Last Sunday night, I took in the San Francisco International Film Festival’s showing of “Fog City Mavericks”. A good film that offers an interesting look at cinema as done here at the City by the Bay. (Check out this story from SF Gate and don’t miss the video!)

After the showing, there was a Q&A session with some of the filmmakers. One audience question asked if the growth of the digital medium as well as the multiplex theaters was going to spell the end of the traditional movie going experience. George Lucas commented that, “Cinema is a social experience.”, which brought a good round of applause from those in attendance. He further went on to note that in Green Bay, there are people who go and watch football in the snow - even when it is snowing so hard that they can’t see the game on the field. As long as social interaction occurs at events like that, motion pictures will continue to be enjoyed by audiences in theaters of all kinds.

So, with this in mind, a few movies being shown in theaters here in San Francisco that you might wish to know about. Starting off, the SFIFF Is showing Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in a new 35mm print this coming Saturday, May 5th. And Diane Disney Miller will be there as well to speak to the audience. Who knows? Maybe she’ll even bring the special Oscar awarded to the film in 1938? It is part of the collection of material for the Walt Disney Museum being developed for San Francisco.

Oh, and there are childrens ticket prices, too! One not to miss if you can make it!

As I said back on April 4th:

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs

10:00 am, May 5 at the Sundance Cinemas Kabuki

Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Walt Disney’s animation masterpiece—the studio’s first and perhaps finest feature-length film—endures as a lustrous fairy tale in which that famous “mirror, mirror on the wall” still reflects startlingly adult truths and psychologically loaded metaphors amid childlike enchantment and magical musical numbers.

This last one is a rare treat. A showing of Snow White on the big screen is something I cannot recall other than at the El Capitan when Disney last released the film to home video.

Tickets will likely go fast ... You’ll find the box office here.

Now the Castro Theater is continuing with the Fog City Mavericks theme by showing the films of these Bay Area filmmakers and a few films that also will be great, ok interesting, to see again in a theater.

Here’s a few you might want to make note of from the Castro web pages:

May 6 INDIANA JONES TRIPLE FEATURE!!!
$10 General / $7 Kids & Seniors

Su 2p, 9p: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Directed by Steven Spielberg; Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman; Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Denholm Elliott; 1981, 115 mins, ‘SCOPE

4:10p: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Directed by Steven Spielberg; Cast: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Jonathan Ke Quan, Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Philip Stone;1984, 118 mins, ‘SCOPE

6:30p: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Directed by Steven Spielberg; Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Denholm Elliott, Alison Doody, John Rhys-Davies, Julian Glover, River Phoenix; 1989, 127 mins, ‘SCOPE

May 25
“MiDNiTES FOR MANiACS” presents
“VERTICALLY CHALLENGED MONSTERS” TRIPLE FEATURE!
Hosted By Jesse Hawthorne Ficks
ALL THREE FILMS for only $10.00!

F 7:30p: Gremlins
Directed by Joe Dante; Containing: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Corey Feldman, Dick Miller, Howie Mandel as Gizmo’s voice & Frank Welker as Stripe’s voice; 1984, 106mins

Our night of “Vertically Challenged Monsters” kicks off with one of the best Ancient Chinese secrets of the 1980s. It all begins innocently when Billy receives his very own Mogwai, the most adorable pet in the world. (This is pre-Furby folks!) But Billy needs to keep his Mogwai away from bright lights, spilling water on him and especially, never feeding him after midnite. Sadly for Billy (but fortunately for us) the rules get broken and some of the most terrifying PG-13 monsters are set free to wreck havoc on the world. Experience this cute-critter classic with a whole new batch of 80s trailers preceeding the film. (Gizmo’s little purring song is worth the admission alone!)

F 9:45p: Howard The Duck
Directed by Willard Huyck; Containing: Lea Thompson, Tim Robbins, Jeffrey Jones, & 8 actors inhabiting the $2M Howard the Duck costume!; 1986, 111mins

So here it is folks… the Holy Grail of dismissed films from the 80s. This could be that “once-in-a-lifetime” chance to give George Lucas a happy-hug for his brave and misunderstood comic book adaptation. Follow Howard, an obscene, wise- cracking, cigar smoking duck who spouts out pop-culture references left and right, as he attempts to save the world from The Dark Overlord of the Universe. This 80s time capsule is chock-full of priceless goodies: Duck-boobies, a hyper-freaked-out scientist played by Tim Robbins and a New Wave punk’d-up Lea Thompson performing in an all grrrl glam-band. Screening for the first time in over 20 years, I hope that someday Sir George Lucas (and his ILM special effects team) will come to terms and embrace this misunderstood DUCK FLICK as much as we’re going to tonite! Preceeded by a few choice 80’s trailers. Extremely RARE print. Never released on DVD!

F 11:59p (midnite): Troll 2
Directed by Claudio Fragasso; 1990, 95mins

Finally after 17 years, this infamous and irrelevant sequel to Troll, will grace the big screen for the very first time! Originally made for the video shelf, Troll 2 has become one of the most disrespected horror films in recent history. But more remarkable is how so many people from all over the world have fallen in love with this genuine failure (See www.bestworstfilm.com) without any prompting… until now. Be prepared to help protect our 14yr old hero, Joshua as he battles a gaggle of goblins, vicious vegetarians and a wickedly-wacked witch. (Curiously, there are no trolls in Troll 2.) This freeky fairytale sports some of the most memorable Method actors of our time. Preceeded by a handful of “Vertically Challenged Monster” trailers, plus a special Goblin cookie (while supplies last). Miss this and cry.

