Classic Westerns at the NFT in May

[Guest 52808]

Just had a look at the BFI/NFT site to find to my surprise and delight that throughout May they're screening a number of classic westerns under the banner of 'Tales From The Big Country: Classic Westerns'.

Included are screenings of 'High Noon', 'The Magnificent Seven', 'Major Dundee', 'The Naked Spur', 'Once Upon A Time In The West', 'Stagecoach', 'Red River' and 'Rio Bravo' among others.

However, the most tantalising prospects of all are 1. A screening of 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly' followed by a conversation with Eli Wallach on Sat. 27 May at 3.00pm, and 2. Screenings of 'The Searchers' on Thur. 18 & Tue. 30 May. According to the website the 18 May showing will be the new digital restoration introduced by Edward Buscombe, followed by a short demonstration of the restoration by Ned Price from Warner Bros. I think I'll be suggesting a couple of day trips down to London to my better half when I get home tonight!

[John Hodson]

Originally Posted by RABBITLEADER

I think I'll be suggesting a couple of day trips down to London to my better half when I get home tonight!

Ditto...

3:10 to Yuma + Elmore Leonard In Conversation
To celebrate the release of his complete collection of Western stories, we are thrilled to welcome the acclaimed writer, Elmore Leonard, to discuss his extraordinary career. Preceding the interview we will screen the Delmer Daves' classic psychological western.
NFT1 6.15PM Tue 9 May
Brokeback Mountain
Not only a milestone in the treatment of sex in the Western, but an excellent film in every way.
NFT1 2.30PM Fri 19 May
NFT1 8.20PM Sat 20 May
NFT1 5.50PM Tue 23 May
NFT2 8.20PM Wed 24 May
Dead Man
Johnny Depp is perfect as a bemused accountant on the run from psychotic bounty-hunters in an anti-mythological Western.
NFT1 8.30PM Thu 4 May
NFT1 6.00PM Fri 26 May
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly + Eli Wallach In Conversation
We are delighted to welcome Eli Wallach to the NFT for an on-stage interview. Wallach is one of Hollywood's most recognisable and accomplished actors. Prior to the interview we will screen Sergio Leone's classic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly which features one of his most memorable roles; the lying, two-faced, bandit Tuco.
NFT1 3.00PM Sat 27 May
Heaven's Gate
The film that seemed to have buried the Western in 1980, but whose reputation continues to grow; a genuine epic.
NFT1 3.45PM Sat 20 May
NFT1 6.30PM Mon 22 May
High Noon
A film rightly on everyone's 'best Westerns' list, with an Oscar-winning performance by Gary Cooper.
NFT2 6.10PM Fri 5 May
NFT1 8.50PM Tue 9 May
Johnny Guitar
So much more than a cult film, with a legendary gender-bending performance by Joan Crawford.
NFT1 6.10PM Thu 4 May
NFT1 8.45PM Mon 8 May
NFT1 8.50PM Wed 10 May
The Last of the Mohicans
A not wholly faithful but spirited and handsome version James Fenimote Copper's classic novel of the 18th-century frontier.
NFT2 6.10PM Sun 28 May
NFT2 8.40PM Wed 31 May
The Magnificent Seven
One of the most influential and purely enjoyable Westerns of the past fifty years, with a sparkling script and wonderful performances.
NFT1 5.40PM Sun 21 May
NFT1 8.20PM Fri 26 May
Major Dundee
An under-rated work in the Peckinpah canon, with a truly epic sweep, and now with some key scenes restored.
NFT1 8.20PM Sun 21 May
NFT1 8.20PM Mon 29 May
McCabe and Mrs Miller
Altman's bleak and bitter-sweet look at the West, lit up by the performances of Warren Beatty and Julie Christie.
NFT1 8.40PM Thu 11 May
NFT1 6.20PM Fri 19 May
The Naked Spur
Shot on location in the Rockies, this film shows why James Stewart and director Anthony Mann were the perfect partnership.
NFT2 6.10PM Mon 1 May
NFT2 8.40PM Tue 16 May
The New World
Terrence Malick's magical treatment of the Pocahontas story and the first encounters between the English and the Indians.
NFT1 2.15PM Fri 26 May
NFT1 8.10PM Sat 27 May
NFT1 5.15PM Mon 29 May
NFT1 5.20PM Wed 31 May
Once Upon a Time In the West
Leone's masterpiece, under-rated on its release but now appreciated both for its visual beauty and thematic richness.
NFT1 7.50PM Mon 1 May
NFT1 5.50PM Wed 10 May
NFT1 8.10PM Sun 28 May
Red River
The best trail-driving Western, one of John Wayne's finest performances, and the film that made Montgomery Clift a star.
NFT2 6.10PM Tue 2 May
NFT1 8.45PM Tue 30 May
Rio Bravo
One of the great films of the genre, full of tenderness as well as action.
NFT1 8.20PM Tue 23 May
NFT1 2.00PM Mon 29 May
Run of the Arrow
Rod Steiger as a defeated Confederate soldier trying to find a new home among the Sioux Indians.
NFT2 8.45PM Tue 2 May
NFT1 6.30PM Mon 8 May
The Searchers
John Ford's masterpiece, and one of the undisputed great films of the genre, beautiful and profound.
NFT1 6.10PM Thu 18 May
NFT1 6.00PM Tue 30 May
Shane
A classic version of the small farmers vs. big rancher story, with a charismatic performance by Alan Ladd.
NFT1 8.40PM Wed 3 May
NFT2 6.10PM Sat 6 May
The Shootist
John Wayne is a gunfighter dying of cancer, a brave and skilful performance, his last before dying of the disease.
NFT2 8.40PM Fri 5 May
NFT2 8.30PM Wed 17 May
Short Course: Winning the Spurs
A course exploring images of masculinity in the Western and other genres.
NFT Study Room 6.30PM Wed 3 May
NFT Study Room 6.30PM Wed 10 May
NFT Study Room 6.30PM Wed 17 May
NFT Study Room 6.30PM Wed 24 May
NFT Study Room 6.30PM Wed 31 May
Stagecoach
Indisputably a classic and essential viewing, this is the film that made John Wayne's career.
NFT1 3.15PM Mon 1 May
NFT2 8.40PM Sat 6 May
The Tall T
A polished gem of a film, spare, elegant, everything in its place, and Richard Boone a perfect foil for Randolph Scott.
NFT2 6.20PM Sat 13 May
NFT2 8.40PM Mon 15 May
Ulzana's Raid
A brave film, unsentimental in its depiction of relations between whites and Indians, with a fine performance by Burt Lancaster.
NFT2 6.10PM Fri 12 May
NFT1 3.30PM Sun 21 May
Unforgiven
Great direction and acting from Clint Eastwood as a reformed gunfighter who agrees to one last job.
NFT2 3.30PM Sat 6 May
NFT2 8.20PM Fri 12 May

