FILM FRIDAY

It s a big weekend for Film Forum this weekend, the home of the new the novel and the classic. A FILM UNFINISHED has been receiving rave reviews and THE RADIANT CHILD is still held over, but for me this weekend offers the chance to see Hitchcock's DIAL m FOR MURDER in 3-D. The master visual composer, you cannot truly appreciate this film unless its seen in its original 3-D release. Hitch shrewdly and expertly understood what the depth of field that 3-D could allowed him to add to his storytelling abilities and once you see the flawless Grace Kelly 'knife' her attacker in the back you'll understand what I mean. The courtroom scenes will make much more sense to the 2-D viewer as well. WORTH EVERY PENNY!!

Once again TCM's SUMMER UNDER THE STARS has boffled up its programming schedule; Katherine Hepburn is featured today but nothing of real substance and fun is scheduled until after midnight tonight: BRINGING UP BABY, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY & SUMMERTIME in a row. The last, David Lean's gorgeous ode to Venice and lost love is truly lost to most viewers at 4AM.
Paul Newman is featured on Saturday and they have a nice string of films at a reasonable hour; CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at 1:45 PM is a watered down version of Tennessee William's stage play but feature A+ performances by Liz Taylor, Burl Ives, Judith Anderson and the always oily Jack Carson. This is followed by HUD (in glorious Black & White by James Wong Howe), HARPER, and THE STING. Once again in the 4AM slot another gem SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH with Geraldine Page!
John Mills is featured Sunday with one of my all-time favorite films HOBSON'S CHOICE at 8AM. Another early David Lean under-appreciated classic features Charles Laughton in the title role of Henry Horatio Hobson. Mills is delightfully naive as his talented boot hand, William Mossop and Brenda DeBanzie as Hobson's eldest daughter Maggie, determined not to remain a spinster. It also features a young Prunella Scales (of Fawlty Towers fame) as the youngest of Hobon';s daughters, Vicky.
Not to put down John Mills but why isnt Elizabeth Taylor, featured on Monday with a great list of films, scheduled on a weekend when most people have time to enjoy them? Hmmmmmm?