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Remember, remember, the fifth of November
The November 2021 repertory movie roundup
Stephen Silver
November is here, and the theaters of the Philadelphia area are offering an eclectic mix of older movies this month. Some of the highlights include films like A Hard Day’s Night, Boyz N the Hood, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and, of course, V for Vendetta screens on Guy Fawkes Day.
A Hard Day's Night
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr
Tuesday, November 2-Saturday, November 13
BMFI is offering a run of the famous Beatles movie from 1964, directed by Richard Lester, ahead of the arrival of the upcoming documentary The Beatles: Get Back. In addition, Paul McEwan Ph.D will host a Cinema Classics seminar about the film on November 10.
The Visitor
Lightbox Film Center, 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia
Wednesday, November 3, 8pm
As part of its new Weird Wednesdays series, the Lightbox is presenting Giulio Paradisi’s 1979 sci-fi/horror epic, which follows an intergalactic warrior who joins a “cosmic Christ figure in battle against a demonic eight-year-old girl and her pet hawk.”
The Third Man
Ambler Theater, 108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler
Thursday, November 4, 7:30pm
One of the most acclaimed films of all time is director Carol Reed’s 1949 masterpiece, which starred Orson Welles and Joseph Cotton. The showing will be followed by a virtual discussion on November 9 with TCM’s Hannah Jack.
Chameleon Street
Lightbox Film Center, 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia
Friday, November 5, 7pm
The Lightbox will host a screening of the new 4K restoration of Wendell B. Harris Jr.’s 1990 film, which won the Grand Jury prize that year at the Sundance Film Festival. It tells the story of con man Douglas Street (played by Harris) who impersonated a wide variety of people to get his way.
Body and Soul
Media Arts Council Gallery, 609-B West State Street, Media
Wednesday, November 10, 7pm
The State Street Movie Night series continues with Oscar Micheaux’s 1925 silent film Body and Soul, starring the legendary Paul Robeson. Micheaux’s film set precedence and broke ground as one of the first movies made by a Black filmmaker with a Black actor starring in a leading role.
Boyz N the Hood
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr
Tuesday, November 16, 1pm; Thursday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 23, 7pm
John Singleton’s seminal 1991 film about life and violence in South Central Los Angeles is getting a run at BMFI for its 30th anniversary. In addition, a Cinema Classics seminar is scheduled for November 16, to be taught by Amy Corbin Ph.D.
The Velvet Vampire
Lightbox Film Center, 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia
Wednesday, November 17, 8pm
The Weird Wednesdays series continues with Stephanie Rothman’s 1971 cult vampire movie, which starred Michael Blodgett, Sherry Miles, and Celeste Yarnall. The Lightbox is showing a restored version courtesy of Shout! Factory and the American Genre Film Archive.
V For Vendetta
Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Friday, November 5, 9:45pm
In honor of Guy Fawkes Day, the Colonial will host a screening of director James McTeigue’s 2006 film, which was written by the Wachowskis. Based on Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s DC Comics series, the film stars Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving.
The Exhumed Films 24 Hour Horror-thon
Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Saturday, November 6-Sunday, November 7, 12pm-12pm
After taking a break during the pandemic, the day-long horror movie festival, which runs from noon on Saturday until noon on Sunday, will finally make its comeback in Phoenixville. The lineup of 35mm films will not be released in advance, and will come as a surprise to those in attendance.
Mary Poppins
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr
Saturdays, November 6 and 20, 11am
BMFI will host a pair of showings this month of Robert Stevenson’s 1964 Disney classic about cinema’s most beloved magical babysitter (Julie Andrews). The film in recent years has inspired Disney to produce both the making-of drama Saving Mr. Banks and the sequel Mary Poppins Returns.
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage
Lightbox Film Center, 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia
Wednesday, November 10, 8pm
The Lightbox’s Weird Wednesdays series continues with a new 4K restoration of director Dario Argento’s 1970 debut giallo film about a man (Tony Musante) who after witnessing an attempted murder by a serial killer becomes a target himself.
Starship Troopers
Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Saturday, November 20, 7:45pm
Paul Verhoeven’s much-misunderstood satirical sci-fi film from 1997 based on Robert Heinlein’s novel gets a rare big-screen showing in November. This arrives ahead of the release of Verhoeven’s latest film Benedetta, which premieres in December.
M
Media Arts Council Gallery, 609-B West State Street, Media
Wednesday, November 24, 7pm
The State Street Movie Night series continues just before Thanksgiving with M, Fritz Lang’s classic from 1931, a serial killer story and one of the earliest films to have sound.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr
Wednesday, November 24, 7pm and Saturday, November 27, 1pm
Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Sunday, November 21, 1:30pm
On the week of Thanksgiving, you’ll have multiple opportunities to see one of the best films ever set on that holiday. The 1987 comedy classic was directed by John Hughes and starred Steve Martin and the late John Candy.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Friday, November 26-Sunday, November 28
And finally, if you seek the grail, the Colonial will present its annual showing of Monty Python’s 1975 skewering of the Arthurian legend, which was directed by Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam.
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