Friday, August 22 – Gene Siskel Film Center — 164 N State Street
Tickets: $13 at the door or purchase in advance
6:00 PM
THE BIRDS
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock • 1963
Hitchcock’s late classic could’ve been a wholesome pet store meet cute between Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren, but it unravels into an apocalyptic nightmare as their Sonoma County idyll is swarmed by thousands of birds, who descend on the town like locusts, only bigger, louder, and more bloodthirsty. The Birds spares no child, adult, updo, or body part from the feathered freaks raining down from the sky. With over 350 special effects shots combining live birds, mechanical birds, and the sodium vapor process, this Technicolor print just might pluck your eyes out! (TV)
120 min • Universal-International • 35mm from private collections, permission Universal
8:30 PM
BLACK BELT JONES
Directed by Robert Clouse • 1974
In this heated blaxploitation flick, Black Belt Jones (Jim “Dragon” Kelly) takes on the mob to stop them from seizing the karate dojo run by his friend Pops (Scatman Crothers). Coming hot off his role alongside Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon, Kelly exudes confidence, black power, and an indecent number of one-liners that will equip you to annoy your friends long after you leave the theater. In addition to being a great entertainer, Kelly was a trained martial artist, with at least one international karate title under his black belt before his acting debut. This slice of blaxploitation history is not to be missed, ya dig? (TV)
87 min • Warner Brothers • 35mm from private collections, permission Park Circus
NEXT UP: TECHNICOLOR WEEKEND : Friday, August 22 – Sunday, August 24 at the Film Center