The UW Cinematheque is a haven for Madison film buffs. With no first-run movie theater on campus and Memorial Union focusing mostly on recent releases, the Cinematheque serves as our own personal window into film history every Friday and Saturday night in 4070 Vilas Hall. Its screenings feature new series each semester delving into new genres, filmmaking techniques and trends in world cinema. This semester is no different, featuring four intriguing series exploring scattered facets of the film universe. The Daily Cardinal spoke with Cinematheque Director of Programming Jim Healy to take a look at each individual series, as well as preview some of their upcoming semester highlights.
Mann of the West: The Westerns of Anthony Mann
Perhaps the most well-known profile in this semester's Cinematheque series centers on famed director Anthony Mann, who is revered in Hollywood for helping to craft the image of the American west along with other directors such as John Ford and Howard Hawks. Healy feels the Anthony Mann series has perfect timing, as the western genre seems to be going through a revival.
""Now that the western is kind of back with ‘True Grit' being such a hit, I think people can see some of the scenes being laid in Anthony Mann's films,"" Healy said. According to Healy, Mann's influences can be seen in the works of current auteurs like Kelly Reichardt, whose styles were formed at least in part by Mann's westerns. The series continues next Friday with the Jimmy Stewart film ""Bend of the River,"" showcasing a collaboration between two of the most iconic figures in the western genre.
Patterns of Shadow: Hollywood Film and the Art of Lighting
Switching focus from directing to the art of cinematography, ""Patterns of Shadow"" highlights the work of three of Hollywood's most noteworthy cinematographers of old: Lee Garmes, James Wong Howe and Arthur Miller. While not always noticed by the general public the cinematographer is vital to the look of a film, and this series analyzes some of the greatest examples of black and white cinema artistry. The Cinematheque has already screened one of the most famous examples of James Wong Howe's work in ""The Sweet Smell of Success,"" but some of the most underrated work is yet to come from Miller in the films ""Dragonwyck"" and ""Wee Willy Winkie.""
""(Miller) is a guy who spent almost his entire career at 20th Century Fox and doesn't get the recognition of someone like James Wong Howe, maybe just because he never wrote his memoirs, never ran around celebrating himself,"" Healy said. Healy himself has never seen ""Dragonwyck,"" so even for him this series contains an element of discovery.
Nollywood Rising: Nigeria's Booming Film Industry
The Cinematheque delves even deeper into unexplored territory with its series on Nollywood, the center of the rapidly-expanding Nigerian film industry that still remains mostly unknown to American audiences.
""One of the reasons why we're doing it and kind of what drove me to it was it's something to explore and it's something to discover,"" Healy said.
Nollywood cinema may seem obscure, but according to Healy it actually revolves around accessible genre films, including popcorn action flicks and broad comedies. In this case, one of the movies featured is ""Osuofia in London,"" an action-comedy that appeals to a wide swath of tastes.
""That's who the films are made for, they are made for Nigerians,"" said Healy. ""Though they do rise above the pack of typical genre fare.""
Reconstructions, Restorations and Rediscoveries
Healy has a particular affection for the ""Reconstructions"" series, as it is the one where he had the most input and considers his specialty, allowing for the most freedom in choosing the lineup.
""It allows for a great deal of variety and one-off screenings united under one umbrella,"" Healy said. ""You've got something like ‘Nuremberg,' which is a highly publicized restoration, as well as something like ‘Upstream,' the John Ford film that less than two years ago was completely lost to history, then rediscovered and shown again.""
Friday the Cinematheque will screen ""Nuremberg: Its Lesson Today,"" a series of restored films from the Nuremberg war crimes trials, complete with a talk afterward from Sandra Schulberg, daughter of the film's director. But an even more intriguing selection may be ""The Leopard,"" a 1963 Italian film starring Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon, which went through several trials before its proper version saw American soil, with its first appearance in the states cut 40 minutes short of its original runtime.
""In the early 80s Americans finally got to see the long version for the first time,"" Healy said, ""but they didn't go in and really clean up the negative.""
This version has gone through both color and sound restorations in the last 10 years, so this screening should impress not only with its story but also with its presentation, much like the entire ""Restorations"" series.
