VISCONTI’S TRIUMPH
With the success of The Innocent, it’s time to reappraise Luchino Visconti’s career; Donald Lyons does so, eloquently. And James McCourt writes about Visconti’s last masterwork.
MIDSECTION: THE GREAT MOVIE PALACES
For half a century, the movie palace—with its thousands of seats, its decor plundered from the fine art of three continents and five millennia, its voluptuous use of space, and its mighty Wurlitzer—provided the perfect environment for seeing movies. Now these theaters are involved in a real-life drama that threatens to become a tragedy: they are being razed and replaced by shopping malls and parking lots. Over the past two years, Elliott Stein has visited movie palaces in New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas, and California. In our 21-page color Midsection, he describes these majestic mastodons, and outlines the problems they face and the solutions some enlightened cities have found. His colorful cast of characters includes visionary architects and exhibitors, unscrupulous businessmen and politicians, heroic preservationists. It's a story as big as the Music Hall screen—and as worth savoring and saving.
THE OSCARS: PAST AND FUTURE
The Academy Awards offer revealing glimpses of Hollywood’s gilded self-image; Andrew Sarris looks at the Oscar-winners of Hollywood’s Golden Age. This year’s Oscar race promises more surprises—so match wits with our experts: David Ansen, Stuart Byron, Roger Ebert, Todd McCarthy, David Newman, Maureen Orth, Frank Rich, and Andrew Sarris.
JOURNALS
Jacques Demy talks about his new fairy tale with Gilbert Adair, in Paris. Todd McCarthy, from L.A., has the latest poop on Orson Welles.
MILOS FORMAN’S ‘HAIR’
The Czech-born director talks about his long-awaited elegy to the Sixties.
‘THE DEER HUNTER’
Terry Curtis Fox on the year’s most controversial award-winner.
RENOIR: OUR TEACHER
In 1963, the late director taught film at UCLA. John Bragin remembers.
THE BIG HITCH
This year, Alfred Hitchcock receives the AFI’s Life Achievement Award. But Hitch’s true achievement, says David Thomson, is much more ominous.
W.C. FIELDS AT 100
An interview with the great auteur-raconteur, on the occasion of his centennial. By Peter W. Kaplan.
THE STATE AS MOVIE MOGUL
European filmmakers are busier than ever—thanks to state support. Can it happen here? By Charles Eidsvik.
BOOKS
Elliott Sirkin on Mommie Dearest. Tag Gallagher reviews books on Welles.
INDUSTRY
Our fourth annual Grosses Gloss. Stuart Byron on ’78’s hits and flops.
INDEPENDENTS
Amos Vogel on the Flaherty legend.
TELEVISION
Soundstage takes good pictures of music on TV. By Daniel Menaker.
BACK TALK
ABC presents T-xi Dr-v-r; John Wayne rides to the bank. By Todd McCarthy.
BULLETIN BOARD
