May Classic Film Screenings in Greater Boston

Restorations and eclecticism seem to be themes for classic film offerings in May.

Coolidge Corner Theatre
In my previous post, I highlighted the event that must not be missed, in The Sounds of Silents Program, Monday May 2 at 7:00 -- VARIETÉ (Dupont, 1925) with the live score in world premiere performed by the Berklee Silent Film Orchestra (BSFO).  This is a digital presentation of a newly restored print by the FW Murnau Foundation.

On Monday May 9 at 7:00 is the 1967 documentary DON'T LOOK BACK based on the life and music of Bob Dylan.  This is presented as part of the Coolidge's Cinema Jukebox program.

Another new restoration of Orson Welles's masterpiece CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (1965) screens on Monday May 16 at 7, part of the Big Screen Classics series.  This is a film I've never seen, and interestingly, this article in the Boston Globe reviewed a new book on Welles and singled out his film as a great one from his later period.  I will definitely try to get there for this.

On Monday May 23 at 7:00, also part of the Big Screen Classics program, we have the Gershwin musical FUNNY FACE (1957) starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn.


Somerville Theatre

As part of their 'Silents, Please' series, the Somerville presents Clarence Badger's  PATHS TO PARADISE (1925) in 35 mm, starring Betty Compson on Sunday May 15 at 2 PM with live music by pianist Jeff Rapsis.  I haven't heard of this one before, but it earned a 7.2 rating on IMDb, and seems to be a comedy and crime-caper simultaneously.

PATHS TO PARADISE From Silentfilmstillarchive.com

The Brattle
For fans of John Williams, the Brattle is presenting a special series of films with scores by by the award-winning Boston-based composer, spanning most of his career through to the most recent STAR WARS film.  They are listed below:
(May 4 8:30 PM-- STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS)
May 5 8:00 PM -- VALLEY OF THE DOLLS
May 11 7:00 and 9:30 PM -- RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
May 12 at 7:00 PM-- FAMILY PLOT (Hitchcock) + THE KILLERS at 9:30 PM (1964)

Harvard Film Archive
The HFA is featuring a retrospective of Japanese director Seijun Suzuki, also in collaboration with The Brattle in a series titled "Time and Place are Nonsense!" There are 20 films programmed in the series at HFA and Brattle starting May 13th. This director and his films are new to me, so I'll try to educate myself by attending at least a couple. Perhaps BRANDED TO KILL (1967), which is described as a fractured film noir, on Sunday May 15th at 7:00 PM.