They say Las Vegas is Sin City. I suggest that the real Sin City may in fact be the city of Houston, at least when it comes to Film Noir. For the month of August the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) is showcasing some film noir classics as part of its film series “Femmes Fatales: The Women of Film Noir.”
The series kicked off last weekend with a 35mm print showing of Gilda, starring Rita Hayworth in the titular role along with Glen Ford. If you’ve ever seen Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption you’ve already had a partial glimpse of the film – it’s a scene where the inmates are viewing the picture in a prison theater, and Rita Hayworth makes her arrival as the femme fatale with her classic hair flip.
Femmes Fatales: The Women of Film Noir is a concept I had originally pitched to the curators of the museum and they thought it was a great idea. Houston’s hot summer days are equally matched by sultry nights. So a series about seductive ladies in a humid climate, of course it seems ideal.
Upcoming this weekend we have The Blue Dahlia (1946), about an ex-bomber pilot suspected of murdering his unfaithful wife. Fast-paced and perfectly cast with the likes of Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake, the film reflects author Raymond Chandler’s hard-boiled, grim wit.
Still to come: Road House (1948), on Aug 16 and 17, and Kiss Me Deadly (1955), on Aug 23 and 25.
For more information, including showtimes, click here.
