The American Cinematheque, in association with SabuCat Productions, presents technicolor dreams: The 2nd Festival of Dye-transfer Technicolor at the Movies (February 1-10, 2002), a retrospective showcasing a dazzling array of 17 films (many of them Oscar winners in various categories), shown in ultra rare, stunning I.B. Technicolor Prints, plus some rare trailers and "Making Of" shorts.
HOLLYWOOD - The American Cinematheque, in association with SabuCat
Productions, presents technicolor dreams: The 2nd Festival of Dye-transfer Technicolor at the Movies (February 1-10, 2002), a retrospective showcasing
a dazzling array of 17 films (many of them Oscar winners in various
categories), shown in ultra rare, stunning I.B. Technicolor Prints, plus
some rare trailers and "Making Of" shorts. Highlights of the series include:
screenings of original nitrate prints of films such as BLACK NARCISSUS
starring Deborah Kerr, BLOOD AND SAND starring Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth
and Tyrone Power and SAMSON AND DELILAH with Russ Tamblyn In-Person. Also
screening are sci-fi classics DESTINATION MOON and ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS;
a dye-transfer James Bond double feature; 50th anniversary screenings of THE
QUIET MAN starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara and John Huston's MOULIN
ROUGE. Appearing in-person during the series are: Actors Joel Gray & Michael
York (CABARET), Paul Mantee (ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS) and Russ Tamblyn
(SAMSON AND DELILAH); and Actresses Marsha Mae Jones and Sybil Jason (THE
LITTLE PRINCESS.) All guests are subject to their availability. All
screenings are at the newly renovated Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the
historic Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Las Palmas)
in Hollywood.
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Almost a novelty when it was introduced in the early 1920's, Technicolor
reached its zenith in the 1940's and 50's, when classics like BLACK
NARCISSUS, FOREVER AMBER, MOULIN ROUGE, THE QUIET MAN and BLOOD AND SAND
were released using the brilliant, deeply-saturated hues of dye-transfer
Technicolor (commonly known as IB or "imbibition.") Dye-transfer
Technicolor prints are becoming increasingly scarce treasures since
Technicolor stopped U.S. production of them in 1974 (although the process
was recently revived on a limited basis). Following the sold-out success of
our first Dye-Transfer Festival in February, 2000, this series will feature
even more ultra-rare prints.
Friday, February 1, 2002
The Friday, February 1st program begins at 7:00 PM with a screening of an
original nitrate Technicolor print of BLACK NARCISSUS (1947, MGM/UA, 100
min.) Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's exquisite (and surprisingly
erotic) drama of spiritual devotion and earthly temptation stars the
luminous Deborah Kerr as a nun nearly overwhelmed by the physical beauty of
her new Himalayan home, and the worldly charms of rugged David Farrar.
Widely hailed as one of the most visually stunning films ever made (courtesy
of director of photography Jack Cardiff's Oscar-winning cinematography) -
seen here in a gorgeous original nitrate Technicolor print!! Co-starring
Sabu, Jean Simmons, Flora Robson. Nitrate Print Courtesy of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts & Sciences - Film Archive.
Following at 9:15 PM is a 007 double feature beginning with DOCTOR NO,
(1962, MGM/UA, 111 min.) directed by Terence Young. Now almost taken for
granted, this initial adaptation of Ian Fleming's spy novels was a
subversive breath of fresh air, depicting for the first time a secret agent
who was an unapologetically suave, promiscuous - and murderously
good-looking -- hero. Sean Connery proved amazingly popular as the ultimate
sexy beast -- James Bond -- ushering in the entire 1960's spy film craze.
One of the best of the Bond films, this gives Technicolor a sumptuous
workout with its Caribbean locale and Ursula Andress's sensual presence.
