Spartacus – restored in 4K at Film Forum, November 4 – 12, 2015

Stanley Kubrick’s SPARTACUS (1960). Courtesy Film Forum via Photofest. Playing November 4-12 at Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St.

November 4, 2015. From November 4 – 12 Film Forum will present a new, 4K restoration of director Stanley Kubrick’s 1960 masterpiece, “Spartacus” starring Kirk Douglas. “Spartacus” is an all out big budget Hollywood “sword and sandals” epic that more than holds up. Its battle scenes are nothing short of spectacular and its political maneuvering just as relevant as ever.

It boasts a magnificent cast, the likes of which we will never see again. In addition to Douglas the cast includes Lawrence Olivier, Charles Laughton (incapable of giving an even remotely bad performance), Peter Ustinov (who won an Oscar for his role in “Spartacus”), Tony Curtis, Jean Simmons and John Gavin.

I remember seeing the 1991 70mm restoration of “Spartacus” at the Ziegfeld theater. I actually snuck into its premiere and was so struck by this 197 minute long Hollywood epic about a slave revolt in ancient Rome, that I returned a week later to see the film again. Prior to this I had attempted to watch “Spartacus” on a VHS cassette and found it unwatchable. Therefore the 1991 restoration was, for me, a revelation and I have been a fan ever since. The 1991 restoration, done prior to the strides that we now have in digital technology was done photochemically by film restorer Robert Harris, who also restored “Lawrence of Arabia,” among other films.

Les Miserables

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway in “Les Miserables”

“Les Miserables,” the Broadway and international stage extravaganza (affectionately known as “Les Miz” by its many admirers and publicity department) is now a long awaited movie.  Some may think that they have already seen “Les Miserables,” or at least feel as if they have.  I will wager that Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel holds the record for having been turned into more film adaptations than any other book.  In addition, the show has been presented in its two concert versions (for both its 10^th and 25^th anniversaries) on public television.

My own relationship with “Les Miserables” began in my early teens with a television viewing of the 1935 film version that starred Charles Laughton (really, was there ever a better Inspector Javert?) and Frederick March as Jean Valjean.   Upon hearing that a Broadway musical version was in the works I thought “How could they make a musical out of “Les Miserables?”  Well now, years later, and after having seen that “impossible to make” musical several times on Broadway, I found myself seated in the sold out, cavernous, Ziegfeld Theatre (6^th Ave. and 54 St.) with a group of friends for the first showing on the opening day of “Les Miserables,” the movie.

Ruggles of Red Gap

From April 4 – 10 Film Forum will present a 35mm archival print of director Leo McCarey’s charming 1935 comedy “Ruggles of Red Gap.”  The film stars Charles Laughton in one of his rare comedic roles.

“Ruggles” is a “fish out of water” story with Laughton as the fish.  Laughton’s Marmaduke Ruggles is a proper English butler traveling with his employer, Lord Burnstead (Roland Young), in 1908 Paris.  Burnstead loses Ruggles in a poker game to loud talking (and dressing) uncouth American millionaire Egbert Floud (Charlie Ruggles, no relation to the eponymous title character).  Egburt, forever henpecked and disapproved of by his nouveau riche, high society wannabe wife Effie (Mary Boland), takes Ruggles under his wing.  Za Su Pitts appears as Ruggles romantic interest, Mrs. Judson.