*All times are PT. Please check your local listings to confirm dates and times.
Friday, May 2, 3:00 AM
WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967): A commercial artist unknowingly brings a stash of heroin into his home. A trio of bad guys (Richard Crenna, Jack Weston and Alan Arkin) trace the dope to him. They trick him into leaving the house, but, unfortunately, his blind wife (Audrey Hepburn) is there alone. They proceed to first try to trick and then to terrorize her while she tries to figure out how to turn the tables on her unknown assailants. Hepburn earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her remarkable performance. Adapted from the Broadway hit written by Fredrick Knott and directed by Arthur Penn. Dir. Terence Young
Sat., May 3, 9:15 PM & Sun., May 4, 7:00 AM
RIFFRAFF (1947): Former Hitchcock cameraman Ted Tetzlaff (The Window) expertly helms this overlooked gem of breezy suspense about murder and a missing map. Pat O’Brien and Anne Jeffreys volley the snappy dialogue back and forth while the sinister bulk of Walter Slezak ominously hovers. The RKO lot effectively doubles as Central America with Percy Kilbride as a wiseacre Panama City hack driver. Don’t miss the astounding opening sequence! Dir. Ted Tetzlaff
Tuesday, May 6, 4:30 AM
THE LIGHT TOUCH (1951): Art thief Sam Conride (Stewart Granger) steals a Renaissance-era painting on loan to an Italian museum by a Catholic church for a client. He fakes a fire and tells his partner and financier of the project Felix Guignol (George Sanders) that the painting has been destroyed. They decide that art forgery is the best way to solve the problem is to get into the forgery business. Things become even more complicated when Conride needs to romance a reluctant painter (Pier Angeli) to convince her to create the forgery. Dir. Richard Brooks
Tuesday, May 6, 8:15 AM
SCENE OF THE CRIME (1949): LAPD Lieutenant Mike Conovan (Van Johnson) investigates the murder of his ex-partner Ed Monigan whom the department believes was on the take, since they found $1000 in cash on his corpse. Monigan’s son convinces Conovan that his father was working under cover. As Conovan tries to both find the murderer and clear his partner’s reputation, he cozies up to a stripper (Gloria De Haven). Meanwhile, his wife (Arlene Dahl) tries to persuade him to leave the dangers of police work behind. Dir. Roy Rowland
Wednesday, May 7, 10:45 AM
MEET JOHN DOE (1941): In this final collaboration between director Frank Capra and actress Barbara Stanwyck, she plays cynical sob sister Ann Mitchell who publishes a fake letter to her own column from “John Doe” in order to save her job after the newspaper she works for is bought out. John Doe is disgusted by the state that America is in and pledges to protest it by jumping from the roof of City Hall at midnight on Christmas Eve. When the mayor wants to meet him, Ann and her new managing editor D. B. Norton (Edward Arnold) hire an ex-baseball player on the skids (Gary Cooper) to impersonate her fictional creation. As John Doe becomes nationally famous, Norton develops a plan to use him for his own agenda. Dir. Frank Capra
Wednesday, May 7, 7:00 PM – 11:15 PM
7:00 PM
PURPLE NOON (1960): This lush adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s renowned crime novel The Talented Mr. Ripley stars a young and extremely handsome Alain Delon as the titular character. Phillipe Greenleaf hire Tom Ripley to travel to Italy to persuade his son Dickie to return home to San Francisco to take over the family business. Tom becomes enamored with Dickie’s bon vivant lifestyle and devises a plan to take it for himself. Dir. René Clément
9:00 PM
THE VANISHING (1988): In this chilling Belgian thriller, a young man is obsessed with finding the girlfriend who vanished at a rest stop. His search leads him into terrifying territory. Please note, this is NOT for the faint of heart. Dir. George Sluizer
Thursday, May 8, 10:00 AM
THE STRIP (1951): Veteran and drummer Stanley Maxton (Mickey Rooney) moves to Los Angeles with dreams of opening his own club but becomes entangled with a racketeer (James Craig) and a nightclub dancer with ambitions for Hollywood (Sally Forrest) and ends up accused of murder. The film features Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra as well as Monica Lewis and Vic Damone as themselves. Much of the picture was shot on location in and around the Sunset Strip. Interiors were shot at popular nightclubs Mocambo and Ciro's and at restaurants Little Hungary and Stripps. Dir. László Kardos
