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| Mitchell Leisen showing Ray Milland how to kiss Jean Arthur. Publicity set photo from Easy Living (1937) |
Easy Living with Mitchell Leisen
In a light, sophisticated no-man’s-land (yes, largely inhabited by women) between romantic comedy, screwball, and pure Paramount aestheticism, the cinema of Mitchell Leisen comes to life. A former silent-era costume and set designer, Leisen became renowned for classics such as Easy Living, Hold Back the Dawn, and Midnight, and was the only Hollywood director to sign his name in his films’ credits. No auteur theory was needed to recognise his unmistakable qualities: an effortless narrative flow, impeccable design, and sparkling, innuendo-laced dialogue – sometimes written by Preston Sturges, Billy Wilder, or Charles Brackett – alongside heroines as charming as they were uncompromising. In his films, Carole Lombard, Claudette Colbert, Barbara Stanwyck, and Jean Arthur radiated wit, grace, and razor-sharp comic timing. They twisted conventions as their encounters with men – often played by Ray Milland or Fred MacMurray – spiralled from mishap to romantic resolution. This Il Cinema Ritrovato tribute presents a selection of Leisen’s classics in restored versions (courtesy of Universal), alongside rarely screened archival prints.
The selection:
CRADLE SONG 1933 35mm [extremely rare][screening once]
DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY 1934 35mm [screening once]
MURDER AT THE VANITIES 1934 35mm [screening once]
HANDS ACROSS THE TABLE 1935 35mm [screening twice]
EASY LIVING 1937 35mm [screening twice]
SWING HIGH, SWING LOW 1937 35mm [rare print][screening twice]
MIDNIGHT 1939 Restored in 4K in 2024 by Universal [screening once]
HOLD BACK THE DAWN 1941 Restored in 2025 by Universal [world premiere][screening once]
NO TIME FOR LOVE 1943 35mm [screening once]
LADY IN THE DARK 1944 35mm [rare BFI print -- Technicolor!][screening twice]
PRACTICALLY YOURS 1944 35mm [screening once]
NO MAN OF HER OWN 1950 35mm [screening once]
DARLING, HOW COULD YOU! 1951 Restored in 4K in 2020 by Paramount Pictures [personal favourite][screening twice]
YOUNG MAN WITH IDEAS 1952 35mm [rare print][screening once]
THE SIXTEEN-MILLIMETER SHRINE 1959 DCP [screening once]
preliminary schedule, subject to change. All the screenings at the Jolly Cinema.
20
16:30 Easy Living + intro by Ehsan
21:30 Darling how could you?
21
11:00 Death Takes a Holiday + 16mm Shrine + intro by Ehsan
16:45 Cradle Song
22
11:10 No Man of Her Own + intro TBC
16:15 Hands Across the Table
21:30 Lady in the dark
23
11:00 Hold Back the Dawn + intro TBC
16:00 Midnight
24
11:15 Swing High, Swing Low + intro by Ian Christie
16:15 No Time for Love
21:30 Easy Living
25
11:30 Young Man with Ideas
16:15 Practically Yours
26
11:30 Murder at the Vanities
16:00 Darling How Could You
21:30 Hold Back the Dawn
27
11:00 Lady in the Dark + intro by Bryony Dixon TBC
16:00 Swing High, Swing Low
[Originally posted on 21/3/26. The initial retrospective title was Songs of Surrender, changed Easy Living with Mitchell Leisen on 25/3/26. On 9/5/26 title selection was added. On May 20 screening dates were added.]
Incredible! Can't wait. Any chance you can lift the veil on when the first batch of series will be announced in the newsletter?
ReplyDelete/Oscar P.
It was announced 10 minutes ago.
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