Tuesday, August 30, 2016

The Bijou's First September

Here's a handy list of what we have booked for the Bijou Film Center's shows in September:

Fri., Sept. 2: It's First Friday! Doors open at 6 p.m. Members (can pick up their Original Member T-shirts and mugs) and friends can stop by for a cold beer, or perhaps a glass of wine. At 9 p.m. Richmond's favorite rockabilly band since Hector was a pup -- the Bop Cats -- will perform live. Admission: 5.00.

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Chaplin and Goddard strolling.
Sat. Sept. 3: "Modern Times" (1936) will play at 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. B&W. 87 minutes. Directed by Charlie Chaplin. Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman.

Note: Released in the middle of the Great Depression, Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp character is plunged into the daunting world of the assembly line. He can't keep up, so he cracks up. Although the comedy has lots of sound effects, music as well, it was essentially a silent film, in that it doesn't depend on dialogue to tell the story. However, Chaplin's voice is heard (for what was the first time in a movie).

Admission: $5.00.

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Sharon Jones onstage.
Sat., Sept 10: "Miss Sharon Jones" (2016) will play at 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Color. 93 minutes. Directed by Barbara Kopple. Cast: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Color. 93 minutes. 
 
Note: Kopple's film presents an extraordinarily talented and lovable woman maintaining her dignity in the face of whatever daunting obstacles she encounters. Sandwiched between the singer's sparkling performances onstage, Jones battles pancreatic cancer with a the-show-must-go-on spirit that makes the film more than just another documentary about a singer/musician. 
Admission: $9.00 (members 7.00).

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A still from 'The Red Balloon'
Sat., Sept. 17:  "The 400 Blows," together with "The Red Balloon," will play on the same program.

“The 400 Blows” (1959): B&W. 99 minutes. Directed by François Truffaut. Cast: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Rémy.

Note: This story’s deft portrayal of a brave boy’s yearning for dignity in an indifferent world kicked in the door for the New Wave’s filmmakers.

“The Red Balloon” (1956): Color. 34 minutes. Directed by Albert Lamorisse. Cast: Pascal Lamorisse, Sabine Lamorisse, Georges Sellier.

Note: Using little dialogue, this utterly charming short French fantasy follows a boy and his balloon friend along the streets of Paris.

Show times: 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

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Sat., Sept. 24: "Danny Says" will play one day only, a week before its national theatrical release. In conjunction with cinemas coast-to-coast, we will be participating in the first national Art House Theater Day. Accordingly, The Bijou will present a thoroughly entertaining new documentary about rock 'n' roll impresario Danny Fields. Show times to be announced.

“Danny Says” (2016): Color. 104 minutes. Directed by Brendan Toller. Cast: Danny Fields, Iggy Pop, the Ramones, the Doors, Cream, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, Nico and more.

Note: Toller's cleverly edited film is about the rock 'n' roll life of Danny Fields, who crossed paths with legendary pop culture characters and managed some edgy, well known acts in the 60's and '70s and '80s. The role Fields played in the development of punk rock is fascinating. This doc should win awards.

Show times: 5 p.m., 7:25 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

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Well, that's a start. We're proud of that lineup. In October we plan to expand our hours to present films and/or live music on both Fridays and Saturdays. And, we will continue to build The Bijou.

Press Release for 'Miss Sharon Jones'

Date: Aug. 30, 2016
To: All media for immediate release
Re: “Miss Sharon Jones”
From: The Bijou Film Center

On Sat., Sept. 10, 2016, the Bijou Film Center at 304 E. Broad St. will offer the public two screenings of “Miss Sharon Jones,” a new documentary directed by Barbara Kopple, a two-time Academy Award winner.


Miss Sharon Jones” (2016): Color. 93 minutes. Directed by Barbara Kopple. Cast: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.

Note: Kopple's film presents an extraordinarily talented and lovable woman maintaining her dignity in the face of whatever daunting obstacles she encounters. Sandwiched between the singer's sparkling performances onstage, Jones battles pancreatic cancer with a the-show-must-go-on spirit that makes the film more than just another documentary about a singer/musician.

“Jones didn’t release her first album until she was 40. A Sony executive had dubbed her “too old, too fat, too short and too black” to achieve stardom, but she proved her naysayers wrong.” – Matt Fagerholm, RogerEbert.com

But what makes 'Miss Sharon Jones' most captivating is how its subject, in spite of hardship, remains a magnetic stage presence.” – Alan Zilberman, Washington Post

Showtimes: 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Admission: $9.00 (members $7.00). Available only at the door; no advance tickets.

Sharon Jones: “As long as I got my heart and my strength, I’m going to get out there. The adrenaline gets you going and it all goes away … I started late, and I suppose I only got a few more years. So I want to get it in while I can, before I go away from here.”

 

Aug. 17 Press Release

Date: Aug. 17, 2016
To: All media for immediate release
Re: First two shows at The Bijou
From: The Bijou Film Center

The Bijou Film Center's program of entertainment for its first weekend of operation in its Arts District location, at 304 E. Broad St., will be as follows:

On Fri., Sept. 2, The Bijou Film Center will be open for First Friday, between 6 p.m. and approximately 10:30 p.m, when we will be selling beer, wine and soft drinks to our thirsty guests. During that time we also hope some of our 400-plus members will stop by to look the place over and pick up their members' T-shirts and mugs. Short silent Charlie Chaplin films (in Super 8) will be projected onto the walls. Until 9 p.m. admission will be free. 

At 9 p.m. the Bopcats, one of Richmond's most enduring rock 'n' roll acts, fronted by Lindy Fralin will perform live. Five dollar donations will be accepted.

Sat., Sept. 3, The Bijou will screen Charlie Chaplin's classic feature film, “Modern Times,” at 7: 15 p.m and again at 9:30 p.m. This beloved classic will be The Bijou's tip of the Little Tramp's hat to Labor Day. Admission will be $5.00.

“Modern Times” (1936): B&W. 87 minutes. Directed by Charlie Chaplin. Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman. Note: Released in the middle of the Great Depression, Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp character is plunged into the daunting world of the assembly line. He can't keep up, so he cracks up. Mishaps ensue. He's hospitalized and later jailed. Although the comedy has lots of sound effects, music as well, it was essentially a silent film, in that it doesn't depend on dialogue to tell the story. However, Chaplin's voice is heard (for what was the first time in a movie). The popular song, “Smile,” which was written by Chaplin, himself, is presented.

About The Bijou's Name: Jake Wells, a former baseball player/manager for the Richmond Bluebirds, opened his original Bijou at 714 E. Broad St. in 1899, about five blocks east of our first home. Writing for the Richmond News Leader in 1952, George W. Rogers credited Wells with having been the “father of Richmond movie houses.”