Two classic British black and white crime dramas can be seen this month in a double feature at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Wed. March 26th as part of the American Cinematheque’s 16th Annual Festival of Film Noir.
It Always Rains on Sunday (1947, 92 mins)), directed by Robert Hamer, stars Googie Withers as Rose Sandigate, a former barmaid and now overworked wife to a dull husband and stepmother to two resentful girls. Set in the depressed and gangster-ridden streets of postwar Bethnal Green, it comes as no surprise when her life is turned upside down when Rose shelters a jailbird on the lam who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend.
The second part of this absorbing double bill is Brighton Rock (1947, 92 minutes), directed by John Boulting, and starring Richard Atttenborough in one of his most memorable performances as Pinkie, the young racetrack gangster whose murder of a gangland rival is complicated by a possible witness – a naïve young waitress named Rose who Pinkie then courts and marries. From the classic novel by Graham Greene.
It Always Rains on Sunday starts at 7.30, with Brighton Rock following immediately afterwards. The Egyptian Theatre is located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028. For more details visit: http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/it-always-rains-on-sunday-brighton-rock
