Friday, May 2, 2025 - 6:00 pm
May 2 - The Thin Man (1934), 93 minutes, directed by W. S. Van Dyke, starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Maureen O’Sullivan.
What makes The Thin Man so agelessly appealing? The obvious reasons begin with Dashiell Hammett’s comedy-mystery whodunit source novel. W. S. Van Dyke’s direction keeps the film briskly paced. Then there’s Asta and the peerless detective team of Nick and Nora Charles, played so sublimely by William Powell and Myrna Loy that they were reteamed in five additional Thin Man movies. Less obvious perhaps is the superb photography of James Wong Howe, who brings a touch of German Expressionism with effective long shadows and slashes of light to heighten mood and suspense.
May 2025 CinemaLit - The Camera of James Wong Howe
This month we honor the work of the great Hollywood cinematographer James Wong Howe (1899-1976).
Howe was born in the Canton province of China in 1899. His family immigrated to Pasco, Washington when Howe was a young boy. After toying with several possible careers, including bantamweight boxer and airplane pilot, Howe pursued his early interest in photography. He landed his first job in the film business at Famous Players-Lasky. He caught the attention of director Cecil B. DeMille, who made him an assistant camera operator.
Rising in his profession, Howe became a perfectionist who excelled at innovative techniques of lighting without reliance on new technology, a trait that served him well in the transition from silence to sound. He took his work seriously, valuing good relations with the director in service to the desired composition, atmosphere, and dramatic or comedic mood. Though most of his films were shot in black and white, he excelled at color, earning Oscar nominations for the color films The Old Man and the Sea (1958) and Funny Lady (1975).
A few key Howe titles: Peter Pan (1924), Mantrap (1926), Sorrell and Son (1927), Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928), The Power and the Glory (1933), Viva Villa! (1934), Fire Over England (1937), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940), Fantasia (1940), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), Air Force (1943), Body and Soul (1947), Come Back, Little Sheba (1952), Picnic (1955), The Rose Tattoo (1955), The Last Angry Man (1959), Hud (1963), and Seconds (1966).
At the time of his death in 1976, Howe had amassed two Oscars, eleven nominations, and the respect of the motion picture industry for his consistent excellent artistry behind the camera. CinemaLit will be screening four of his important films, two in black and white, and two in color spanning more than forty years: The Thin Man (1934), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968), and Funny Lady (1975).
Matthew Kennedy, CinemaLit’s curator, has written biographies of Marie Dressler, Joan Blondell, and Edmund Goulding. His book Roadshow! The Fall of Film Musicals in the 1960s, was the basis of a film series on Turner Classic Movies. His most recent book, On Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide, examines the screen legend's entire career.
“I don't have a favorite film,” Matthew says. "I find that my relationships to films, actors, genres, and directors change as I change over the years. Some don't hold up. Some look more profound, as though I've caught up with their artistry. I feel that way about Garbo, Cary Grant, director John Cassavetes, and others."
“Classic films have historical context, something only time can provide,” Matt observes. “They become these great cultural artifacts, so revealing of tastes, attitudes, and assumptions.”
Cafe opens at 5:30 pm with wine, beer, sparkling water, juice, and fresh-popped popcorn for sale.
Tickets can be purchased online below, or onsite in Office 406 during the following box office hours:
Monday: 10 am to 6 pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 1 pm to 6 pm
Thursday: 12 pm to 4 pm
Friday: 1 pm to 4 pm
Saturday: Closed
Please note: Photos and/or video may be taken during this event.
CinemaLit Films
