CINEMA REBORN UPDATE - MIDNIGHT, PLAN YOUR PROGRAM, WHO'S DOING THE INTRODUCTIONS

John Barrymore, Claudette Colbert, MIDNIGHT

People are still talking about the magnificent occasion in Ritz Cinema One watching Mitchell Leisen’s Midnight after hearing another of CJ Johnson’s  rousing introductions. That intro had the assembled audience spinning… 

Expat David Hare who has timed a visit to Australia to coincide with this year's Cinema Reborn season posted this on Facebook yesterday and it has to be shared.  "A huge tick for last night's opening screening for Cinema Reborn in Sydney of MIDNIGHT.

"After all these years since a slim DVD release in 2008 it's been a long wait for a more substantial premium release. The new 4K DCP which has been derived from original nitrate elements including the OCN is astonishingly beautiful. The deep blacks shine and glimmer and film grain abounds lusciously. Even the actors' wardrobe has never looked so tailored and literally tactile. The image quality is absolutely peak level Universal restoration team. Needless to say, watching this masterpiece with a near full-house was an additional pleasure after so many decades of personal viewing. The picture still remains my top film of 1939. So flawless is the cast, Wilder and Brackett's screenplay, Charles Lang's sumptuous B&W photography and Leisen's effortless control of tone. This and Remember the Night are the director's untouchable masterpieces

"Bravo Cinema Reborn 2024"

There is one more screening in Sydney Book here for  the Ritz on Monday 5 May at 10.30 am 

Biggest thanks of course to Universal Pictures who put in the hard yards and the money to restore this screwball comedy gem from 1939.

 

Brooke Adams, DAYS OF HEAVEN

Meanwhile there is a massive weekend of premieres and special occasions coming up. The Saturday night screenings of Le Samourai  and Days of Heaven  are selling fast  but there are plenty of tickets for the repeat screenings on Monday and Tuesday evening, both of which will be on the big screen of the Ritz’ Cinema One.

 

If you want to see the lineup and plan your Friday to Sunday viewing we’ve put up a page on the Cinema Reborn website which sets out the program day by day and hour by hour. A click on each film takes you through to the comprehensive program notes and links to bookings.

 

Finally we have to mention that today and over the weekend each of the films will have an introduction to set the scene. Here’s who will be doing the honours.

 

Philip Brophy will introduce JOURNEY TO THE END OF NIGHT

Helen Grace will introduce LA CAPTIVE

Jane Mills and Philip Brophy will introduce Philip’s classic shocker BODY MELT

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur will introduce via video ISHANOU

Russell Edwards and Professor Kim Hong Joon by video will introduce SOPYONJE

Noa Steimatsky will introduce IL GRIDO       

Lynden Barber will introduce DAYS OF HEAVEN

Bruce Beresford will introduce LE SAMOURAI

Bruce Koussaba will introduce YEELEN

Lucia Sorbera will introduce THE DUPES

Kathryn Millard will introduce LIGHT YEARS and do a follow on Q&A with Sandy Edwards

John McDonald will introduce I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING!

Margot Nash will introduce THE GOLDEN COACH

 

We hope you’ll find something to like amongst this year’s collection of restored classics.

Next week it's Melbourne's turn at the Hawthorn Lido. More details to follow...