2016 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival Opens on May 12th

The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival opens in Palm Springs, California, on May 12, 2016.

The festival will run through Sunday, May 15th. All films are shown at the Camelot Theatres.

I attended for the first time last year, and it was one of my all-time favorite festival experiences, combining plenty of great movies with a relaxed and congenial atmosphere.

Alas, I'm unable to attend this year, but it's for the best of reasons -- our son is graduating from Northern Arizona University that weekend!

I'll definitely hope to return in 2017, but in the meantime I want to encourage my readers to attend a terrific film noir festival with some very special guests.

The festival will kick off on the 12th with Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, and Bruce Bennett in a world premiere restoration of SUDDEN FEAR (1952). Yes, I'm jealous! I've never seen SUDDEN FEAR; hopefully this new print will later play at UCLA or the Egyptian.

Friday's movies are RED LIGHT (1949) with George Raft and Virginia Mayo; INTRUDER IN THE DUST (1949) with star Claude Jarman Jr. in attendance; a newly restored 35mm print of THE ACCUSED (1949) with Loretta Young and Robert Cummings; and the classic Rita Hayworth-Glenn Ford film GILDA (1946). (Click any hyperlinked title for past reviews.)

On Saturday, May 14th, attendees can look forward to Richard Carlson and Nancy Kelly in Robert Siodmak's FLY-BY-NIGHT (1942); Robert Cummings and Arlene Dahl in the classic "French Revolution noir" REIGN OF TERROR (1949), with William Cameron Menzies biographer James Curtis in attendance; Richard Basehart in the very enjoyable OUTSIDE THE WALL (1950); and Jean Peters, Joseph Cotten, and Marilyn Monroe in NIAGARA (1953).

Three films will play on the final day of the festival: one of my all-time favorites, THE HUNTED (1948), starring Preston Foster and Belita; DRAGNET (1954) with cast member Ann Robinson in attendance; and the classic WHITE HEAT (1949), starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, and Steve Cochran.

I highly recommend attending! A great time is guaranteed.

For more information on the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, including purchasing tickets, please visit the official festival website.