More information at: www.bestworstmovie.com

MiDNiTES FOR MANiACS programming & notes by Jesse Hawthorne Ficks
Advance Tix available at www.ticketweb.com or at the Castro Theatre box office. Please contact Jesse at www.midnitesformaniacs.com or email him at freekyfridays@gmail.com

I don’t know about those three. Especially Howard The Duck. Now that is a true cult classic.

Speaking of classic...

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: CLASSIC OO7
Join Bay Area Film Events on Memorial Day Weekend for a 007 Weekend to Thrill! Celebrate 2-007 with James Bond on the big screen where these films were meant to be seen.

Three days of action and excitement as only Bond and BAFE can provide. Featuring our biggest guest ever, 7’ tall Richard Kiel (www.richardkiel.com), Jaws from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and MOONRAKER! Plus vendors, prizes and much, much more!
And of course, new prints of classic Bond films, plus rare shorts and trailers.

May 26 DOUBLE FEATURE SPECIAL GUEST RICHARD KIEL (“JAWS”) IN PERSON!
Evening show features live music by APOCALYPSO NOW + live stunt show!

Sa 12:30p, 7p: Dr. No, 1962, 110 mins

Sa 2:30p, 9:10p: Goldfinger, 1964, 112 mins

May 27 DOUBLE FEATURE SPECIAL GUEST: RICHARD KIEL (“JAWS”) IN PERSON!
Su 2:30p, 9p: From Russia with Love 1963, 110 mins

Su 12:30, 6:30p: The Spy Who Loved Me 1977, 125 mins, ‘SCOPE

May 28 DOUBLE FEATURE
M 12p, 6:30p: Thunderball, 1965, 130 mins, ‘SCOPE

M 2:30p, 9p: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 1969, 140 mins, ‘SCOPE

Forget the Hollywood blockbusters, they’ll be around all summer. There’s only one chance to catch Bond, James Bond and that’s at the Castro May 26-28, 2/007! We guarantee a weekend shaken, not stirred. Richard Kiel is courtesy of Antiquities at Pier 39 (www.antiquities-sf.com).

Tickets for the James Bond Double Features are $10 General / $7 Kids & Seniors. For up to date information on guests and other developments, keep an eye on www.bayareafilmevents.com

Personally, I think the Dr. No and Goldfinger double bill may be the best of the bunch.

So, how about a little Clint Eastwood?

May 29 DOUBLE FEATURE
Tu 7p: The Beguiled
Directed by Don Siegel; Cast: Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page, Elizabeth Hartman; 1971, 105 mins

Clint has never been more animated as a badly wounded Union soldier nursed back to health by the women of a Confederate girls’ boarding school. In recovery, he starts to manipulate the teachers and pupils alike, turning the school into a hotbed of sexual jealousies. This Gothic melodrama was completely ignored in 1971; it’s now regarded as one of Siegel/Eastwood’s finest.

9:05p: The Outlaw Josey Wales
Directed by Clint Eastwood; Cast: Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, John Vernon; 1976, 136 mins, ‘SCOPE

Clint portrays a Missouri farmer turned stone-cold killer when he joins a Confederate guerilla unit and winds up on the run from the Union vigilantes who murdered his family. On the short list of the greatest Westerns of all time, it was added to the National Film Registry in 1996.

May 30 DOUBLE FEATURE
W 2:50p, 7p: Dirty Harry
Directed by Don Siegel; Cast: Clint Eastwood, Andy Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, John Vernon; 1971, 102 mins, ‘SCOPE

For renegade homicide inspector Harry Callahan, due process is thrown out the window when it stands in the way of capturing a psychotic killer on the rampage in SF. By taking the overdrawn situations and characters of the Western and transplanting them directly to a contemporary urban environment, this highly controversial film took on issues most others didn’t dare touch.

4:50p, 9p: Escape From Alcatraz
Directed by Don Siegel; Cast: Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Roberts Blossom, Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau; 1979, 112 mins

The final Siegel/Eastwood collaboration finds them perfecting their lean, clean, and harsh style. Clint is another kind of rebellious loner, in a charismatic and idiosyncratic performance, as the keen and brilliant mastermind Frank Morris. Shot on location, this is a cunningly claustrophobic, uncompromising depiction of one of the most famous prison escapes in history.

May 31 DOUBLE FEATURE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLINT!

Th 7p: Play Misty For Me
Directed by Clint Eastwood; Cast: Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter, Donna Mills; 1971, 102 mins

Eastwood invades Hitchcock territory with this, his directorial debut, about a late night DJ stalked by a female listener. Set in seaside Carmel, Eastwood is already employing a sharp economy in his style, making this modest thriller more effective than a thousand electric shocks. Jessica Walter is insanely great as the stalker and Don Siegel has a small role as Murphy the bartender.

Th 4:45p, 9p: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Directed by Michael Cimino; Cast: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis; 1974, 115 mins, ‘SCOPE

After an impressive re-write of the MAGMUM FORCE script, Eastwood gave Cimino his first shot behind the camera. Fusing the early ‘70s stylings of road movie, buddy picture, and heist action-thriller, it’s a mere masquerade for this poetic, character-based comedy. The performances are beautifully understated and Bridges nabbed his second Oscar nomination as Clint’s irreverent young sidekick.

And that’s only May! Check out the rest of the summer for more great motion pictures to be enjoyed as intended - in a classic theater with an interested audience!