Friday, May 9, 3:30 AM
WHIPLASH (1948): San Franciscan artist Michael Gordon (Dane Clark) goes to New York to find Laurie Rogers (Alexis Smith) after spending one evening together. There he finds her singing at a nightclub by chance and she confesses that she is married. He decides to box for her disabled husband (Zachary Scott) who doesn’t know about Michael and Laurie’s connection. Dir. Lewis Seiler
Saturday, May 10, 9:00 AM – 9:15 PM
9:00 AM
ALL NIGHT LONG (1963): In this modern take on Shakespeare’s Othello—taking place over the course of a party— jazz musician Aurelius Rex (Paul Harris) fears his wife Delia (Marti Stevens) is unfaithful. Patrick McGoogan plays the Iago character, Johnny Cousin, the jealous drummer in Rex’s band. A bevy of contemporary musicians lends credence to the film’s 1960s London jazz scene setting: Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, Tubby Hayes, John Dankworth and many more. Dir. Basil Dearden
10:45 AM
DARK PASSAGE (1947): Adapted from a story by David Goodis, this noir follows convicted wife murderer Vincent Parry’s (Humphrey Bogart) escape from jail and subsequent hunt for the real killer of his wife. Sympathetic stranger Irene (Lauren Bacall) encounters him during his jail break and aids him. Agnes Moorehead steals the show as Irene’s shrewish friend who knew Vincent and his wife prior to the murder. Dir. Delmer Daves
12:45 PM
I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES (1955): Gangster Big Mac (Lon Chaney, Jr.) pulls strings to get a lifer, Roy (Jack Palance), out of prison. In return, Roy had to pull a big jewelry heist. Big Mac saddles him with incompetent henchmen and things go badly. Especially when they pick up a taxi dancer (Shelley Winters) who causes considerable tension and then falls in love with Roy. W.R. Burnett based his screenplay on his own novel High Sierra, previously adapted by John Huston and Burnett in 1941 for Raoul Walsh’s film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino. Dir. Stuart Heisler
2:45 PM
GET CARTER (1971): A must-see brutal neo-gangster-noir. Ruthless gun-for-hire Carter (Michael Caine) searches for the truth behind his brother's death in the seedy underbelly of Newcastle. The director went on to make another great gangster revenge picture thirty years later with Clive Owen called I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2003). Dir. Mike Hodges
5:00 PM
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1963): In this late era noir, ex-G.I. Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) slowly begins to realize that he was brainwashed by the Koreans while he was a P.O.W. He soon suspects that his former comrade in arms Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), who is also the stepson of a presidential candidate, is being manipulated by the Communists Angel Lansbury gives a remarkable performance as Shaw’s icy mother. Based on the novel of the same name by Richard Condon novel. Dir. John Frankenheimer
7:15 PM
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957): A desperate press agent (Tony Curtis) stoops to new depths to help an egotistical columnist (Burt Lancaster) in an emotionally repugnant, but brilliant, performance, break up his sister's romance. Suitably noirish cinematography by James Wong Howe and an acidic script by Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman combine with an excellent cast to deliver a remarkable film. Dir. Alexander Mackendrick
Sat., May 10, 9:15 PM & Sun., May 11, 7:00 AM
THE KILLERS (1946): Expanded from the Hemmingway short story, two professional killers come to a small town looking for The Swede (Burt Lancaster). An insurance investigator (Edmond O'Brien) unravels the tangled skein of events that led up to the hit. Ava Gardner plays Kitty, the woman who led the Swede to his doom. Dir. Robert Siodmak
Sunday, May 11, 3:00 PM
MILDRED PIERCE (1945): Joan Crawford won an Oscar for her performance as a woman who builds herself up from grass widow to successful restaurateur in a desperate effort to win the love of the most ungrateful brat in the history of cinema, her daughter Veda, brilliantly played by Ann Blyth. A marriage of convenience, adultery and murder ensue. At least Mildred has the greatest best friend ever, a wisecracking Eve Arden. Based on the James M. Cain story. Dir. Michael Curtiz
Monday, May 12, 5:00 PM – Tuesday, May 13, 3:00 AM
Here are the noirs...
