SECRET MOVIE CLUB presents
Part of our HEISTS, CAPERS & CONS Series, Friday, June 9, 2023
LOCATION: The Secret Movie Club Theater, 1917 Bay Street, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90021
*Please note entrance/parking is actually in the back of the building. Make a right on Wilson Street, then a right behind the building. We’re the first set of black steps after the big gate.
7:30pm A FISH CALLED WANDA (1988, dir. Charles Crichton, Park Circus, UK, 108mns, 35mm)
9:50pm THE ITALIAN JOB (1969, dir. Peter Collinson, Paramount, UK, 99mns, 35mm)
Tonight we kick off our Heists, Capers, and Conmen series with two of the most fun and funny of the bunch: A Fish Called Wanda and the original (!!) The Italian Job. Both on 35mm the way it should be.
Why does June feel like a season for thieves and thefts? I don’t know. Maybe this is something psychological I need to look into. But maybe more importantly, why are theft and heist and caper and con people movies (when done right), so much fun?
It’s probably watching a group of people transgressing the rules that most of us out of fear or apathy adhere to without really questioning.
First up is an unofficial post-Monty Python, Python movie A Fish Called Wanda directed by 78-year-old Ealing Studios pro Charles Crichton. Writer and star John Cleese was so determined to work with Crichton (after a 1969 project fell through) that he promised the director they would one day ultimately collaborate. Well here it is and what a collaboration.
Barrister Archie Leach (Cleese, and yes, named after Cary Grant’s birth name) gets involved with a bunch of less than competent diamond thieves (including a hilariously vain if not so bright Kevin Kline and fellow Python alum Michael Palin who has one of the movie’s most hilarious subplots). The only smart one in the bunch is Wanda (Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis) who uses everyone to get to the diamonds.
Of course romance, double crosses, and many unfortunate deaths follow. Probably John Cleese’s single greatest solo movie work after Python, Wanda is a hilarious and clever clever time.
We follow this up with another European flavored heist comedy: The Italian Job starring the indomitable always great (even when in dreck) Michael Caine.
But this movie is a a blast of sugar to the face from first frame to last and has the added bonus of including a rare screen appearance by famed British playwright and raconteur Noel Coward.
Caine plays just released thief Charlie Croker who assembles a gang of misfit criminals (isn’t that always the way) to pull off an audacious heist that involves the use of mini-cooper cars among other things.
The movie is famed for its “devil may care” humor and forward movement as well as for its hilarious ending which, if you’ve never seen the movie, shan’t be spoiled here.
So join us for the first of four nights of amazing Heists, Capers, and Conmen. And tonight, both are on 35mm prints!
Best always,
Craig Hammill
Secret Movie Club Founder.Programmer
*Please note that though we strive to always show titles on 35mm film if advertised, we may have to screen digitally if the print we receive is in such bad shape or if we don't receive the print in time because of a shipping delay. We will do our best to alert the audience. When this does occur, we will offer each ticket holder who chooses not to attend a complimentary ticket to a future event in exchange. (Disclaimer: Good for 90 days – Future screening must have available tickets, cannot be a fundraiser, and must be comparably priced)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REFUNDS:
We can offer refunds up to 24 hours before showtime. Please request a refund through Eventbrite and we will process ASAP. After that, no refunds. Sorry.
However if something last minute comes up and you can’t make the screening, for whatever reason, just write to us before showtime: community@secretmovieclub.com and we’ll offer you complimentary tickets to a future screening, good for 90 days. (Disclaimer: Future screening must have available tickets, cannot be a fundraiser, and must be comparably priced)
HELPFUL SECRET MOVIE CLUB (1917 Bay Street, 2nd Floor, LA, CA 90021) THEATER PARKING TIPS:
We recommend that you park just outside our theater. Remember our theater is actually in a beautiful street art alleyway in the back of the 1917 Bay Street building. You get to our entrance by taking a right on Wilson, then a right behind the building. We are the first set of black steps on the right after the big gate.
There is also a parking lot at the corner of Mateo and Violet Street, just 2 blocks from our theater, which costs $7 per car.
HOW CAN WE STAY ON TOP OF NEWLY ANNOUNCED 35MM SCREENINGS, EVENTS, ETC?
You can follow us on Instagram/Twitter: @secretmovieclub or Facebook: @secretmovieclub35mm
You can also subscribe to our weekly email newsletter at secretmovieclub.com or by writing to us at community@secretmovieclub.com and using the header “SUBSCRIBE ME TO NEWSLETTER”.
HOW CAN I CONTACT YOU IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS:
You can always email us at community@secretmovieclub.com with any other questions, concerns, thoughts, recommendations.