Noir City 12 runs from January 24 to February 2 at the Castro Theater in San Francisco. We’re giving away several pairs of tickets for double/tripple film programs on January 25, 30, & 31. The line up of films includes an impresive selection of seven rare Latin American/Spanish from Argentina, Spain, and Mexico. Email us at programming (at) sflatinofilmfestival.com with your name and the date of the program you would like to see or in-box us in Facebook. Visit http://bit.ly/1ewbtg3 for full program details.
Saturday, Jan 25 Matinée Triple Bill
Border Incident
Scr. John C. Higgins. Dir. Anthony Mann United States, 1949. 94 min.
Screens at 12:00 PM
Agents of both countries go undercover to bust a gang exploiting migrant workers on the U.S.-Mexico border. Mann’s rugged direction and John Alton’s stunning cinematography enhance this powerful crime drama. With Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Howard Da Silva, Charles McGraw.
Victims of Sin / Victimas del Pecado
Scr. Emilio Fernandez and Mauricio Magdelano. Dir. Emilio Fernández. Mexico, 1951. 90 min.
Screens at 4:00 PM
A dancer-prostitute (the fabulous Ninón Sevilla) rescues a baby from the garbage and is determined to raise it, despite her poverty and the threats of her pachuco pimp. The apotheosis of the Mexican cabaretera film, a combustible combo of music, dance and noir melodrama. Absolutely astounding!
In the Palm of Your Hand / En la Palma de Tu mano
Scr. José Revueltas and Roberto Gavaldón, from a story by Luis Spota. Dir. Roberto Gavaldón. Mexico, 1951. 90 min.
Screens at 2:00 PM
A con artist seduces the widow of a millionaire, only to learn she’d plotted with her lover to murder the late husband. A tense game of cat-and-mouse ensues—but who’s the cat? Perhaps the greatest thriller ever made in Mexico, starring Arturo de Córdova and Leticia Palma.
Thursday, Jan 30 Double Feature
Never Open That Door / No Abras Nunca Esa Puerta
Scr. Alejandro Casona, from stories by Cornell Woolrich. Dir. Carlos Hugo Christensen. Argentina, 1952. 85 min.
Screens at 7:15PM
A pair of classic Woolrich short stories, “Someone on the Phone” and “The Hummingbird Comes Home” are transposed to Buenos Aires with stunning results. Featuring camerawork by the great Pablo Tabernero, it’s better than most U.S.-made Woolrich adaptations.
NOT ON DVD
Hardly a Criminal / Apenas un delincuente
Scr. Raimundo Calcagno and Israel Chas de Cruz. Dir. Hugo Fregonese. Argentina, 1949 88 min.
Screens at 9:00 PM
A bank employee (Jorge Salcedo) uses a loophole in Argentine law to concoct the perfect crime, planning to reap the rewards of his embezzlement after serving six years in prison. A vivid cross between Naked City and Brute Force, and an evocative look at mid-20th century Buenos Aires.
Friday, January 31 Double Feature
The Black Vampire / El Vampiro Negro
Scr. and Dir. Román Viñoly Barreto. Argentina, 1953. 80 min.
Screens at 7:30 PM
This clever “feminist” reworking of Fritz Lang’s classic M focuses on the mothers of children stalked by a deranged pedophile. Virtually unknown outside Argentina, and presented onscreen in the U.S. for the first time ever, in a new 35mm print! Starring the radiant Olga Zubarry.
NEW 35mm PRINT!
The Wages of Fear / Le salaire de la peur
Scr. Jérôme Géronimi and H.G. Clouzot, from Georges Arnaud’s novel. Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot. France, 1953. 156 min.
Screens at 9:00 PM
Four men, trapped in a pestilent South American village, agree to transport a dangerous shipment of nitroglycerine through treacherous terrain. This existentialist action movie is arguably the most suspenseful film ever made. Yves Montand and Charles Vanel star, and earn every cent.
