Noir City 6 at the Castro Theatre Darkens SF Friday

This dark and dismal weather makes the perfect background for a film noir. This genre helps me remember that we live in a terrible time filled with bad intentions and worse people where there are no good guys and love is almost always guaranteed to get you killed. That's why I'm very excited for the Film Noir Foundation's Noir City to start Friday at the Castro Theatre. This is the sixth year of the festival that will show 20 films in 10 days filled with death, betrayal and crime (all the best things in life) on the big screen. Highlights include a showing of numerous rarities including "the Prowler," my favorite selection of stalking, voyeurism and murder; the Phantom of the Opera-ish "the Face Behind the Mask" and the precognition spectacular "Night Has 1000 Eyes." Equally exciting is the world premier screening of "the Grand Inquisitor," a story about the widow of a legendary uncaught serial killer based on actual events. It all kicks off on January 25 with a showing of "Repeat Performance" on 16mm film and "the Hard Way," two rare noir films unavailable on DVD staring Joan Leslie.

"Repeat Performance" depicts a young starlet that murders her husband on New Years eve. Fate gives her the opportunity relive the year and she must decide whether or not there will be a "repeat performance" of the murder. While "the Hard Way" is the cautionary tale of girl pushed onto Broadway by her sister in an effort to leave their small town home. The girls quickly find themselves in show biz and dirty dealings ensue. There will be an onstage interview with Leslie between the films.

Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets.
Full schedule at Noir City.

-Melissa Baron