A documentary exploring the importance of revival cinema and 35mm exhibition - seen through the lens of the patrons of the New Beverly Cinema - a unique and independent revival cinema in Los Angeles.
This film, part of 'Celebrating Women's Contribution to Film' at the Prince Charles Cinema, and the wider Scalarama season, was directed by Julia Marchese and I spoke to her about the background to the film. She told me:
"Four years ago, I was working at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles - one of a handful of 35mm-only single-screen repertory theaters. Watching film on film is so important to me, and when the digital changeover started, I was aware of the impact that it would have on all cinemas - but especially the little guys.
"I wanted to make a film capturing the flux of format changes, and how it effects everyone - from the cinema itself, to its projectionists and customers. The film was shot on 35mm and digital, and it has toured internationally on 35mm, including the Film Archives in Vienna & Frankfurt, several universities and the oldest cinemas in the USA, Canada and The World. It was recently distributed digitally, but concurrently is playing in cinemas on film.
"For me, Out of Print was just the beginning as far as documenting independent cinemas. Making this film taught me just how important every single independent cinema is to its community and I want to continue to highlight that. While in the UK, I will be creating a series of mini-docs, each one focusing on a single theater and its employees, projectionists and regulars. I want to hear first hand, from the people who love it most, why each cinema is special and create a snapshot of British cinema in 2016."
This is an important movie about cinema's past, present and a possible future and well worth catching for anyone interested in movies and their exhibition.
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No2: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (Milestone, 1946): BFI Southbank, 6.10pm
This 35mm screening is part of the Kirk Douglas season at BFI Southbank and is also being shown on August 3rd. You can find all the details here.
Time Out review:
Superb performance by Barbara Stanwyck (as coldly calculating as she was in Double Indemnity) as the apex of a traumatic triangle comprising the two men who (maybe) saw her club her wealthy aunt to death when they were children. Now a tycoon in her own right, bonded to one of the witnesses (Kirk Douglas) in a guilt-ridden marriage, she finds the other (Van Heflin) resurfacing in her life as both promise of escape and threat to security - and the stagnant waters begin to stir again with murderous crosscurrents of fear and desire. A gripping film noir, all the more effective for being staged by Lewis Milestone as a steamy romantic melodrama.
Tom Milne
Here (and above) is the trailer.
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