A Visit to the 22nd Annual Noir City Film Festival

Opening night of the 22nd Annual Noir City Film Festival took place on Friday, March 6th, at the Egyptian Theatre.

This year's festival kicked off with the Argentinian film THE BEAST MUST DIE (1952), aka LA BESTIA DEBE MORIR, paired with a Hollywood film set in Argentina, GILDA (1946). As always, opening night was a terrific evening -- friends, vintage clothes and police cars, and some wonderful movies!

This was the tenth year in a row I've attended the festival's opening night! I've been going to the Noir City Festival since 2009, and my experiences there have been some of my favorite movie viewing memories. As one example, four of my "Favorite Discoveries of 2019" were seen at last year's festival.

Below are Alan K. Rode and Eddie Muller of the Film Noir Foundation. Eddie and Dennis Bartok founded the Noir City Festival at the Egyptian over two decades ago. Those who love classic film in general and film noir in particular owe Eddie, Alan, and Dennis so much for their tireless efforts to preserve, screen, and educate audiences about these great movies.

More photos from opening night, starting with Karie Bible in a vintage gown:

Heidi Tittle, chapter president of the Classics of Hollywood movie fan group:

Alan Rode with Kimberly Truhler, whose book FILM NOIR STYLE will be published this fall by GoodKnight Books.

Ruth Mundsack of the Silver Screen Long Beach Classic Film Club with film historian Jeremy Arnold, whose book THE ESSENTIALS VOL. 2: 52 MORE MUST-SEE MOVIES AND WHY THEY MATTER will be published by TCM and Running Press this fall. Kim Luperi of the blog I See a Dark Theater can be glimpsed in the background on the left.

This year's Noir City format is a little different from the past few years. While most of the films will be shown at the Egyptian Theatre, the films on March 9th will be shown at the Egyptian's sister theater, the Aero in Santa Monica. Eddie Muller will interview David Mamet as part of that evening's events.

Then on Tuesday, March 10th, an excellent military-themed double bill will be hosted by Alan Rode and Victoria Mature at the beautifully restored American Legion Post 43 Theatre, where I most recently saw THE RIGHT STUFF (1983).

Victoria, this year's Miss Noir City, is seen in the poster below. She will also be interviewed by Alan at the Egyptian on Wednesday evening in conjunction with a screening of her father's film THE LONG HAUL (1957).

My detailed date-by-date look at the festival schedule may be found here. As usual, a majority of the 28 films -- 18, to be exact -- will be shown in 35mm.

As always, this introductory post to the Noir City Hollywood Festival will be regularly updated with review links for all films seen at the festival. My reviews of the opening night movies will be coming soon!

New reviews of films seen at the 2020 Noir City Film Festival: THE BEAST MUST DIE (1952); GILDA (1946); THE DEVIL STRIKES AT NIGHT (1957).

Previously reviewed films seen at this year's festival: FLY-BY-NIGHT (1942); THE LONG HAUL (1957).

Posts on past Noir City Festivals which contain review links for all films seen each year, in reverse chronological order: A Visit to the 21st Annual Noir City Film Festival (2019); A Visit to the 20th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2018); A Visit to the 19th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2017); A Visit to the 18th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2016); A Visit to the 17th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2015); A Visit to the 16th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2014); A Visit to the 15th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2013); A Visit to the 14th Annual Noir City Film Festival (2012); A Visit to the 13th Noir City Film Festival (2011); A Visit to the Noir City Film Festival (2010).

Related post: Weekend Movie Fun: Out and About in Los Angeles.

March 12, 2020 Update: 2020 Noir City Hollywood Film Festival Cancelled Beginning March 12th.