Catch a range of silent and noir films all over Bristol this month

Catch a range of silent and noir films all over Bristol this month

Posted on: 09 Nov 2022

Celebrating the rich history of cinema, South West Silents and sister project Film Noir UK are screening a selection of classic films at some of Bristol’s best venues throughout November and December.

 

The run of films begins this Sunday (13 November) and finishes on Sunday 4 December.

 

The stunning programme of cinema features a centenary celebration of the original vampire film, two horror double bills and a Hindi film noir classic. Below, we’ve taken a look at the stunning selection of flicks.

 

To find out more, head to the South West Silents website.

 

 

Kicking off the programme is Taxi Driver (1954) at Arnolfini on Sunday 13 November. In this unique and thrilling Hindi language film noir, Dev Anand stars as taxi driver Mangal (known as Hero) whose cab allows us to tour post-independence Mumbai, which becomes a character of its own.

 

Mangal rescues Mala when two thugs try to molest her. They fall in love with each other, but Mangal's affinity towards a beautiful club dancer drives Mala away. The screening will feature a special introduction from Dr Kulraj Phullar, tickets can be found here.

Next, on Saturday 19 November, the former Bristol IMAX will host the first of 2 double bills. As part of the BFI's In Dreams are Monsters season, Film Noir UK will celebrate the work and influences of Val Lewton with showings of Cat People (1942) and The Seventh Victim (1943). 

 

The second double bill will see The Curse of the Cat People (1944) and The Spiral Staircase (1946) projected onto the massive IMAX screen on Saturday 3 December. Both these events will celebrate the work of a director who is remembered chiefly for her low-budget films that blurred the line between horror and film noir. Buy tickets here.

On Sunday 20 November, another Hindi noir, C.I.D (1956), will be screened at Arnolfini. One of the most successful film noirs of the 1950s, it is much more closely linked to Hollywood film noir than its Hindi contemporaries, drawing on classic “rogue cop” tropes.

 

In C.I.D, Dev Anand sheds his romantic persona to play it straight as inspector Shekhar, who gets embroiled with gangsters whilst investigating the murder of a crusading newspaper editor. The film showcases some of the greatest talents in Indian cinema and this screening will once again feature an introduction by Dr. Kulraj Phullar. Buy tickets here.

Next up is an all-time classic, set to be screened on Monday 21 November. To mark its 100th anniversary, a recently fully restored version of F W Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922) will be shown at the beautiful St George’s Bristol.

 

One of the most iconic cinematic creations of all time, Nosferatu continues to haunt and terrify modern audiences with its unshakable power of gothic imagery and blood-curdling suspense. 

 

This screening of the German expressionist masterpiece will feature a live piano accompaniment by composer, writer and broadcaster Neil Brand as well as an introduction and Q&A by author and historian Sir Christopher Frayling. Buy tickets here.

Back to Arnolfini to round off this exciting programme with a screening of Foolish Wives (1922) on Sunday 4 December. Erich von Stroheim’s epic erotic drama follows three Russian con artists who take a luxurious villa above Monte Carlo to prey on wealthy marks in this European playground of post-war decadence.

 

With a wonderful cast and setting, this newly restored classic is sure to prove popular with film lovers and will be accompanied by live accompaniment from Meg Morley. Buy tickets here.

South West Silents aim to offer audiences the chance to discover brilliant films by introducing new and younger audiences to the wonder of silent cinema, through screenings, educational programmes and highlighting new restorations. Find out more here.

 

In 2021, they launched Film Noir UK, the first dedicated film organisation in the United Kingdom celebrating the ever-influential world of film noir. Find out more about everything they do on the SWS website.


Read more:

 


Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.