5:00 PM
BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967): In this critically acclaimed and deeply influential classic, the legendary bank robbers and lovers (Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway) embark on a crime spree during the Depression era Dust Bowl of the 1930s and become folk heroes. Their crimes quickly spiral from petty theft to bank robbery, but tensions between the couple and the other members of their gang—getaway driver C.W. (Michael J. Pollard), Clyde's older brother Buck (Gene Hackman) and Buck's wife, Blanche (Estelle Parsons). The film won two Oscars, Estelle Parsons for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Burnett Guffey for Best Cinematography, an additional eight nominations. Dir. Arthur Penn
7:00 PM
THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1972): New York Detectives, Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) attempt to intercept a massive heroin shipment coming into the city and hunt down the criminal mastermind behind it, Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey). This gritty procedural also features one of the best car chases in cinematic history. In addition to earning Best Picture and Best Actor for Hackman at the Oscars, the film won Best Director for Friedkin, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. Dir. William Friedkin
1:15 AM
NIGHT MOVES (1975): An aging actress hires football player turned P.I. Harry (Gene Hackman) to find her sexually precocious teenager daughter (Melanie Griffith). He traces her to Florida where he also finds trouble in the shape of a beautiful woman (Jennifer Warren) and a criminal conspiracy. Dir. Arthur Penn
Thursday, May 15, 9:30 AM
THE HARD WAY (1943): Helen Chernen (Ida Lupino) is obsessed with making her younger sister (Joan Leslie) a star. Jack Carson steals the show playing Leslie's sweetly tragic first husband who Lupino sacrifices on the altar of Leslie's career. Dennis Morgan plays Carson’s partner who drives a wedge between the sisters. Dir. Vincent Sherman
Thursday, May 15, 3:30 PM
THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1948): An Irish sailor (Orson Welles) gets caught between a corrupt tycoon (Everett Sloane) and his voluptuous wife (Welles’ real-life wife Rita Hayworth) and their plans to eliminate one another in this wonderfully convoluted noir. Trivia: Columbia chief Harry Cohn sent future horror icon William Castle along on location to keep Welles in line, on time and under budget, to no avail. Dir. Orson Welles
Friday, May 16, 5:00 PM – Saturday, May 17, 4:00 AM
5:00 PM
DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID (1982): Edited by Bud Molin, this loving parody of film noir is partly a collage film, incorporating clips from 19 classic noirs. Juliet Forrest (Rachel Ward), daughter of scientist and cheesemaker John Forrest, asks private investigator Rigby Reardon (Steve Martin) to investigate her father's death. Film noir shenanigans ensue with a host of Hollywood greats including Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, Brian Donlevy, Kirk Douglas, Ava Gardner, Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Burt Lancaster, Fred MacMurray, Edmond O'Brien, Vincent Price, and Barbara Stanwyck. Director of photography Michael Chapman studied the angles and lighting popular among '40s film noir, conducting six months of research with Technicolor to try to match the old film clips with his new footage. Legendary costume designer Edith Head designed the film’s costumes, this was her final project, and the film is dedicated to her. Dir. Carl Reiner
6:45 PM
THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942): In the film that made him a star, Ladd plays sociopathic hitman Raven. When the traitorous munitions manufacturer who hired him pays him with marked bills from an armed robbery, Raven goes on the lam. While on the train to L. A. to avenge himself on the men who betrayed him, he kidnaps the fiancé of a cop, Ellen (Veronica Lake). Screenwriter W. R. Burnett adapted the script from Graham Greene’s novel A Gun for Sale. Dir. Frank Tuttle