Next on the same bill is FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, (1963, MGM/UA, 118 min.)
directed by Terence Young. Sean Connery's second 007 outing more than lives
up to expectations with Bond scouring exotic Istanbul for an elusive Lektor
decoding machine. He's helped by sly Pedro Armendariz and seductive Russian
spy, Daniella Bianchi, as well as hunted by Aryan super killer Robert Shaw
and sinister, butch Lotte Lenya as stiletto-toed Rosa Kleb. The
nerve-shredding fistfight between Connery and Shaw aboard the Orient Express
is not to be missed.
Saturday, February 2, 2002
On Saturday, February 2nd the evening begins at 5:00 PM with a Rare 4-track
Mag Stereo Print of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971, MGM/UA, 181 min.) Coming at
the end of the great era of Hollywood musicals, director Norman Jewison's
wonderful, elegiac FIDDLER ON THE ROOF added a note of somber realism to the
genre, along with such soul-inspiring numbers as "Tradition" and "L'chaim
(To Life)". Topol stars as the beleagured but still optimistic Russian
milkman Tevye, trying to hold his Jewish family together in the face of
troubling changes in the early 20th century. Based on Joseph Stein's play,
with music and
Page 3 - Technicolor Series
lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. Academy Award Winner for Best
Cinematography (Oswald Mouis) and score (John Williams).
Following at 8:30 PM is an Original Nitrate Technicolor Print double feature
beginning with Otto Preminger's FOREVER AMBER, (1947, 20th Century Fox, 137
min.). How could we not show FOREVER AMBER in a Technicolor Festival -
especially in this stunning original nitrate copy that captures a blonde (!)
Linda Darnell at her very best, as writer Kathleen Windsor's chamber-hopping
maiden Amber, who sleeps her way to the court of Charles II leaving broken
hearts strewn in her wake. Co-starring Cornel Wilde, George Sanders and
Jessica Tandy. Next on the same bill is BLOOD AND SAND, (1941, 20th Century
Fox, 123 min.) Our Technicolor saturation meter rates this off-the-scale as
old school movie master Rouben Mamoulian directs Tyrone Power in the role of
the bullfighter who loves not wisely but too well. High drama boils over
both in and outside the bullring as Power throws over genuine heartthrob
Linda Darnell for white-hot seductress Rita Hayworth! Ernest Palmer and Ray
Rennahan shared Oscars for their lush cinematography.
Sunday, February 3, 2002
The Sunday, February 3rd program is a 5:00 PM double feature of two films
celebrating their 50th Anniversaries! First up is MOULIN ROUGE, (1952,
MGM/UA, 119 min.). In the wake of Baz Luhrmann's delirious MOULIN ROUGE,
it's worth taking a second look at master director John Huston's
heartbreakingly romantic portrait of the infamous Parisian dance hall and
its most famous patron, painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (brilliantly
portrayed by Jose Ferrer.) Co-starring Zsa Zsa Gabor as the Can Can dancer
who breaks Toulouse-Lautrec's heart. Academy Award winner for Best Art
Direction and Costumes. Next on the same bill is THE QUIET MAN, 1952,
Paramount, 129 min. Dir. John Ford. John Wayne is the 'quiet man' of the
title, a former boxer returning home to his Irish birthplace to fall in love
with feisty Maureen O'Hara and butt heads with her big brother, Victor
McLaglen. Ireland has never looked so emerald green as in this rowdy
shaggy-dog story that's filled to the brim with brawling, romance and
general tomfoolery. With Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond. Winner of Oscars for
Best Director and Best Cinematography (by Winston C. Hoch and Archie Stout).
Friday, February 8, 2002
The Friday, February 8th program begins at 7:00 PM with a screening of
CABARET, (1972, Warner Bros., 123 min.) Director/choreographer Bob Fosse's
mad, desperate, thoroughly outrageous adaptation of Kander & Ebb's Broadway
musical stars Liza Minnelli in an Oscar-winning performance as cheerfully
depraved sprite Sally Bowles, falling in love with naïve writer Michael York
in 1930's Berlin, while the shadow of Nazism spreads across Europe.
