The 2025 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival Schedule

The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival returns to Palm Springs next month!

The annual festival opens on Thursday evening, May 8th, and runs through Sunday, May 11th, 2025.

As always, the festival takes place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. The Center, formerly known as the Camelot Theatres, is located at 2300 E. Baristo Road.

Passes are now on sale for the festival, which will present a dozen films. There's also a special half-price Sunday evening screening; more on that below.

I'm very enthused about the schedule created by festival producer and host Alan K. Rode. The lineup includes a number of films I've never seen, along with some films I've seen on disc but not theatrically. Indeed, I've only seen three of the festival's 12 movies previously on a big screen.

The festival's special guests are scheduled to include Rory Flynn (daughter of Errol), Wyatt McCrea (grandson of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee), and Eddie Muller.

Here's a look at the lineup:

Opening night features CRY WOLF (1947), starring Errol Flynn and Barbara Stanwyck. Despite some flaws I'm very fond of this film, which was directed by Peter Godfrey, and I'm excited to see it theatrically. Rory Flynn will sign her memoir THE BARON OF MULHOLLAND: A DAUGHTER REMEMBERS ERROL FLYNN. The movie is followed by a reception.

Friday, May 9th, starts with a 35mm screening of SWELL GUY (1946), starring Sonny Tufts and Ann Blyth, directed by Frank Tuttle.

SWELL GUY is followed by Dick Powell, Evelyn Keyes, and Ellen Drew in the terrific JOHNNY O'CLOCK (1947), directed by Robert Rossen. Prior to the screening Eddie Muller will be signing his newly published "expanded and revised" edition of DARK CITY DAMES: THE WOMEN WHO DEFINED FILM NOIR.

After JOHNNY O'CLOCK comes a 35mm print of Glenn Ford and Ida Lupino in LUST FOR GOLD (1949), directed by S. Sylvan Simon and the uncredited George Marshall.

LUST FOR GOLD is followed by the digital theatrical premiere of PAID IN FULL (1950) starring Bob Cummings and Lizabeth Scott. The terrific supporting cast of PAID IN FULL includes Eve Arden, Diana Lynn, Ray Collins, and Kristine Miller. William Dieterle directed.

Saturday, May 10th, starts with the 60-minute UNMASKED, starring Robert Rockwell, Barbra Fuller, and Raymond Burr, directed by George Blair. This sounds like my kind of "unknown" movie! It's another digital theatrical premiere.

The day continues with the very memorable ANGEL FACE (1953) starring Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons, and Mona Freeman, directed by Otto Preminger.

There's more Mitchum in THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE (1973), directed by Peter Yates, followed by a relatively rare screening of THE UNSEEN (1945) starring Joel McCrea and Gail Russell, directed by Lewis Allen.

On the final day, May 11th, the first screening is KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE (1950) with James Cagney and Barbara Payton, directed by Gordon Douglas.

It's followed by ACT OF VIOLENCE (1948), with Fred Zinnemann directing a top cast including Van Heflin, Janet Leigh, and Robert Ryan, and ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint.

As an added bonus, festival passholders are eligible for half-price tickets to a Sunday evening screening of Guillermo del Toro's version of NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2021), shown in a black and white edition. Alan Rode will interview del Toro and Kim Morgan after the screening.

For additional details on the films, tickets and more, please visit the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival website and ticket ordering page.

This is always a wonderful festival for many reasons, including not only the films but the relatively intimate venue and ability to interact with festival guests. There's also plenty of time for relaxed meals in between the movies, which is a major plus for those of us used to the breakneck pace of the TCM Classic Film Festival.

I hope to see some of my readers in Palm Springs this May!

For a look at past Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival coverage, please visit these links: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

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