A Visit to the Noir City Film Festival

Opening night of the 23rd Noir City Hollywood Film Festival took place on Friday, April 15, 2022, at the Hollywood Legion Theater.

The festival was held at the Legion Theater as the usual site, the Egyptian Theatre, is undergoing an extensive long-term renovation. The American Legion Post 43 is a gorgeous building with an outstanding theater. The Legion also operates an excellent drive-in theater behind the building which I wrote about in 2020 and 2021.

This was the first Noir City Hollywood Festival since 2020, when the festival was abruptly cancelled halfway through the week as California locked down. Needless to say, it was a joyous reunion for those of us who love the festival, and it was wonderful to watch movies on a big screen again with an enthusiastic audience.

The festival was designed as a low-key way to ease back into normalcy, taking place over a single weekend rather than running a full week or several weekends.

There wasn't a big reception this year, but the Hollywood Legion Theater's beautiful basement bar provided the perfect setting for casual gatherings before the films and during intermission.

Seen here in the bar are Eddie Muller of the Film Noir Foundation and Kimberly Truhler, author of FILM NOIR STYLE: THE KILLER 1940S.

Below are Pete Shaner, Beth Accomando, Victoria Mature, and the Film Noir Foundation's Alan K. Rode, who cohosted the festival with Eddie Muller.

Next month Alan Rode will host the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Palm Springs, which will include a special pre-festival cabaret performance by Victoria Mature. I'll have more information on that here soon!

Gwen Deglise of the American Cinematheque toasts the festival's return with Kimberly Truhler and Eddie Muller:

A great shot of Kimberly next to the basement piano:

Prior to Sunday night's double bill, our friend Christy Putnam, author of a forthcoming biography of Thelma Ritter, gave a wonderful impromptu performance on the piano. Christy traveled from Texas to attend both the Noir City and TCM Classic Film Festivals.

Seen here in the Post 43 library before Friday evening's movies are Alan and Jemma Rode chatting with Alice Maltin; Leonard Maltin can be seen in the background.

Leonard Maltin chatting with guests:

I loved Ruth Mundsack's beautiful outfit!

Scott McGee of Turner Classic Movies attended the festival; he's seen here with Beth Accomando and Victoria Mature. Scott's book DANGER ON THE SILVER SCREEN: 50 FILMS CELEBRATING CINEMA'S GREATEST STUNTS was just published.

The Maltins and the Rodes in the theater at intermission:

I skipped the first film of the festival, TRY AND GET ME (1950), which is an intense film I've seen several times; instead I had quite a nice time hanging out in the library before watching the next film, THE ARGYLE SECRETS (1948).

Here's a shot of Alan Rode and Eddie Muller introducing THE ARGYLE SECRETS:

I plan to review all four of the films I saw this weekend as time permits; I also saw THE PROWLER (1951) on Saturday afternoon and the double bill of NO WAY OUT (1950) and THE BREAKING POINT (1950) on Sunday evening.

My preview of all of the festival's films can be found here: Noir City Hollywood Festival Returns April 15-17, 2022.

Reviews of new-to-me films seen at the 2022 Noir City Film Festival: THE ARGYLE SECRETS (1948), THE PROWLER (1951), NO WAY OUT (1950), THE BREAKING POINT (1950).

Posts on past Noir City Festivals which contain review links for all films seen each year, in reverse chronological order: A Visit to the 22nd Annual Noir City Film Festival (2020); 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).

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