"Baroque" was the word used to describe Touch of Evil in the
Castro
guide. And it is a pretty good description. Also it's
sometimes sited as
the last noir film, exploiting the standard elements and
cliches to the
outside edge. Maybe those excesses bothered you? Maybe you're
more of a
P.I. type looking for Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe?
Aside: Tower on Market near Castro is selling the Universal
Noirs for
about $13 each....
--L
>----------
>From: Sandra Hess[SMTP:shess@sirius.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, 19 November, 1997 9:22 AM
>To: rara-avis@icomm.ca
>Subject: RARA-AVIS: Film Noir at the Castro
>
>I recently saw a number of re-releases (new prints,
too) at SF's Castro
>Theater. The very first was a Orson Welles movie,
TOUCH OF EVIL. I HATED it.
>Pretty much everything about it bothered me. And not
in a good way. The only
>really good moments featured Marlene Dietrich. It was
so heavy handed and
>clunky. I wish I'd liked the movie as much as I liked
its opening shot. A
>very long, windy, uninterupted shot engaging the
audience immediately into
>the framework of the mystery. Aside from the opening
shot and Marlene,
>though...it was awful. I brought a co-worker. He hated
it. Told all the
>people in line (as we left the theatre) that it wasn't
worth it.
>
>I did take in a few more films throughout the week.
Enjoyed them muchly. All
>in all, double features are very hard on my
butt.
>
>Sch.
>
>
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