8:15 PM
IN A LONELY PLACE (1950): This heartbreaking noir revolves around an alcoholic screenwriter (Humphrey Bogart) and the woman who loves him but fears he may be a murder (Gloria Grahame). This film is both a bitter commentary on Hollywood and on the impossibility of romance. Very loosely based on Dorothy B. Hughes’ novel—an intense thriller and examination of post-WWII misogyny. Enjoy the movie then read the book. Dir. Nicholas Ray
10:00 PM
DECEPTION (1946): Aspiring pianist Christine Radcliffe (Bette Davis) is reunited with her lover, cellist Karel Novak (Paul Henreid), who she feared had perished in a Nazi concentration camp. Unfortunately, she's now the mistress of internationally renowned composer Alexander Hollenius (Claude Rains). Christine tries to orchestrate a productive professional relationship between the three that will allow all their artistic ambitions to flourish. Hollenius, however, is as creative in manipulating human emotions as he is in conducting an orchestra. Dir. Irving Rapper
2:00 AM
WHITE HEAT (1949): “Top of the world, Ma!” A G-man (Edmond O'Brien) infiltrates a gang run by a mother-fixated psychotic, James Cagney in a standout performance. This film marks the cinematic movement away from the traditional Warner Brothers’ portrayal of the gangster to the more cynical and psychological film noir interpretation. Virginia Kellogg garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story for the film. Pointless trivia: Naked Gun 33 1/3 borrowed the plot. Dir. Raoul Walsh
Sat., May 17, 9:00 PM & Sun., May 18, 7:00 AM
TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI aka DON'T TOUCH THE LOOT (1954): An aging, world-weary gangster (Jean Gabin) is forced out of retirement when his best friend is kidnapped and their stash of eight stolen gold bars demanded as ransom. Max had confided their retirement plan to his much younger girlfriend (Jeane Moreau) who in turn confided in her lover and the older men’s rival Angelo (Lino Ventura). Dir. Jacques Becker
Sunday, May 18, 9:00 AM
NORA PRENTISS (1947): In this noir tale, a decorous doctor becomes obsessed with a beautiful nightclub singer, (Ann Sheridan). Interestingly, uber straight man Kent Smith, best known as Irina’s husband in Val Lewton’s Cat People (1942) gets the chance to play a man who will stop at nothing to possess the object of his desire. Dir. Vincent Sherman
Tuesday, May 20, 6:15 AM
CAGED (1950): This film noir in women-in-prison clothing details the transformation of a young, naïve and pregnant widow (Eleanor Parker) into a hardened convict. She learns the hard way how to survive in the big house from a sadistic prison guard (Hope Emerson) and the failure of a good-hearted warden (Agnes Moorehead) to reform the prison. This is more than an exploitation flick, it’s an intelligent social drama and raises a still prescient issue facing the American penal system, is it reforming first time offenders or just turning prisoners into career criminals? Nominated for three Oscars including Best Actress for Parker and Supporting Actress for Emerson. Dir. John Cromwell
Tuesday, May 20, 1:00 PM
THE RACKET (1951): A tough cop, Captain Thomas McQuigg (Robert Mitchum), has to fight both his superiors and a corrupt system in order to battle the mob. His mobster nemesis Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan) is also battling his own superiors, as well as McQuigg. They object to his old-style violent tactics. McQuigg uses Nick's brother Joe Scanlon (Brett King) and his lover and singer Irene Hayes (Lizabeth Scott) as a cat’s paw to get to Nick. Dir. John Cromwell
Wednesday, May 21, 1:30 AM
NIGHT MUST FALL (1964): Hotel bellboy and ax murderer Danny (Albert Finney) charms the elderly Mrs. Bramson (Mona Washbourne) and takes on the role of butler for her while also charming her daughter Olivia. Cinematography by Freddie Francis A remake of the 1937 film of the same name which was based on the play by Emlyn Willimas. The screenplay was written by Clive Exton who went onto write the majority (20) episodes of Agatha Christie's Poirot starring David Suchet. Dir. Karly Reisz
