Dream Double Features

I've had this thought constantly for a long time now...if I had the means, I would open a theatre to exclusively run double features. Every film is an experience, but the experience becomes something else altogether when we get to see a perfect compliment that makes us consider each part in a different way than we might have before.

I plan to start either a podcast or blog for discussion of this topic soon, but I'd also like to open up the discussion here with one of my favorite film-savvy crowds. To start, one of my dream double features:

THE CONVERSATION & BLOW OUT

Both films dealing with the consequences of recording. In this case, audio recording. One about a surveillance expert, another about a foley artist. Both absolutely brilliant pieces of cinema, both taking inspiration from Antonioni's BLOW-UP (speaking of which, that film with either of these would be awesome, too).

I've experienced a few incredible double-bills in my time (EXORCIST with REINCARNATION OF PETER PROUD, THE FLY and ALIENS, ERASERHEAD and ZARDOZ), but I've got to say your idea has real merit ... especially if studios were still issuing prints of old films instead of denying them traditional circulation. I'm thinking of films that for me really benefited from seeing them with audiences in a cinema, rather than some good films that don't necessarily need that environment.

I'm particularly fascinated with westerns that used to be classified as 'western elements' - the ones set at the start of the 20th century, where you've got the old ways giving way to technology and 'civilization.' With that in mind, I'd love to see THE PROFESSIONALS back-to-back with THE WILD BUNCH. I think BUNCH actually bites off a bit from Brooks' film in terms of some of the notions of friendship. If you wanted a healing reconstruction to cap those two films, you could add Brooks' BITE THE BULLET, which puts a nice spin on all this, sort of like if you watched TIME BANDITS, BRAZIL and MUNCHHAUSEN in order.

THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE and THE SHINING would be another pairing, though I'd play Kubrick's film first, mainly because I like Hough's pic more than any other horror film ever.

THE PARALLAX VIEW and Kaufman's INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, just because they are my fave political paranoia flicks, and each offers up a bleak ending in its own unique fashion.

PATHS OF GLORY and THE HILL for their weird sense of crime & punishment in wartime, each memorably unflinching.

Red River and Vera Cruz

Nice! Trevanian, speaking of INVASION, I'd like to do a weekend of scifi remake double bills:

IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE with ALIEN
INVASION '56 with INVASION '78
THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD with Carpenter's THE THING

BASIC INSTINCT (1992, dir. Paul Verhoeven) and EYES WIDE SHUT (1999, dir. Stanley Kubrick)

Mmm. Kinky.

TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE with RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Quatermass and the Pit with Lifeforce.

Quatermass starred the lovely Miss Shelley, shown astride a classic Moulton bicycle in my avatar. Yes. I like bikes.

THE LONG GOODBYE (1973) and CHINATOWN (1974)

TAXI DRIVER (1976) and THE DEER HUNTER (1978)

SALESMAN (1968) and FACES (1968)

HULK (2003, dir. Ang Lee) and THE MASTER (2012, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

My 'Where the fuck did it go wrong?' season at the Essoldo opens with:

Duel with Twilight Zone: the Movie

Three actors dead including two children and no one went to jail?

Sad. I'm glad Morrow left us Jennifer Jason Leigh, though.

More infuriating than sad. I am not a particularly strong man, but after reading one of the books about the TZ trial, and finding out more than I ever wanted to know about Landis and about how Spielberg basically kept Frank Marshall out of the country for a couple of years so he wouldn't become involved in the proceedings, I actually tore it in half (the hardcover.)

Both accounts of the trial are long out of print, but I came away with the strong impression that Hollywood got away with manslaughter.

Neither Landis or Spielberg come out of the affair at all well, but it is amazing how quickly people forget.

To get back on topic, my double bill marks the beginning and end of my time for Spielberg.

I'm not interested in Spielberg the man, but rather Spielberg the artist.

Well, this wasn't Spielberg the artist, it was Spielberg the producer. You know, the man responsible for Transformers and long before that ET, where a too dark script was abandoned at the request of toymakers.

There's your artist.

As a producer Spielberg's as bad as picking projects as Jerry Goldsmith was on score assignments (MEN IN BLACK, TRANSFORMERS, LETTERS FROM TWO IMA, and recently SUPER 8 ), but when his heart's in it, there's very few directors around who can match let alone better him.

Harmsway wrote:

HULK (2003, dir. Ang Lee) and THE MASTER (2012, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

Intriguing...more about this, please.

THE LADY VANISHES with NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH

I'd have to think on this.

A double feature I would love to see would be my two favorite films: ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST and CHINATOWN.

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is a must, but I'm not sure what film I'd pair it with. Maybe BLADE RUNNER, but which version?

Next Halloween I would love to see THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH and THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE HUNTERS.

THE TERMINATOR and ROBOCOP would be ace.

Brown brought up THE LONG GOODBYE. I'd love to see it paired with THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

Last, but not least, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS and OUT OF THE PAST. Two films I never tire of, and would love to see with a big, appreciative, audience.

00Twelve wrote:

Harmsway wrote:

HULK (2003, dir. Ang Lee) and THE MASTER (2012, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

Intriguing...more about this, please.

It's a bit mad, I know, but I'm just curious what it would bring out of both films, with their emphasis on "inner demons" and father figures and vast, desert landscapes.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is a must, but I'm not sure what film I'd pair it with. Maybe BLADE RUNNER, but which version?

If you paired it with anything, it would have to be the second film. Trust me, after seeing 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY in the theater, every follow-up act is going to seem disappointing.

2001 with The Big Sleep

The Big Heat and Kiss Me Deadly

The Tunnel of Love with Debbie Does Dallas

Harmsway wrote:

The White Tuxedo wrote:

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is a must, but I'm not sure what film I'd pair it with. Maybe BLADE RUNNER, but which version?

If you paired it with anything, it would have to be the second film. Trust me, after seeing 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY in the theater, every follow-up act is going to seem disappointing.

Naw, pair it with something that is good but still makes it look fast-paced. Tarkovsky, maybe.

Harmsway wrote:

The White Tuxedo wrote:

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is a must, but I'm not sure what film I'd pair it with. Maybe BLADE RUNNER, but which version?

If you paired it with anything, it would have to be the second film. Trust me, after seeing 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY in the theater, every follow-up act is going to seem disappointing.

I'd probably pair 2001 with SOLARIS.

Also, THE THIRD MAN with TOUCH OF EVIL.