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A group of unique directors and the essential works that you've got to see.

||| Frank Capra |||
Frank Capra

It goes without saying that Capra is one of the greatest and most beloved directors of all time, especially renowned for his madcap romantic comedies. He is one of the few directors who ever managed to balance whimsy with meaningfulness without loosing the ability to entertain.

Only Frank Capra, with his light hand and good sense of allowing the actors to be their roles, could carry off this tale of a naive average American used by an unscrupulous politician through a nationwide goodwill drive. No one was ever better at having strong yet vulnerable women not only aid, but often come to the rescue, of the leading man.

Frank Capra's final film is a hilarious translation of a Damon Runyon tale set in 1930s New York, as gangster Glenn Ford repays street peddler Bette Davis for her "good luck" apples by passing her off as a well-to-do society lady for her visiting daughter (Ann-Margret in her film debut). This excellent and thoroughly enjoyable remake of his own 1933 "Lady for a Day" is a beautiful swan song to a master storyteller. Widescreen!

In this black comedy about two sweet old ladies whose basement holds a murderously funny secret, Capra utilizes star Cary Grant to his zany, patented “double take” best. Capra’s brilliance in comic casting is demonstrated with such reliable character actors as Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre and Jack Carson who manage to play their parts to the hilt without chewing up the scenery.

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Notes from the 2008 American Film Market

By EdwardHavens

November 6th, 2008

This year's American Film Market, where thousands of film buyers and sellers come together at Santa Monica's Loews Beach Hotel for a week of deal-making, networking and schmoozing, started yesterday, amongst worries the global economic crisis could make for less than desirable results.

Notes from the 2008 American Film Market

The veteran of numerous AFMs myself, I had never seen such a blasé opening frame as I witnessed yesterday. Usually, opening day at the Market is filled with heavy traffic in the halls and suites, buyers optimistic there will be a cache of new films that they can bring home to their entertainment-starved masses, sellers hoping this year will be better than the previous. On Wednesday, the mood was cautiously positive, with expectations riding on a major uptick in deals for the weekend, but it was still shocking to see the usually jam-packed Weinstein Company suite so threadbare, but it was like that in every suite.

Speaking of the Weinsteins, amongst the new product they were hawking was “Nine,” Rob Marshall’s cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical which itself was an adaptation of Federico Fellini’s “8 1/2." Daniel Day-Lewis plays filmmaker Guido Contini, who finds himself entangled in a mid-life crisis as he approaches his fortieth birthday, despite celebrating his most recent and greatest success. You couldn’t ask for a better supporting cast, which includes Oscar®-winners Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman and Sophia Loren, as well as Penelope Cruz, Stacy Ferguson and Kate Hudson. The Weinsteins released this photo of the production, which only began three weeks ago. “Nine” is scheduled to open in theatres December 11, 2009.


”Nine” image courtesy The Weinstein Company

At AFM, The Weinstein Company also introduced new pictures for “Crossing Over,” Extreme Movie” and “Youth in Revolt.”



”Crossing Over” images courtesy The Weinstein Company




”Extreme Movie” images courtesy The Weinstein Company




”Youth in Revolt” images courtesy The Weinstein Company

”Extreme Movie” is scheduled to arrive in theatres on December 5, “Youth in Revolt” on February 20 and “Crossing Over” later in 2009.