MIGHTY JOE YOUNG
1949, Warner Bros., 94 min, USA, Dir: Ernest B. Schoedsack

Inspired as a boy by the pioneering stop-motion work of Willis O’Brien on KING KONG, Ray Harryhausen got the chance to work with his hero years later - along with KING KONG co-director Ernest B. Schoedsack - on this marvelous adventure/fantasy story about a beautiful young woman (Terry Moore) and her best friend, a giant, kindhearted gorilla named Joe. In the end, Harryhausen wound up handling the majority of the visual effects for the film, including spectacular scenes of Joe destroying a nightclub. Academy Award winner for Best Visual Effects.


MY FACE RED IN THE SUNSET
YUHI NI AKAI ORE NO KAO
1961, Shochiku Company, 82 min, Japan, Dir: Masahiro Shinoda

Also known as KILLERS ON PARADE, this stylistically audacious action comedy-drama stars Yûsuke Kawazu as a gifted-but-green hired gunman who falls for one of his targets, a young reporter (Shima Iwashita) whose exposés of shady business dealings have turned the heat up on local yakuza. But the crime bosses also have put back-up assassins on her trail – though they have some trouble hitting their mark. If you enjoy the dark humor of directors like Seijun Suzuki and Kihachi Okamoto, you will love this! In Japanese with English subtitles.


EVERYTHING GOES WRONG
SUBETE GA KURUTTERU
1960, Nikkatsu, 72 min, Japan, Dir: Seijun Suzuki

With its dynamic camerawork and deftly intercut storylines, this little-known gem from director Seijun Suzuki blends the energy of the pulpiest juvenile-delinquent flicks with the angst of REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE. Disillusioned by his parents, Jirô (Tamio Kawaji) takes to the streets with friends, their petty crimes gradually escalating to a devastating climax. Yoshiko Nezu is mesmerizing as the girl smitten with the swaggering Jirô.


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