ANCHOR HOST: The Ken Cinema kicks off a week of 60s and 70s classic films. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando has a preview. Montage of clips: Make him an offer he can’t refuse… open the pod bay doors HAL… You talking to me? I’m the only one here… Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown. The Godfather, 2001, Taxi Driver, Chinatown… If you long for film classics like this on the big screen then you better take the next week off and camp out at the Ken Cinema. The Ken is devoting one week to showcasing some gems from the 60s and 70s. From the 1960s there will be Francois Truffaut’s glorious Jules and Jim as well as the World War II action film The Great Escape featuring Steve McQueen at his cocky best. CLIP Are all American officers as ill-mannered as you?... About 99 percent. From the 1970s, there are hits like The Godfather and Cabaret but also films like William Friedkin’s Sorcerer that have only recently been rediscovered. The Ken recently installed a new digital projection system so these while purists may complain these films are not screening on 35mm, audiences will be treated to crisp, vibrant digital presentations on the big screen and that’s something any film lover should relish. Beth Accomando, KPBS News.
Film Schedule
Fri., Aug. 22 at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.: "The Godfather"
Sat., Aug. 23 at 11:30 a.m.: "Charlotte's Web"
Sat., Aug. 23 at 2 p.m., 5:15 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.: "2001: A Space Odyssey"
Sat., Aug. 23 at midnight: "Taxi Driver"
Sun., Aug. 24 at 11:30 a.m.: "Charlotte's Web"
Sun., Aug. 24 at 2 p.m., 5 p.m. & 8 p.m.: "Chinatown"
Mon., Aug. 25 at 4:45 p.m., 7 p.m. & 9:15 p.m.: "Jules and Jim"
Tue., Aug. 26 at 5 p.m. & 8 p.m.: "Cabaret"
Wed., Aug. 27 at 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.: "Sorcerer"
Thurs., Aug. 28 at 4:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.: "The Great Escape"
Landmark's Ken Cinema kicks off a week of '60s and '70s classic films.
"Make him an offer he can’t refuse… "
"Open the pod bay doors HAL…"
"You talking to me? I’m the only one here…"
"Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown..."
These are iconic lines from films that helped define two decades of filmmaking: Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather," Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver," and Roman Polanski's "Chinatown."
If you long for film classics like this on the big screen then you better take the next week off and camp out at the Ken Cinema. The Ken is devoting one week to showcasing some gems from the '60s and '70s. From the 1960s there will be Francois Truffaut’s glorious and poignant romance "Jules and Jim," as well as the World War II action film "The Great Escape" featuring Steve McQueen at his cocky best and doing some motorcycle stunts.
From the 1970s, there are hits like "The Godfather" (with gorgeous blacks and shadows that you cannot appreciate on TV) and Bob Fosse's "Cabaret," but also films like William Friedkin’s "Sorcerer" that have only recently been rediscovered and restored. The film is based on the French classic "The Wages of Fear." The film also boasts an incredible soundtrack by Tangerine Dream.
Looking back on these films you may find yourself saying they don't make them like this any more. And the sad thing is some of these filmmakers are not even making films like this any more. Coppola and Scorsese may still be making good films but none with the fire, passion, and intense craft of these earlier works.
The Ken recently installed a new digital projection system, so while purists may complain these films are not screening on 35mm, audiences will be treated to crisp, vibrant digital presentations on the big screen and that’s something any film lover should relish.