Wednesday, May 21, 3:00 PM
LADY IN THE LAKE (1947): A lady editor (Audrey Totter) hires Phillip Marlowe to investigate the disappearance of her boss’ wife. First time director Robert Montgomery, who also starred as Marlowe, chose to shoot the entire film from Marlowe’s POV using a subjective camera to replicate visually Raymond Chandler’s first-person narrative from the novel. Dir. Robert Montgomery
Thursday, May 22, 6:30 AM
THE MAN WITH A CLOAK (1951): In this historical noir, a mystery man (Joseph Cotton) tries to help a young innocent (Leslie Caron) escape a murderous housekeeper (Barbara Stanwyck). Based on a story by John Dickson Carr. Dir. Fletcher Markle
Friday, May 23, 7:45 AM – 5:00 PM
3:45 AM
FOLLOW ME QUIETLY (1949): A plucky crime writer (Dorothy Patrick) and a tough cop (William Lundigan) hunt for The Judge, a mysterious serial killer who only strikes when it’s raining. Legendary noir director Anthony Mann wrote it and worked (uncredited) as a director on it. Dir. Richard O. Fleischer
6:00 AM
MYSTERY STREET (1950): A Cape Cod coroner (Ricardo Montalban) and a Harvard criminal pathologist (Bruce Bennett) try to solve a possible murder with nothing but the victim's bones to go on. Elsa Lanchester steals the show as the victim’s shady landlady. Leonard Spigelgass received an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story. Dir. John Sturges
7:45 AM
THE TATTOOED STRANGER (1950): Detectives investigate the murder of a young woman whose body is found in Central Park. The only clue to her identity and possibly to the motive for her murder is her Marine Corps tattoo. Watch for Jack Lord as a lab assistant. Dir. Edward J. Montagne
9:00 AM
scene of the crime (1949): LAPD Lieutenant Mike Conovan (Van Johnson) investigates the murder of his ex-partner Ed Monigan whom the department believes was on the take, since they found $1000 in cash on his corpse. Monigan’s son convinces Conovan that his father was working under cover. As Conovan tries to both find the murderer and clear his partner’s reputation, he cozies up to a stripper (Gloria De Haven). Meanwhile, his wife (Arlene Dahl) tries to persuade him to leave the dangers of police work behind. Dir. Roy Rowland
10:45 AM
THE NAKED CITY (1948): A step-by-step look at a murder investigation on the streets of New York. Barry Fitzgerald plays the compassionate cop on the trail of a murder in these groundbreaking police procedural. Watch for noir regular and radio’s Sam Spade, Howard Duff as the murdered girl’s sleazy boyfriend. William H. Daniels won the Oscar for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Paul Weatherwax won for Best Film Editing. Malvin Wald was also nominated for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story. Dir. Jules Dassin
12:30 PM
CRIME WAVE (1954): Steve Lacey (Gene Nelson), a reformed parolee, is forced to hide a wounded former cellmate who seeks him out for temporary shelter after being shot during robbery. After the cops find out Lacey sheltered a robbery suspect, Detective Sgt. Sims (Sterling Hayden) tries to force Lacey to find the robbers. All Lacey wants to do is protect his wife (Phyllis Kirk) and his new life. Dir. André De Toth
1:45 PM
THE BIG COMBO (1955): Lt. Leonard Diamond (Cornel Wilde), a police detective, tries to convict a mob boss Mr. Brown (Richard Conte) by going to the man's suicidal girlfriend Susan (Jean Wallace). Diamond’s obsessive desire to catch Mr. Brown may be due to his love for Susan. Cinematographer John Alton provided the iconic noir visual style of the film. Dir. Joseph Lewis
3:15 PM
WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS (1956): The owner of a big city news conglomerate dies, leaving it to his ne’er-do-well son (Vincent Price). Said son decides to create a competition among the heads of each department: Dana Andrews, George Sanders, Thomas Mitchell and James Craig. Whoever can discover the identity of the “Lipstick Killer” terrorizing the city will be the new executive editor. Ids Lupino gives a memorable performance as a cynical reporter in cahoots with Sanders. Dir. Fritz Lang
