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I fidanzati [The Fiancés] (Ermanno Olmi, 1963)
Feb
29
leftovers
Giovanni (Carlo Cabrini) in a restaurant. It's near closing time. Cooks scape the pans. DP: Lamberto Caimi.
“If an old man can't even have a glass of wine, what's left to live for?”
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Les scélérats [The Wretches] (Robert Hossein, 1960)
Feb
26
canapés
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.
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The Thomas Crown Affair (Norman Jewison, 1968)
Jan
26
champagne
A production photo showing Thomas Crown (McQueen) and Vicki Anderson (Dunaway) sharing foods and drinks. Them seem enthralled with each other. DP: Haskell Wexler.
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High Sierra (Raoul Walsh, 1940)
Jan
19
Roy Earle (Bogart) pensively smoking an after-meal cigarette while Marie Garson (Lupino) looks on. DP: Tony Gaudio.
“Roy, this is the land of milk and honey for the health racket. Every woman in California thinks she's either too fat or too thin or too something.”
– 'Doc' Banton
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Ο Δράκος [O Drakos / The Ogre of Athens / The Ogre / The Vampire] (Nikos Koundouros, 1956)
Jan
2
Martini
The boss, Hondros (Giannis Argyris), pours out a stiff drink on the floor of his cabaret with Mr Tomas (Dinos Iliopoulos) in the background. DP: Kostas Theodoridis.
The first film dinner of 2024.
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Ο Δράκος [O Drakos / The Ogre of Athens / The Ogre / The Vampire] (Nikos Koundouros, 1956)
Dec
31
New Year's Eve
Men in identical white shirts and dark slacks dancing in the club during after hours. Their upper bodies seem top-heavy, tending to lunge towards the ground. DP: Kostas Theodoridis.
New Year's Eve celebrations.
A mousy bank clerk (Dinos Iliopoulos), who bears an uncanny resemblance to a criminal on the run, finds himself hiding in a shady cabaret on New Year's Eve instead of spending a quiet evening alone. During his forced stay at the nightclub, he comes to enjoy and identify more and more with his newfound persona and assumes the role of the notorious “Drago”.
An initial box office dud, it is now considered one of the top ten all-time best Greek films.
Happy new year, everyone! On to many more cinematic discoveries!
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La baie des anges [Bay of Angels] (Jacques Demy, 1963)
Dec
23
pears
A blonde Moreau at a restaurant table with a man seen from the back. There are several semi-empty wine glasses and pears sliced lengthwise on a plate, covered with a napkin. Jeanne's character Jackie Demaistre is holding a small sheet of paper with a schematic drawing of a roulette wheel while throwing the man a sceptical glance. DP: Jean Rabier.
“We'll go back to Nice tomorrow. The Bay of Angels brings us luck.”
– Jean Fournier
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La perle [The Pearl] (Henri d'Ursel, 1929)
Dec
15
National Wear Your Pearls Day
A giddy Kissa Kouprine as the jewellery salesgirl. A pearl necklace jauntily dangles from her suspender. DP: Marc Bujard.
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Ascenseur pour l'échafaud [Elevator to the Gallows] (Louis Malle, 1958)
Dec
13
croissants
Mr Tavernier (Maurice Ronet) taking a bite out of a croissant while dialling a number in a lively French café. A blonde behind him shows an interest. DP: Henri Decaë.
“Have you seen Mr Tavernier tonight?”
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Laura (Otto Preminger + Rouben Mamoulian, 1944)
Dec
11
Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) interrupts arsine newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker (a delicious Clifton Webb) with her designs during his lunch. DPs: Joseph LaShelle & Lucien Ballard.
“I don't use a pen. I write with a goose quill dipped in venom.”
– Waldo Lydecker
