecting character studies - which is precisely what director Robert Wise and his brilliant screenwriters did with this suspenseful and powerful story of bigotry and crime. On the surface it’s a heist film about three men down on their luck and looking for a major score, but at its heart it’s so much more. Harry Belafonte leads the great cast with his moving portrayal of a good man who falls down the wrong path and suffers the consequences. While many noirs are heavily stylized, Odds Against Tomorrow favors a more realistic and immediate tone. The visuals are still atmospheric and cinematic, but the overall structure and mood is focused on conveying the emotional plight of the characters instead of the thrills the genre is famous for. This is a great film.
The Big Knife - Robert Aldrich (1955)
A lesser film by Robert Aldrich, who directed one of the seminal noirs, Kiss Me Deadly. The Big Knife is based on a play and feels like a stage production more than it does an actual film. Because it’s practically set in one location and slowly paced, it’s difficult for the story to fully grip the audience. That being said, the cast is great, especially Jack Palance and the beautiful and talented Ida Lupino (one of my favorite actresses). Palance is an actor who sells his soul to an intense, menacing, strikingly over-the-top studio executive played by the scene-stealing Rod Steiger. This performance alone is worth the admission.
Sweet Smell of Success - Alexander Mackendrick (1957)
I’ve already expressed my adoration for this film and its star: the legendary Burt Lancaster. This is one of the great films I’ve seen, and arguably one of the top three screenplays ever written alongside Network and The Lady Eve. It also features Tony Curtis’ best work. See this film immediately if you haven’t.
Port of New York - Lazlo Benedek (1949)
Few prints exist of this underrated thriller starring Yul Brynner as a gangster who smuggles drugs and the police officers on his trail. What makes this film so notable is the excellent on-location photography that presents the gritty realism of 1940’s New York. The performances are solid across the board, but it’s Brynner who really shines in his first role as the handsome, charming, but dangerous NY crime boss. Hopefully this film will reach dvd some time in the near future.
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