settima

fritzlang

Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (Fritz Lang, 1924)

Jan

2

dragons

Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924)

Siegfried (Paul Richter), seen from the back, bathing in the blood of the slain dragon. On his left shoulder blade, a linden leaf. DPs: Carl Hoffmann, Günther Rittau & Walter Ruttmann.

Dragons or lizards, January's soul symbol.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Fritz Lang, 1956)

May

7

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)

Susan Spencer (Joan Fontaine) lighting Tom Garrett's (Dana Andrews) cigarette. DP: William E. Snyder.

“It's a weird, crazy idea, but that's the reason it intrigues me.”

– Tom Garrett

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Fritz Lang, 1956)

Dec

18

late late night dinner

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)

Dolly Moore (Barbara Nichols) and girlfriends amuse themselves over late late-night dinner. DP: William E. Snyder.

– This guy's got a lot of class.

– Yeah? If he's got so much class, what's he doin' with you?

M​ [M – Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder] (Fritz Lang, 1931)

Sep

5

Jury Rights Day

M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (1931)

Schränker (Gustaf Gründgens) and his kangaroo court. Under his clenched fist a photograph of one of the murdered girls. DP: Fritz Arno Wagner.

“Just you wait, it won't be long, The man in black will soon be here, With his cleaver's blade so true, He'll make mincemeat out of you!”

– children singing

The Blue Gardenia (Fritz Lang, 1953)

Aug

5

International Hangover Day

The Blue Gardenia (1953)

Norah (Anne Baxter) and Harry (Raymond Burr) sharing a meal – and a drink (or two) – at the Blue Gardenia Club. DP: Nicholas Musuraca.

After a horrible birthday alone followed by a lovely night out, Norah wakes up with a terrible hangover and a hunch of being a murderess.

“How about you slip into something more comfortable, like a few drinks and some Chinese food?”

– Harry

The Blue Gardenia is Lang's hard-bitten take on the gruesome Black Dahlia murder case and part of his newspaper noir trilogy together with While the City Sleeps and Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, both from 1956.