[Guest 29]

Well I think I'm gonna go down for "Heaven's Gate" if I possibly can. It'll be a one-day thing but I'm not sure I can resist...

[Guest 29334]

BFI member so I got my tickets booked for West (for free) and Ugly. Will probably catch Naked Spur and Johnny Guitar also. I saw Heavens Gate at the NFT last year, it's quite an experience watching it on the big screen and I hope you have a great time Mike

[Guest 29]

I've never seen the full version on the big screen. I saw the cut down release in the States in 1981 but the full experience is something I eagerly await.

[Guest 45586]

I haven't seen Heaven's Gate since the NFT first revived it in 1982 or 1983 and gave it a week's run in 70mm with Mr Cimino in attendance. What's the print like nowadays? I won't travel hundreds of miles just to see a cut-about faded relic.

[Guest 43775]

I'm off to see The Magnificent Seven - on the big screen .... can't wait

[Guest 29334]

Originally Posted by Wendell Armbruster

I haven't seen Heaven's Gate since the NFT first revived it in 1982 or 1983 and gave it a week's run in 70mm with Mr Cimino in attendance. What's the print like nowadays? I won't travel hundreds of miles just to see a cut-about faded relic.

The print they showed last year (and the one I am told they are showing this year) is a new print of the extended cut. It has 5.1 surround and is generally of good quality, a few nicks and scratches as you would expect from a print.

[gZa]

Originally Posted by Tony Soprano

The print they showed last year (and the one I am told they are showing this year) is a new print of the extended cut. It has 5.1 surround and is generally of good quality, a few nicks and scratches as you would expect from a print.

Agreed I was quite impressed by the quality of the print. There's a short 30 minute intermission too. In fact I might well check it out on the big screen again.

[Guest 45586]

Originally Posted by Tony Soprano

The print they showed last year (and the one I am told they are showing this year) is a new print of the extended cut. It has 5.1 surround and is generally of good quality, a few nicks and scratches as you would expect from a print.

Thanks for the info, Mr Soprano. Will try and book this - I've always thought Heaven's Gate has a unique, sprawling ambience that transcends the obvious flaws in the narrative and the often abysmal sound quality, especially the dialogue on the railway platform near the beginning. I also adore David Mansfield's Eastern-European, folksy music.

[Guest 29334]

I certainly liked it more then I thought I would. In fact was tempted to see it again. I was so glad when I got my May NFT guide through the post and they announced this western season.

[R-T-C]

I just hope that some of these films tour the country afterwards. Just my luck that when I am in London for a week they have a boring schedule, and suddenly all these interesting films show up.

[Guest 1721]

Hoping to do GB&U and OUATITW on the 27th/28th - just got to talk to my lady to see if she's free.

[Guest 29334]

Just to warn you guys the online NFT ticket booking for BFI members is listing GBU as sold out.

[Guest 1721]

I'm not even too fussed about the Q&A - just want to see the film in NFT1.

[Guest 29334]

I don't think you can see them seperatly. If you click on GBU screenign it says no tickets available.

[Guest 29334]

Right I just rung the NFT, theres only a few tickets left. I've bought mine, the number to ring is 020 7928 3232
To clarify the screening of ugly is at 3pm on Saturday 27th May and non BFI/NFT members have to pay Ł14.75. Look forward to seeing everyone there

[Guest 1721]

The tickets left looked awful and sadly my other half couldn't make it. We've gone for OUATINW on the Sunday and Rio Bravo on the Monday. It's a shame they've done no further screenings of GBU though