Film Noir Festival -- October 15-18
The Annual Peoria Film Noir Festival takes place from Tuesday, October 14 to Saturday, October 18 this year. It is presented by the Peoria Public Library and the Apollo Theater. The Peoria Public Library opening night is free, showings at the Apollo are $5 for adults and $4 for students. For more information call 497-2160 or 673-4343. The following films will be screened:
Wednesday, October 15 - Peoria Public Library Main Street Branch - FREE
“I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang”
World War I veteran James Allen, played by the original Scarface Paul Muni, quits his factory job and moves from state to state in search of a construction job. Along the way he is wrongly convicted of robbery and sentenced to ten years in a chain gang. Allen escapes to Chicago and has a successful construction business, until his girlfriend threatens to expose his past unless he marries her.
“Asphalt Jungle”
In this film directed by John Huston, Doc Riedenschneider is fresh out of prison and has a brilliant plan to rob a jewelry store with the help of his friends. The gang tries to sell the jewels to Lon Emmerich, who is planning to double-cross them for his own gain.
Thursday, October 16 - Apollo Theatre
“Shadow of a Doubt”
In this Hitchcock classic, Charlie Newton shares both her uncle’s name and his desire to escape small-town life. Charlie calls for her uncle to visit her and all is well, until two detectives in search of the “Merry Widow Murderer” make Uncle Charlie uneasy. Young Charlie realizes her life may be in danger by the very man she looks up to.
“His Kind of Woman”
Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell star in this film about Dan, a gambler, traveling to Mexico to retrieve his crime boss Ferraro who has been deported. Along the way Dan meets Lenore, a singer. Things seem to be going Dan’s way until he arrives at Ferraro’s resort and realizes he may not be able to trust anyone.
Friday, October 17 - Apollo Theatre
“The Lady from Shanghai”
Orson Welles stars as Michael O’Hara, a crew member on Arthur Bannister’s yacht which is sailing to San Francisco. Rosalie, Bannister’s wife, played by Rita Hayworth, shows a great interest in Michael, prompting him to accept a bribe from Bannister’s pal Grisby, who wants to fake his own death. When Grisby is actually murdered, though, Michael is made a prime suspect.
“The Damned Don’t Cry”
Joan Crawford is disappeared socialite Lorna Hansen Forbes, a woman seemingly without a past. Lorna’s working class upbringing, along with her discovery of the power of her sex appeal, is revealed though flashbacks.
Saturday, October 18 - Apollo Theatre
“Kiss of Death”
Nick Bianco is a small-time crook who is captured after a botched attempt to rob a jewelry store. Nick spends three years in jail for his crime because he refused to out his accomplices to the DA. Upon his release, Nick finds out that his wife has committed suicide and his daughters are in an orphanage. Nick remarries but soon learns that wanted murderer Tommy Udo is after him.
“Sunset Boulevard”
In Billy Wilder’s classic, Gloria Swanson stars as former silent film star Norma Desmond who has confined herself to her mansion on Sunset Boulevard. When down-on-his-luck screenwriter Joe Gillis stops in front of her house with car troubles, the two develop a strange relationship and write a screenplay for Norma’s comeback. When Norma learns of Joe’s other love interest, though, her jealousy overcomes her.
Wednesday, October 15 - Peoria Public Library Main Street Branch - FREE
“I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang”
World War I veteran James Allen, played by the original Scarface Paul Muni, quits his factory job and moves from state to state in search of a construction job. Along the way he is wrongly convicted of robbery and sentenced to ten years in a chain gang. Allen escapes to Chicago and has a successful construction business, until his girlfriend threatens to expose his past unless he marries her.
“Asphalt Jungle”
In this film directed by John Huston, Doc Riedenschneider is fresh out of prison and has a brilliant plan to rob a jewelry store with the help of his friends. The gang tries to sell the jewels to Lon Emmerich, who is planning to double-cross them for his own gain.
Thursday, October 16 - Apollo Theatre
“Shadow of a Doubt”
In this Hitchcock classic, Charlie Newton shares both her uncle’s name and his desire to escape small-town life. Charlie calls for her uncle to visit her and all is well, until two detectives in search of the “Merry Widow Murderer” make Uncle Charlie uneasy. Young Charlie realizes her life may be in danger by the very man she looks up to.
“His Kind of Woman”
Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell star in this film about Dan, a gambler, traveling to Mexico to retrieve his crime boss Ferraro who has been deported. Along the way Dan meets Lenore, a singer. Things seem to be going Dan’s way until he arrives at Ferraro’s resort and realizes he may not be able to trust anyone.
Friday, October 17 - Apollo Theatre
“The Lady from Shanghai”
Orson Welles stars as Michael O’Hara, a crew member on Arthur Bannister’s yacht which is sailing to San Francisco. Rosalie, Bannister’s wife, played by Rita Hayworth, shows a great interest in Michael, prompting him to accept a bribe from Bannister’s pal Grisby, who wants to fake his own death. When Grisby is actually murdered, though, Michael is made a prime suspect.
“The Damned Don’t Cry”
Joan Crawford is disappeared socialite Lorna Hansen Forbes, a woman seemingly without a past. Lorna’s working class upbringing, along with her discovery of the power of her sex appeal, is revealed though flashbacks.
Saturday, October 18 - Apollo Theatre
“Kiss of Death”
Nick Bianco is a small-time crook who is captured after a botched attempt to rob a jewelry store. Nick spends three years in jail for his crime because he refused to out his accomplices to the DA. Upon his release, Nick finds out that his wife has committed suicide and his daughters are in an orphanage. Nick remarries but soon learns that wanted murderer Tommy Udo is after him.
“Sunset Boulevard”
In Billy Wilder’s classic, Gloria Swanson stars as former silent film star Norma Desmond who has confined herself to her mansion on Sunset Boulevard. When down-on-his-luck screenwriter Joe Gillis stops in front of her house with car troubles, the two develop a strange relationship and write a screenplay for Norma’s comeback. When Norma learns of Joe’s other love interest, though, her jealousy overcomes her.