With Burt Lancaster’s 100th birthday on the horizon, UCLA has put together a terrific program to celebrate one of the greatest stars of them all. Running through June, it offers up a great sampling of Lancaster’s career.
For me, and readers of this blog, the best night of the bunch might be this Friday, with a 35mm screening of both Vera Cruz (1954) and The Professionals (1966). Both are terrific, with Vera Cruz being a highlight of the 50s Western. Like Shane (1953), it’s one of the films that fell victim to the widening of theater screens in the wake of CinemaScope. This time around, Robert Aldrich’s picture was cropped/blown up to SuperScope’s 2:1 ratio (it was probably shot for 1.85).
Another great evening will be the June 7 screening of Gunfight At The O.K. Corral (1957), a film I find flawed but wonderful. Its VistaVision should be a gorgeous thing on the big screen.
Vera Cruz (1954) and The Professionals (1966)
April 12, 2013 – 7:30 pm
Gunfight At The O.K. Corral (1957) and I Walk Alone (1948)
June 7, 2013 – 7:30 pm
10899 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90024
I’m taking the whole family to the Vera Cruz/The Professionals double-bill this Friday. This is a great celebration for Burt Lancaster’s work and I’m planning on making a number of these showings. And one that I’m really anxious to see on the big screen is Aldrich’s ‘Ulzana’s Raid’. Seem it a couple of times, but only on the rare TV showing and disk. It ought to be great (and grim) viewing.
Isn’t it great to be able to take your family to see these things?
Taking my daughter to a screening of The House On Haunted Hill was sheer bliss.
Today has passed away spanish actress Sara Montiel. She made two of the greatest 50s westerns: Veracruz (1954), directed by Robert Aldrichm and Run of the Arrow (1957), directed by Sam Fuller. She was also married with Anthony Mann.
Thanks for the news, even though it’s sad news.
I updated the post to include her passing.
What a terrific double bill! I’d quite happily watch those two movies back to back every night for the rest of my life. Throw in a matinee showing of “The Crimson Pirate” (not a Western, I know) and I’d never leave the cinema.
Crimson Pirate is a great, great thing.