Co-starring Joel Grey as the devilish host of the sinful Kit Kat Klub.
Winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Director, Cinematography
(Geoffrey Unsworth) and Supporting Actor (Grey). Plus, a rarely-seen
production short on the making of CABARET! Discussion following with actors
Joel Gray & Michael York. Also, Mr. York will be signing copies of his new
book at 6:15 PM in the Lobby prior to the screening.
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Following at 9:45 is a "Man With No Name" Double Feature beginning with A
FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964, MGM/UA, 100 min.) Director Sergio Leone remade
Akira Kurosawa's YOJIMBO with Clint Eastwood as a poncho-wearing,
cheroot-chewing assassin, and wound up with the most revolutionary Western
of the 1960's (aided by composer Ennio Morricone's instantly memorable theme
music). Shown in a beautiful, original dye-transfer Technicolor print! Next
on the same bill is FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1965, MGM/UA, 130 min.) Leone's
sequel to FISTFUL stars Clint Eastwood and Lee van Cleef as rival bounty
hunters who wind up tracking the same man (Gian Maria Volonte.) The final
3-way shootout ranks with the greatest set pieces in movie-making history.
Saturday, February 9, 2002
The Saturday, February 9th program begins at 5:00 PM with a Classic
Children's double feature First up is THE LITTLE PRINCESS, (1939, 20th
Century Fox, 93 min.) directed by Walter Lang. Seen here in a gorgeous
nitrate Technicolor print, this was one of star Shirley Temple's most
lavishly mounted films, a heartbreaking riches-to-rags story about a
Victorian girl abandoned at an ultra-strict boarding school. Co-starring
Anita Louise, Cesar Romero, Marsha Mae Jones and Sybil Jason. Next on the
same bill is GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, (1939, Paramount, 74 min.) A pioneering
animation classic from brothers Max and Dave Fleischer (who created Betty
Boop and brought Popeye to the screen), GULLIVER'S TRAVELS was a brave
attempt to match the phenomenal popularity of Walt Disney's SNOW WHITE.
Adapted from the first part of Jonathan Swift's satirical fantasy, the story
follows Gulliver as he lands in the miniaturized land of Lilliput, and finds
that prejudices come in all sizes. Discussion between films with THE LITTLE
PRINCESS co-stars Marsha Mae Jones and Sybil Jason.
Following at 8:45 PM is another double feature, this time of classic sci-fi
films. First up is ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS, (1964, Paramount, 110 min.)
starring Paul Mantee as an astronaut abandoned on the Red Planet, dealing
with simple necessities like finding drinkable water and avoiding marauding
aliens. A wonderfully human 1960's sci-fi flick. Directed with surefire
confidence by WAR OF THE WORLDS veteran Byron Haskin, from an excellent
script by Ib Melchior and John C. Higgins. Co-starring Adam West and Vic
Lundin. Don't miss this chance to see the rarely revived ROBINSON CRUSOE ON
MARS in a beautiful CinemaScope Technicolor print! Next on the same bill is
DESTINATION MOON, (1950, Wade Williams, 91 min.) directed by Irving Pichel.
Producer George Pal's rarely-screened classic helped usher in the sci-fi
boom of the 1950's, and featured amazingly realistic depictions (for the
time) of manned space flight and lunar landing, aided by German rocket
expert Hermann Oberth (who worked on Fritz Lang's similarly futuristic DIE
FRAU IM MOND in 1929!) Starring John Archer, Warner Anderson and Tom
Powers. Academy Award winner for Best Special Effects. Discussion between
films with actor Paul Mantee. Plus, a long lost, 15 minute behind-the-scenes
look at the making of DESTINATION MOON.
