Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/679317
10 P E R S P E C T I V E | M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 6 news THE BELOVED ROGUE (1927) Art Direction by William Cameron Menzies FILM SOCIETY SCREENING Sunday, May 22, 2016 – The Egyptian Theatre In this film, John Barrymore plays François Villon, the most renowned poet in 15th century France, who is also a prankster, an occasional criminal, and an ardent patriot, the leader of the beggars, vagabonds and petty criminals, given to defying law and order, but always harmlessly. His exploits are played out against a stylized Gothic Paris designed by William Cameron Menzies. No mention of this film can be made without praising the sets. Film historian Kevin Hagopian writes: "The timbered garrets, the sumptuous court interiors of Louis XI and the mysterious, erotic chambers of the lovely Charlotte—all these brought an air of spectacular romance to The Beloved Rogue. Occasionally, the actors look as though they were placed there by Menzies, mere decorations for the fabulous tableaus which are the real stars of the film." There is a period feel to the scenes without being tied to a certain era, an artistic, almost impressionistic, painting. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954) Art Direction by Richard Day FILM SOCIETY SCREENING Sunday, June 26, 2016 – The Aero Theatre Shot on location in the dockside districts of New York City, Richard Day's carefully selected locations and sets establish the characters of the workers' lives. Director Elia Kazan added to the dreariness of these settings by shooting sullen skies hanging low over the alleys, tenements, rooftops and docks. Scarcely any signs of nature are seen except for the cold river and some barren trees in the wintery square in front of the church. Mr. Day carried off yet another Oscar ® for the film (in all, he won seven Academy Awards ® from an astounding twenty-one nominations). His career encompassed every sort of picture (including the sober realism of this film), from musicals with the Goldwyn Girls to serious historical pieces. He was the most adaptive of Art Directors and changes in film style only fueled his creativity. Beverly Heisner writes, "There has been no more sensitive and competent artist of screen decor than Richard Day."