Fritz Lang, the director who first captivated so many cinephiles and non-obsessive moviegoers alike with masterworks such as Metropolis and M, turns 120 today. Recently I took in Lang's superb Scarlet Street at the AFI in Silver Spring, MD and will give it a full write-up during the For the Love of Film (Noir) blogathon in February. But Lang is related to our blogathon by more than just directing one of the films I'll be writing up. The film our blogathon is specifically raising money to restore is The Sound of Fury, a remake of Fritz Lang's Fury, with Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney. Fury is a personal favorite of mine, a DVD I own and plan to write-up as well during the blogathon.
So Happy Birthday, Fritz! Your gifts behind the camera have inspired more of us in more ways than you could have possibly imagined.
6 comments:
Greg: I look forward to your upcoming review of SCARLET STREET and share your affinity for this titan of the cinema. Here in NYC, we will be treated to a comprehensive "Lang in Hollywood" Festival at the Film Forum beginning January 28th and running for two weeks. Needless to say, I will attempt to attend nearly every screening, though I may fall short of that goal. I'm sure you've seen practically every film yourself:
http://www.filmforum.org/films/lang.html
As David Thomson so aptly opined: "The films Lang made in America match his greatest...an achievement still not appreciated."
Great post! Happy 120th indeed!
I'm sure you've seen practically every film yourself...
Not nearly. There's still so much Lang I need to take in, including Moonfleet, Cloak and Dagger, You and Me and Hangmen Also Die! but I think I'll try to see each one before the blogathon.
I must say, I'm envious that you get to see them on the big screen. I swear, if I had the money, time and, most importantly, a showing schedule personally designed just for me, I'd see every classic movie on the big screen.
Hi Greg,
Playing catch-up with Google Reader after a few weeks in the wilderness of deadlines, but wanted to quickly say that I'm looking forward to your impending dual posts on SCARLET STREET and FURY. There's so much of Lang's output that I still have to see - Scarlet Street being one of many (but I've actually booked this is as summertime viewing, woo haa). FURY, for me, is an under-rated and brilliant film, well worth repeat visits.
And a happy belated birthday to Fritz! He looks great for 120.
Michael, I certainly hope you contribute to the blogathon with a post or two of your own. Fury is one of my favorite Lang movies and The Sound of Fury is now on Netflix Instant so I look forward to watching both before the blogathon.
Greg, yes absolutely, if you'll all have me on board, i'll be an enthusiastic participant, this blogathon is an absolutely superb idea. Writing about noir - fantastic. But writing about noir in order to potentially preserve/ restore a film - couldn't think of anything better. Cheers!
I look foward to your post, Michael.
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