Once again, this January the mysterious sub-genre known as the giallo comes back for 4 screenings. This has been going on for a few years now and they never fail to bring in some really interesting titles, and this year is no different. The screenings take place every Monday in January. See below for the titles.
January 5th – Paranoia (1969) – Directed by Umberto Lenzi and starring Carol Baker, screening from a 35mm print.
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This is going to be a tough year to review when, as I’m starting to write this, I’m still dealing with Covid!*** Or maybe this is the perfect time because in the midst of being miserable, it does show me all the positive things that happened this year. That is one thing I’ve definitely learned in my old age, especially in the last few years, that there are great things going on all the time that need to be acknowledged, just as much, if not more, as any negative or problems that arise. Honestly, even just the “good” things need to be acknowledged. Because yes, they are all there. It just depends on what and how much time you want to focus on one and not the other. It might just be the cough medicine talking, but I do think if we all started to focus on the good, as well as spreading that around to others, I do think we can make a difference. I’m not saying ignore the bad things, because they will continue. But don’t forget to realize that is not all that is out there.
Don’t get me wrong, these next few years are going to be tough. But if we give into the negativity, we all lose. Doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing, but if we are polite and kind to others, even giving a little bit of praise to those that are working hard, little things like could have a huge impact on someone who might be struggling at the moment. And it really doesn’t take much of an effort, does it? Okay, enough preaching.
This year was once again filled with some incredible adventures and plenty of memories. These are the things that make me realize how great it is to be a film fan. 2024 was an incredible year for the horror genre, with a ton of releases coming out, some of them being just amazing.
***Also, as I am now ready to post this, I am thankfully covid free and feeling a hell of a lot better than when I started this!
Continue readingThat’s right folks, since the end of the year is coming, that means that January Giallo at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago is right around the corner! They have announced the 4 titles that will be screening this year, and they are not to be missed.
While the first film isn’t technically the one to start the sub-genre of the giallo, it definitely helped define it. Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace is an incredible piece of cinema, if only for the use of colors and camerawork here. Talk about a master class! It is one that no matter how many times you might have seen it; each time still makes you sit and be amazed at how incredible it looks. If you can’t tell, I’m a big fan of this one and can’t wait to see it on the big screen again!
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Many of us film fans out there attend theaters throughout the year, whether it be a national chain or one of the art house theaters. Then there are some that are even hitting some of the film festivals, special screenings, and those crazy enough, the marathons. For these kinds of events to happen though, there has to be some mad geniuses behind them to make them become a reality. That is a little of what a film programmer is, though what they do is so much more. From tracking down film prints, the best quality ones available, and even harder sometimes is who actually owns them, so they can screen them. A lot of times it might come down to the sheer passion they have for these offbeat, awkward, or just downright strange and fucked up, that makes them want to pass that along to new viewers. In other words, helping new fans Discover the Horror!
One of those mad geniuses is Will Morris, who is one of the programmers for the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, and has been programming the 24-hour marathon, The Music Box of Horrors, for close to a decade now, as well as programming their yearly January Giallo festival, and much, much more. We invited Will to come on the show to not only explain a little of what he does, but why. Get ready for a fun and wild ride.
Movies mention in the episode:
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Our good friend Ian Simmons, who runs the Kicking the Seat podcast, as well as hosts the Academia Giallo show that I am a frequent guest on, along with Aaron Christensen from Horror 101 with Dr. AC, and Bryan Martinez from The Giallo Room, has recently posted the interview that he and Mr. Martinez were able to do with the Giallo Maestro himself, Sergio Martino. I’ve been meaning to post this, but time has not been so nice to me as of late. But, better late than never, right?
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This year’s January Giallo at the Music Box Theatre started off when a bang! I mean, having the chance to see any Paul Naschy film on the big screen is a rarity as it is, but then to have a screening of Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll (1974) made it even better. What a way to not only start the year off by seeing this Naschy flick on January 1st, but a great way to start off the January Giallo festival as well! I was a little worried being that it was screening on New Year’s Day that the crowd might not come out for it, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a very crowded theater that evening. A very cool evening, indeed.
I was out there for the second screening, the 1978 made-for-TV movie called Closed Circuit, that I’m still on the fence about! Really enjoyed the film but that ending . . . But once again, there was a really good turnout for it. I had planned to hit the next screening, the French film The Strangler (1970), but it was just way too cold to be heading anywhere outside, let alone an hour drive into Chicago.
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I know we had previously announced that Italian director Sergio Martino was going to be at the Music Box Theatre on the 22nd for a screening of his 1973 epic Torso as the last film in this year’s January Giallo series. But the Giallo Gods have smiled upon us once again and have the Music Box has added another Martino classic, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971), starring George Hilton, Edwige Fenech, Ivan Rassimov, and Alberto de Mendoza, which I would consider a very essential title in the giallo sub-genre. This screening will be taking place on Tuesday the 23rd, at 7pm.
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Chicago’s own Music Box Theatre has announced the titles for this year’s celebration of the giallo, and there is a lot to be excited about!!! Not only are they starting off this year’s series with a Paul Naschy film, but they are also ending it with one of the ultimate in the giallo sub-genre, with the director in attendance for a post film Q&A! Just look below to see what films are playing and when:
Continue readingBack in January of this year, Chicago’s Music Box Theatre offered up a series of Italian films from the giallo sub-genre, giving fans a chance to see some amazing titles on the big screen. Next month, they are continuing that tradition, giving us 5 more titles, but not just from Italy this time, showing the international influence of this intriguing sub-genre. You’ll still get 3 titles from Italy, once again showcasing some of the best gialli from that country, but also one from Spain and even one from here in the US, starring a very famous actor/director. Check out the titles and the dates below and start making your plans. These will all be screening in the main theater, with 3 from 35mm and 2 from DCP. For all the latest info about this series, just click HERE.
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