Panic in the Streets (Elia Kazan, 1950)
Dec
13
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A bunch of tough-looking guys at a table with what may be a sandwich. Even the sandwich is up to no good.. DP: Joseph MacDonald.
“The mattress is soft and there're hangers in the closet and stationary with “Bates' Motel” printed on it in case you want to make your friends back home envious.”
Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
Dec
11
Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) in front of the family motel. DP: John L. Russell.
– Norman Bates
“Mister Moldovan, this is not for the first time that a criminal case is entrusted to you. It is precisely your political objectivity that made us choose you.”
Un comisar acuză [A Police Inspector Calls] (Sergiu Nicolaescu, 1974)
Nov
26
1940
DP: Alexandru David.
Takes place on the night of November 26-27, 1940.
– Alexandru Dincă
“The day they put jerks into orbit, you won't stop rotating soon!”
Le pacha [Pasha / Showdown] (Georges Lautner, 1968)
Nov
14
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Dany Carrel and Jean Gabin gloomily share a small dinner table. DP: Maurice Fellous.
– Comissaire Joss, le Pacha
E tanta paura [Plot of Fear] (Paolo Cavara, 1976)
Nov
14
1975
spoiler warning: click to toggle image
Two newspaper clippings in a scrapbook, one of them with the date November 14. DP: Franco Di Giacomo.
마의 계단 [Maui gyuedan / The Evil Stairs] (Lee Man-hee, 1964)
Sep
25
rice
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Watched from above, the nurses gather to gossip over lunch. DP: Jeong-min Seo.
“It is vital to be photogenic from head to foot. After that you are allowed to display some measure of talent.”
Les Vampires [The Vampires or, The Arch Criminals of Paris] (Louis Feuillade, 1915/1916)
Aug
24
black
A signed promotional photograph of Irma Vep (Musidora) in her iconic black catsuit. DPs: Georges Guérin & Manichoux.
Black, in food or fashion*
– Musidora
Possibly the first, and definitely the most, iconic catsuit in cinema is worn by Musidora as Irma Vep in Les Vampires. Skintight and scandalous, Musidora's screen presence in the serial further cemented the popularity of the vamp and set the scene for many man-eaters to come.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for August is not date-related but lists, for the most part, the colours of the rainbow.
“My job allows me to read about strange incidents, but what I see here is often even stranger. And the strangest thing of all happened one day after midday prayer.”
باب الحديد [Bab el-Hadid / Cairo Station / The Iron Gate] (Youssef Chahine, 1958)
Jul
8
Abu-Sri (Farid Shawqi) with Hannumah (Hind Rostom) perched on top of a large wooden crate. DP: Alevise Orfanelli.
Luggage, a trunk, or a suitcase*
– Madbouli, newspaper salesman
Among the hustle and bustle of Cairo's travellers, there are those making a living. The pitiful Qenawi (Youssef Chahine) peddles newspapers, unioniser Abu-Sri moves said travellers' luggage, and Hannumah (Hind Rostom), all hips and bosom and Abu-Sri's, sells cold drinks. Qenawi wants her.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for July is, for unknown reasons, mostly not date-related and follows some sort of vacation narrative.
Point de chute [Falling Point] (Robert Hossein, 1970)
Jun
4
Global Running Day
Catherine (Pascale Rivault) running. DP: Daniel Diot.
A character who is running on Global Running Day
“The fear in her eyes and the knife in the chest. That's my last memory of my mother. That's why I had to go to prison for four years, even though she survived.”
Angst [Fear] (Gerald Kargl, 1983)
May
23
National Title Track Day
1: K. Out. Out. DP: Zbigniew Rybczynski.
2: Klaus Schulze at work in 1983 (via)
A killer title track for National Title Track Day (USA)
– opening lines
What stabs you harder in the chest than Klaus Schulze's synth-driven killing spree?