Sat., May 24, 9:00 PM & Sun., May 25, 7:00 AM
CORNERED (1945): Dick Powell stars as a World War II vet out to revenge the murder of his wife who died fighting for the French Resistance. He suspects the man who ordered the execution of her and her comrades faked his own death. He sets out to find him. For my two cents, Powell gives his best acting performance as the physically and psychologically wounded vet. Dir. Edward Dmytryk
Tuesday, May 27, 8:45 AM
LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (1955): Engrossing musical bio (from an Oscar-winning story by Daniel Fuchs) of Jazz Age singer Ruth Etting (Doris Day), whose life and career were dominated by gangster Marty 'The Gimp' Snyder, (James Cagney). Ruth’s musical advisor Johnny Alderman (Cameron Mitchell) attempts repeatedly to persuade Ruth to leave her abusive relationship. Dir. Charles Vidor
Wednesday, May 28, 1:30 PM
THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1934): A British family gets mixed up with spies and an assassination plot while vacationing in Switzerland. Things escalate quickly when the daughter is kidnapped, and the parents (Leslie Banks and Edna Best) must rely on themselves to save her. This tense thriller featured Peter Lorre’s first performance in an English language film. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Wednesday, May 28, 5:00 PM
THE BIG CLOCK (1948): A corrupt publisher (Charles Laughton) tries to frame a career-driven editor (Ray Milland) for murder. Laughton’s wife Elsa Lanchester shines in the small but memorable role of a bohemian artist. Based on the book by Kenneth Fearing, which was adapted a second time as the Kevin Costner vehicle No Way Out (1987). Dir. John Farrow
Sat., May 31, 9:00 PM & Sun., June 1, 7:00 AM
THE BIG STEAL (1950): Seduction and murder follow the theft of an Army payroll. An army lieutenant (Robert Mitchum) accused of robbery pursues the real thief on a frantic chase through Mexico aided by the thief's ex-girlfriend (Jane Greer). Dir. Don Siegel
Eddie Muller presents Hitchcock's Riffraff on the May 3-4 edition of NOIR ALLEY
The Light Touch screens May 6
Alain Delon as Ripley in Purple Noon on May 7
Belgian thriller The Vanishing screens May 7
Sally Forrest and Mickey Rooney in The Strip on May 8
Dane Clark stars in Whiplash on May 9
Bogart in San Francisco — Dark Passage on May 10
Shelley Winters and Jack Palance in I Died a Thousand Times on May 10
Lawrence Harvey and Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate on May 10
Eddie Muller presents The Killers on the May 10-11 edition of NOIR ALLEY
Joan Crawford and Eve Arden in Mildred Pierce on May 11
Gene Hackman in The French Connection on May 12
Gene Hackman in Night Moves on May 13
Ida Lupino and Joan Leslie in The Hard Way on May 15
Steve Martin stars in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid on May 16
Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake in This Gun for Hire screening May 16
Gloria Grahame and Humphrey Bogart in In a Lonely Place on May 16
Eddie Muller presents Touchez pas au grisbi on the May 17-18 edition of NOIR ALLEY
Agnes Moorehead and Eleanor Parker in Caged on May 20
Robert Ryan and Lizabeth Scott in The Racket on May 20
Leslie Caron in The Man with a Cloak on May 22
Anthony Mann's Follow Me Quietly on May 23
The Tattooed Stranger screens on May 23
Andre de Toth's Crime Wave on May 21
Fritz Lang directs Ida Lupino and Dana Andrews in While the City Sleeps on May 21
Eddie Muller presents Cornered on the May 24-25 edition of NOIR ALLEY
Doris Day and James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me on May 27
Peter Lorre in Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much on May 28
Eddie Muller presents The Big Steal on the May 31-June 1 edition of NOIR ALLEY