Noir City Chicago
By Steven Pate in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 9, 2010 7:45PM
Excepting only the Western, there is no more distinctly American cinematic genre of cinematic expression than what we call "film noir." Year in and year out you'll find everything from student films to Hollywood titans parading around in styles pillaged from the film noir closet of 50 years ago.
Even if you think you've seen all the noirs worth watching, the lineup for the second annual Noir City: Chicago festival, a week-long affair at The Music Box presented by the Noir Film Foundation, is likely to have something for you. All ten films (each shown in 35mm) are either top-shelf or very hard-to-find (four are not yet on DVD), and you'll find many heavy hitters putting in some of their best work.
Friday night will feature a newly-restored Cry Danger as well as City That Never Sleeps,, shot on location in Chicago and featuring Chill Wills as "The Voice of Chicago," but our pick will have to be a Saturday night double feature of Gun Crazy and Nightmare Alley, starring Tyrone Power as a carnival con man in a pitch-dark rendition of the cult novel.
Friday, August 13: Cry Danger with City That Never Sleeps
Saturday, August 14: Gun Crazy with Nightmare Alley
Sunday, August 15 Drive a Crooked Road with He Ran All the Way
Monday, August 16 Gun Crazy with Drive a Crooked Road
Tuesday, August 17 Nightmare Alley with He Ran All The Way
Wednesday, August 18 Don't Bother to Knock with Sudden Fear
Thursday, August 19 Cry of the City with Fly by Night.
Film Noir experts Alan K. Rode and Foster Hirsch introduce the screenings and lead post-film discussions.
Noir City Chicago, The Music Box, 3733 N. Southport Ave, Individual tickets cost, $10, with double features going for $12 (both films must be seen on the same day). The All Noir Pass includes all 10 films, and is available for $40 in advance or $50 at the theater box office while supplies last.