Quentin Tarantino re-opened the New Beverly Cinema as a celluloid-only picture house, so we are taking a closer look at some of the great movies he is programming each month. This series will be monthly at least until the end of the year. NOTE: We’re not directly affiliated with the New Beverly Cinema.
2014 HIGHLIGHTS: OCTOBER – NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
2015 HIGHLIGHTS: JANUARY – FEBRUARY – MARCH – APRIL – MAY – JUNE – JULY – AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
September is again packed with great repertoire movie goodness. See the official calendar here. It is mostly Shaw Brothers month at the NewBev this September, so go catch up on your chop socky knowledge. Pair or mix up your evenings with some other classics from around the world! Some of the highlights that we picked out this month are:
1941 / Dir: John Huston / Starring Humphrey Bogart
A classic film noir adventure starring Humphrey Bogart based on a classic Dashiel Hammet story. It is one of the more successful and one of the key film-noir movies ever made, even though (personally) I didn’t find it all that great. But it is a milestone and what an opportunity to see it on the big screen! Get the BluRay at Amazon.com
The 36th Chamber of the Shaolin
1978 / Dir: Lau Kar Leung / Starring Gordon Liu, Lo Lieh.
When I was a teenager, this was my favorite Kung Fu movie ever. The level of detail and the electric energy of this masterpiece is unparalleled. After seeing this you’ll wanna go outside and practise your balance, your walking on water and become a Shaolin apprentice yourself. If there’s only one Kung Fu movie you’re gonna see, see this amazing movie. Check out more at the GCDB
1973 / Dir: Cheng Chang Ho / Starring Lo Lieh
Lo Lieh stars as a young kung fu student named Chao Chi Hao that learns the powerful Iron Fist style so he can win a tournament and defend his loved ones from evil thugs trying to take over the province. It’s another legendary chopsocky flick that gained tremendous international success and helped usher in the kung fu craze to America. Check out more at the GCDB.
1971 / Dir: Sergio Leone / Starring Rod Steiger, James Coburn.
The late Sergio Leone revolution western had a trouble production history and wasn’t met with particular success at first. It was re-titled Fistful of Dynamite and released slightly cut back in the days. Today it is regarded as a fine piece of storytelling but does not reside anywhere on top of the list of critics’ Leone rankings. See it on the big screen! Check out more at the SWDB.
Kiss the Girls and make them Die
1966 / Dir: Henry Levin & Arduino Maiuri / Starring Mike Connors, Dorothy Provine, Nicoletta Machiavelli, Terry-Thomas.
Hot on the heels of the success of the James Bond films in the 60s, many studios began doing their own takes on the super spy. This Italian-American co-production stars Mike Connors as a CIA Agent named Kelly who must stop a mad terrorist Ardonian (Raf Vallone) that plans on sterilizing the global male population using a special satellite. He will then proceed to repopulate the planet personally. A very wacky premise for sure that just makes this cult classic spy spoof an especially unique entry in the genre. Check out more at the GCDB.
1977 / Dir: Ho Meng Hua / Starring Danny Lee
See this at the NewBev Midnights! In the late 90s, Quentin Tarantino picked this one up and released it on home video as part of his too-early-for-its-time Rolling Thunder Pictures label, and you can still get it on a great DVD. It is an absolutely fascinating giant monster movie that entertains, is not too cheesy and is just one hell of a cinematic experience. Check out more at the GCDB
