settima

BookAdaptation

Sweet Smell of Success (Alexander Mackendrick, 1957)

April 20

20

oysters

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) pulling Sidney Falco's (Tony Curtis) tie over cocktails and oysters. DP: James Wong Howe.

“I'd hate to take a bite outta you. You're a cookie full of arsenic.”

– J.J. Hunsecker

Strategia del ragno The Spider's Stratagem] (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1970)

Apr

19

melon

Strategia del ragno (1970)

Athos Magnani (Giulio Brogi) and Draifa (Alida Valli) sharing a meal. There's a carafe with water, a small vase with two flowers, wine glasses, and half a melon. Athos looks up, past us, towards something. DPs: Franco Di Giacomo & Vittorio Storaro.

“There's phrase that… 'A man is made of all men. He is equal to all and all are equal to him'.”

– Athos Magnani

Culloden (Peter Watkins, 1964)

Apr

16

1746

Culloden (1964)

One of the clansman. The look in his eyes foreshadows the Vietnam War this films comments on. DP: Dick Bush.

“Sir Thomas Sheridan, Jacobite military secretary. Suffering advanced debility and loss of memory. Former military engagement, 56 years ago. Sir John MacDonald, Jacobite captain of cavalry. Aged, frequently intoxicated, described as 'a man of the most limited capacities.' John William O'Sullivan, Jacobite quartermaster general. Described as 'an Irishman whose vanity is superseded only by his lack of wisdom.' Prince Charles Edward Stuart, Jacobite commander in chief. Former military experience: 10 days at a siege at the age of 13.”

– narrator

Série noire (Alain Corneau, 1979)

Apr

9

canned pilchards

Série noire (1979)

Franck Poupart (Patrick Dewaere) about to dig into a can of pilchards. A pile of French women's magazine “marie claire” is next to him on an otherwise bare coffee table. DP: Pierre-William Glenn.

Max et les ferrailleurs [Max and the Junkmen] (Claude Sautet, 1971)

Mar

16

Max et les ferrailleurs (1971)

Lily (Schneider) and Max (Piccoli) at a small table decked with good food, good wine, and quite a few wads of cash. DP: René Mathelin.

Devil Doll (Lindsay Shonteff, 1964)

Mar

15

sandwiches

Devil Doll (1964)

A large knife amongst rather minuscule triangular tea sandwiches. A miniature wooden barrel holding toothpicks is right there for your sandwich stabbing convenience. DP: Gerald Gibbs.

Les scélérats [The Wretches] (Robert Hossein, 1960)

Feb

26

canapés

Les scélérats (1960)

Maid Louise (Perrette Pradier) holding a platter with canapés at a black tie party. Observing her is the master of the house, Jess Rooland (Robert Hossein). DP: Jacques Robin.

Иконостасът [Ikonostasat / The Icon Stand] (Christo Christov + Todor Dinov, 1969)

Feb

5

apples

Иконостасът (1969)

A closeup of woman's hand moving an apple. The black-and-white photography is deliberately out of focus. DP: Atanas Tasev.

Day of the Outlaw (André De Toth, 1959)

Feb

2

coffee

Day of the Outlaw (1959)

Blaise Starrett (Ryan) and Mrs Crane (Louise) at a table. There are coffee cups and the talk is tense. DP: Russell Harlan.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Crane. This coffee made me think how good whiskey would taste.”

– Dan, Starret's foreman

Touha zvaná Anada [Desire Called Anad / Adrift] (Elmar Klos + Ján Kadár, 1968/1971)

Jan

21

salt

Touha zvaná Anada (1968/1971)

Semi-off screen, an older man with a moustache at a dinner table – many plates, glasses, and foods – reaches for a bowl of salt. DP: Vladimír Novotný.