Schedule Announced for Noir City 14 in Hollywood

The majority of the schedule has now been announced for the 14th Annual Noir City Film Festival, which returns to Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre from April 20th through May 6th, 2012.

The Noir City calendar has been published through Sunday, April 29th, and the majority of the titles to be shown the final week of the festival have been posted on the Egyptian site.

So far I have definite plans to attend four screenings, and I'm very likely to purchase additional tickets once the festival is underway. Last year I ended up seeing seven double bills! It was my favorite movie viewing experience of the entire year; I almost felt as though I had gone on vacation after spending so much time at the Egyptian.

I just ordered my ticket for opening night, April 20th, which is an Alan Ladd double bill consisting of THE GREAT GATSBY (1949) and THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942). I've never seen either film and am particularly excited that my first-ever viewing of THIS GUN FOR HIRE will be on a big screen in 35mm. I'm hopeful that David Ladd will attend the screening, as he did earlier this year in San Francisco.

April 21st is an interesting double bill of Sterling Hayden films from 1954: NAKED ALIBI with Gloria Grahame and Gene Barry, and SUDDENLY with Frank Sinatra.

I'll definitely be at the Cornell Woolrich triple bill on Sunday, April 22nd. I've previously seen the first two films, PHANTOM LADY (1944) and BLACK ANGEL (1946), but am thrilled at the prospect of seeing them again on the big screen. The final film of the evening is THE WINDOW (1949) with Barbara Hale, Arthur Kennedy, and Ruth Roman.

Wednesday the 25th it's an Anthony Mann double bill, T-MEN (1947) and STRANGE IMPERSONATION (1946). Noir fans who haven't seen these should make it a point to be there.

Prison movies are on the bill on the 26th, with Eleanor Parker's Oscar-nominated role in CAGED (1950) followed by Broderick Crawford and Ralph Meeker in BIG HOUSE U.S.A. (1955).

I plan to return on Friday, April 27th, for a double bill which begins with MGM's very good police procedural SCENE OF THE CRIME (1949), with a deep cast including Van Johnson, Tom Drake, Gloria DeHaven, Arlene Dahl, and John McIntire.

The second film on the 27th is an Anthony Mann film I'm very excited to see in 35mm, REIGN OF TERROR (1949), also known as THE BLACK BOOK. It's a "French Revolution noir" starring Robert Cummings, Arlene Dahl, Richard Basehart, and Charles McGraw.

Best of all, 97-year-old Norman Lloyd, who is in the casts of both films, is scheduled to attend on the 27th! I wonder if there's any chance Arlene Dahl might attend as well?

On April 28th Julie Adams, who I was fortunate to see at the Egyptian last fall, will be in attendance at SLAUGHTER ON TENTH AVENUE (1957), costarring Richard Egan, Jan Sterling, Dan Duryea, Charles McGraw, and Walter Matthau. It's accompanied by EDGE OF THE CITY (1957) with Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes.

I'll be back on Sunday the 29th, when Dick Powell stars in the terrific -- and underrated -- JOHNNY O'CLOCK (1947). It's paired with JOHNNY ALLEGRO (1949), starring George Raft and Nina Foch.

The dates have not yet been announced, but the final week will include:

...A pair of "proto-noir" pre-Codes, OKAY, AMERICA! (1932) starring Lew Ayres, Maureen O'Sullivan, Louis Calhern, and Edward Arnold, and AFRAID TO TALK (MERRY-GO-ROUND) (1932) starring Eric Linden, Louis Calhern, and Edward Arnold.

...A double bill of Geraldine Fitzgerald films from 1946, THREE STRANGERS, costarring Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, paired with NOBODY LIVES FOREVER, starring John Garfield. Both films were directed by Jean Negulesco.

...MANHANDLED (1949) starring Sterling Hayden, Dan Duryea, and Dorothy Lamour.

...SHIELD FOR MURDER (1954) starring Edmond O'Brien.

...THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946) with Lana Turner and John Garfield. This film had its 1946 premiere at the Egyptian Theatre.

I'll update this post when the complete schedule is announced for the first week of May. (April 7th Update: Final Week of Noir City 14 Schedule Announced.)

Previously posted: First Preview of 14th Annual Noir City Film Festival; A Visit to the 13th Noir City Film Festival (2011); A Visit to the Noir City Film Festival (2010).