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Sunday, February 10, 2002
The Sunday, February 10th program begins at 5:00 PM with a screening of an
Original Nitrate Technicolor Print of SAMSON AND DELILAH, (1949, Paramount,
128 min.) Cecil B. de Mille's wildly entertaining Biblical parable stars the
great Victor Mature in one of his finest roles, as the legendary desert
strongman and rebel fighter, who loses his strength and his eye-sight for
the love of ravishing Hedy Lamarr. One of the most breathtakingly beautiful
Technicolor films made in Hollywood - seen here as audiences saw it back in
1949, in an original nitrate Technicolor print!! Academy Award winner for
Best Art Direction and Costumes. Discussion following with actor Russ
Tamblyn.
Following at 7:30 PM is A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, (1966, Columbia, 120 min.),
director Fred Zinnemann's classic drama (based on LAWRENCE OF ARABIA writer
Robert Bolt's award-winning play). A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS stars Paul
Scofield as Sir Thomas More, whose disagreement with former friend Henry the
VIII (played by Robert Shaw) over divorce and Papal authority shook England
in the 16th century. Riveting throughout with a cast of greats that
includes Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Orson Welles, Susannah York, John Hurt
and Vanessa Redgrave. Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Film,
Actor, Director and Cinematography (by Ted Moore). Plus, "This Garden
England," (1963, approx. 20 min.), a lovely short on the beauties of the
English countryside that shows Technicolor in all its radiant glory!
All films are separate admission except those listed as Double Features
which are one ticket price for both films. There is a five minute break
between films on double bills.
k BLACK & WHITE PHOTOS SENT VIA E-MAIL ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. E-MAIL
REQUEST TO PUBLICITY@AMERICANCINEMATHEQUE.COM WE MAY HAVE COLOR SLIDES IN
MID-JANUARY FOR SELECT TITLES k
WE DO NOT HAVE GUARANTEED PRESS PASSES TO PUBLIC SCREENINGS. IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT WHEN POSSIBLE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ADVANCE PRESS
SCREENINGS ON SCREEN OR TAPE.
A complete calendar/flyer listing of these films has been mailed to you.
REQUESTS FOR PRESS TICKETS TO PUBLIC SCREENINGS AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS MUST
BE IN WRITING AND SHOULD BE FAXED TO 323.461.9737 ATTN: MARGOT GERBER, 24
HOURS PRIOR TO SHOW TIME. JOURNALISTS WISHING TO AUDIO OR VIDEOTAPE
DISCUSSIONS MUST ALSO SEND A FAXED REQUEST.
THERE ARE NO THEATRICAL PRESS SCREENINGS SCHEDULED FOR THIS SERIES.
MOST FILMS ARE AVAILABLE COMMERCIALLY ON VIDEOTAPE (NTSC) AND DVD AT LOCAL
VIDEO STORES LISTED BELOW.
Jerry's Video (1904 Hillhurst, Los Feliz - 323.666.7471)
Rocket Video (726 N. La Brea - 323.965.1100) Has all EXCEPT GULLIVER'S
TRAVELS, ROBINSON CRUSOE and Destination Moon.
Cinefile (11280 Santa Monica Blvd. - Corner of Sawtelle Ave. -
310.312.8836) HAS ALL TITLES
Vidiots (302 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica - 310/392-8508) Has ALL except Samson
and Delilah, and has additionally on DVD: DOCTOR NO, THE QUIET MAN, CABARET,
A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, GULLIVAR'S TRAVELS, and A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS.
Videoactive ( 2522 Hyperion Ave - 323-669-8544) ALL EXCEPT Robinson Crusoe &
Samson AND Delilah
THE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Upcoming at the American Cinematheque:
Recent Spanish Cinema 2002 (Featuring a Retrospective Tribute to Director
Fernando Trueba)
Our permanent daily attraction film FOREVER HOLLYWOOD is now open. For press
passes to see it for review purposes, please call Margot Gerber at
323.461.2020, ext. 115.
American Cinematheque, 1800 North Highland Avenue, Suite 717
Hollywood, CA
90028
(tel) 323.466-FILM u (fax) 323.461.9737