The Cinematheque

“Film noir has a mood that everyone can feel. It’s people in trouble, at night, with a little bit of wind and the right kind of music. It’s a beautiful thing.”

David Lynch

The forecast is calling for a sweltering, sweaty summer in our corner of the warming globe. Lucky for you, we’ve got the perfect balm for the blistering sun—though nothing, mind you, for the big heat (zing!). This August, wrap yourself in the nocturnal embrace of The Cinematheque’s annual film noir season, our routine deep-dive into that deliriously dark and fertile period of hardboiled, high-body-count American cinema. Our 2023 edition is one of our finest yet, a 12-film rogues’ gallery of Tinseltown crime pictures spanning the length of the classic noir cycle—from its earliest archetype (1941’s The Maltese Falcon, boasting a brand-new restoration) to its final outpost (1959’s Odds Against Tomorrow). In between, we’ve assembled a hit list of heavies. Some (The Naked City, Angel Face, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers) have never before featured in our series; others (The Big Combo, The Killing, Human Desire) circle back for the first time in many years. We also raise a glass (martini, most likely) to golden-age screen siren Gloria Grahame, whose centenary we toast with a trio of the Oscar winner’s noir essentials. The showpiece of that spotlight, Fritz Lang’s savage The Big Heat, also serves as the fulcrum for our noir-themed ​“Deep Focus” interactive lecture, presented by Learning & Outreach and featuring a screening of that merciless masterwork.

Before the opening-night screening of The Maltese Falcon, join us for a courtyard shindig featuring vinyl jazz, tasty treats, Luppolo beer, and your first shot at scoring our 2023 noir merch!

August 3 (Thursday) Film Noir 2023 Opening Night

6:00 pm – Courtyard Shindig
6:45 pm – The Maltese Falcon
9:00 pm – The Big Heat

Event

• August 5, 2023 12:00
• Deep Focus: Understanding Film Noir

• More Info