Tivoli Cinemas and the UMKC Department of Communication Studies present
Janus Films 4
LOVES OF
A BLONDE
Our fourth in a series of cinematic classics from the Janus Film
Company digs deeper into the their vaults to bring you some
lesser known but richly-crafted masterpieces.
Each films shows on Tuesday nights at 7:00pm except
for the final film, the comedy DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE, which
will screen for one week beginning Friday November 7th.
Remember, these films are presented in new 35mm prints.
Tickets are $3.00 for the public and free to all
UMKC students and staff with current id. (Except for
DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE where regular Tivoli ticket prices apply).
LOLA
October 7
7:00pm
A story about a
idealistic provincial
young woman who has
a one night stand with
a traveling musician
who lives in Prague.
He paints a glowing
picture of the city and
the young girl, dewy eyed with love, shows up at his doorstep in Prague and
throws his family life into chaos. A gentle and bittersweet early work from the
director of ONE FLEW OVER’S THE CUCKOO’S NEST and AMADEUS.
Milos Forman, 1965, Czech Republic, 88 minutes
September 16 • 7:00pm
Fall 2008
One of director Fassbinder’s more
commercial efforts this colorful film is
a updated version of THE BLUE ANGEL
set in post war Germany’s economic
miracle period. Barbara Sukowa plays
the charmingly predatory prostitute who
sets her sights on the city’s only honest
politician the Building Commissioner
played by Aarmiin Mueller-Stahl. The film
is steeped in the usual Fassbinder cynicism
but in LOLA the director plays it light and
funny. The film also features a striking
use of color and lighting that pays visual
tribute to the Technicolor masterpieces of Douglas Sirk and Vincent Minnelli.
PLAYTIME
October 14 • 7:00pm
Tati’s glorious alterego comically tries to
keep an appointment while wandering
the streets of a Paris that is dominated by
steel and glass skyscrapers. The gigantic
and expensive set of an ultramodern vision
of the City of Lights doomed this classic
financially but today it is regarded as Tati’s
masterpiece. As with all Tati’s work the
sound and sight gags are gentle and droll.
Jacques Tati, 1967, France, 108 minutes
Ranier Werner Fassbinder, 1982, Germany, 114 minutes
FLOWERS OF
ST. FRANCIS
AU REVIORS
LES ENFANTS
September 23 • 7:00pm
The great Italian director’s neglected
masterpiece is the story of Saint Francis
of Assisi and his fellow monks told in a
series of vignettes that are based on the
beloved book of teaching stories THE
LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS. Using
nonactors (many of the monks are played
by real life monks) Rossellini captures the
down to earth fervor and gentle humor of
the great saint and his followers. Federico
Fellini worked on the script and the story
of Francis and the leper has Felliniesque touches grounded by the naturalistic
style of director Rossellini.
October 21 • 7:00pm
A deeply felt autobiographical
film based on an episode in
Malle’s life during WWII when the
teachers at a Catholic boarding
school decide to hide a few
Jewish boys and pass them off
as their students. The film quietly
leads to an emotionally powerful
end. Filmmaker Malle never
sentimentalizes the children nor does he succumb to bombast which gives
the film a great integrity.
Louis Malle, 1983, France, 103 minutes
Roberto Rossellini, 1952, Italy, 75 minutes
UGETSU
SANJURO
October 28 • 7:00pm
September 30 • 7:00pm
A sequel to Kurosawa’s YOJIMBO once
again starring Toshiro Mifune as the
taciturn and shabby wandering samurai
who comes to the aid of bumbling young
warriors in order to expose the corruption
among the powerful of their clan. Like
YOJIMBO this film is a cartoon like satire
shot in splendid Tohoscope.
Akira Kurosawa, 1962, Japan, 96 minutes
Director Mizoguchi’s best known
work is an eerie ghost story set
in 16th century Japan that tells
of two peasants who leave their
families in search of fortune. One
seeks wealth in the city while the
other wishes to become a samurai
warrior. This is a ravishingly
composed film that features
Mizoguchi’s masterful style of
long shots, long takes and graceful and unobtrusive camera movement.
Kenji Mizoguchi, 1963, Japan, 96 minutes
DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE
ONE WEEK ONLY! November 7-13
A classic dark comedy about a man who has a problem: how to get rid of his wife so he can marry
a gorgeous blond 16 year old cousin. The biggest obstacle in his way is that divorce is against the
law. So, the husband, superbly played by Marcello Mastroianni, must find a way to dispose of his
wife and marry his lovely object of desire played by Stefania Sandrelli. Complications, hilarity and
an ironic ending ensue. The film won an Academy Award for best screenplay and nominations for
Mastroianni and director Germi.
Pietro Germi, 1961, Italy, 104 minutes