Cinematheque Ontario Presents - Otto Preminger

The Films of Otto Preminger:

The following excerpts are taken from the Cinematheque Ontario program.

“One of the great American directors.” – Foster Hirsch

“Otto Preminger must hold some sort of record for one of the longest stretches of provocative and intelligent mainstream filmmaking in American cinema.” – Elliot Stein, The Village Voice

The long awaited, much anticipated Preminger retrospective finally arrives at the Cinematheque, including many recently struck, restored, rare, and archival prints. Spanning Preminger’s career, from his celebrated series of films noirs made at Fox through the independent films that broke all manner of Hollywood taboos, fatally undermining the Production Code, through his “institutional” epics, the retrospective encompasses many genres including western, musical, mystery, melodrama, biopic, courtroom drama, historical saga, Restoration romp, all of which Preminger brought his personal touch to, even when adverse to the assignment. Throughout, Preminger’s coolly objective view of humanity, incarnated in a style based on gliding long takes, spatial articulation, and detached vantage, and a tone that was darkly ambiguous, resulted in a cinema that packs its own a/c.

Cinematheque Ontario presents from Friday May 29th through the next few weeks a great selection of Preminger films.  For details on showtimes, ticket pricing and venue check the Cinematheque Ontario website at:

http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca

Capsule reviews for some of the films shown this coming week are provided below.  More will be provided the start of the next week:-

ANATOMY OF A MURDER (USA 1957) ***** Top 10
Directed by Otto Preminger

Though starting slow with the camera tracking the daily routine of country lawyer, Paul Biegler (James Stewart), Preminger’s absorbing courtroom drama of all courtroom dramas, ANATOMY OF A MURDER grows in intensity right up to the climax when the verdict is delivered.  Set in the backwoods of Michigan, army lieutenant, Manion (Ben Gazarra) is charged with the murder of a bar owner.  The plea is made of temporary insanity as the owner had just raped Manion’s wife, played with great charm and abandon by Lee Remick.  Performances of the entire cast are top-notch, enabling Preminger to dissect every character from the wife, the lawyer and even down to his secretary (Eve Arden) to bits.  The line used in the film that people are many things – not just bad or evil is the underlying theme of this very cynical film.  As in all of Preminger’s films, his subtle humour is present throughout from the use of the excellent Duke Ellington score (which switches to the Irish folk song Danny Boy) to the twisted epilogue in the last reel.  ANATOMY OF A MURDER was nominated for Oscars in all the main categories, including Best Picture, leading actor (Stewart) and supporting actors (Arthur O’Connell and a very young George C. Scott).  I have only seen this film for the first time and this one is hard to beat as the best movie I have seen this year!
(Screening at 7 pm on 31st of May at the Cinematheque Ontario)

BONJOUR TRISTESSE (USA 1958) ****
Directed by Otto Preminger

BONJOUR TRISTESSE, or HELLO SADNESS, as the English translation goes, is the story of a playboy father (David Niven) and daughter’s (Jean Seberg) awakening to sadness or in opposite, ending of their happy days.  Shot in black and white for the present and colour for the good colourful old days spent on the Cote D’Azur (the Riviera), Preminger’s camerawork and colour are in full display.  The evening dance sequence with almost the entire town dressed in alternation white, blue and red (the French colours perhaps) doing the ‘wiggle’ is masterly done.  Preminger’s film is so absorbing and happy initially keeping the audience glued to the screen.  As the plot thickens, Preminger’s creepy agenda rears its head.  As the father plans to settle down to a marriage with Deborah Kerr, the daughter exacts a vengeful deed with disastrous results.  And the shadow of father/daughter incest looms uncomfortably throughout the glee or gloomy proceedings depending on how one wants to interpret it.  Based on Françoise Sagan’s famous novel of the same name.
(Screening at 7 pm on May 30th at the Cinematheque Ontario)

RIVER OF NO RETURN (USA 1954) ****
Directed by Otto Preminger

The strangest of all Preminger films, RIVER OF NO RETURN is a musical, a western, an adventure and also an unlikely romantic comedy with two hot stars Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum.  Monroe plays a salon singer and Mitchum a farmer brought together on a raft down what Indians call the treacherous RIVER OF NO RETURN.  The river is named for the obvious reason that no one has survived it - except in a 20th Century Fox Cinemascope movie!  At times ridiculous, camp and even inspirational (like the crazy ending), Preminger’s film still bears the characteristics of his later films – such as his characters being many things, not just good or bad and the film’s sardonic wit.  Despite its odd unpredictable bits, RIVER OF NO RETURN is extremely entertaining and the romance at least, believable.  Filmed around Banff and the Rocky Mountains in western Canada!
(Screening at 7 pm on June 11th at the Cinematheque Ontario)