From 27 to 29 May 2013 timeless classics show at Film Buzz, Dubai International Film
Festival’s (DIFF) popular monthly screening series at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai.
“Despite advances in special effects and cinematography, the classics continue to
teach and entertain us with their storytelling magic, narrative power and legendary
performances,’ says Masoud Amralla Al Ali, DIFF artistic director.
The May programme begins with the silent movie The General by Buster Keaton, on
28 May the chilling film noir The Stranger screens with Orson Welles directing and
starring and on the last evening it is the turn of Cyrano de Bergerac with Jose Ferrer
in an Oscar-winning performance.
The General (1926)
US/Silent/Black and White/101 minutes
Set in the Civil War era, The General is widely considered Keaton’s best work, with
some of his most death-defying stunts: clinging to the front of a moving train,
running along its roof, sitting on the coupling rods – all to save a girl! Keaton plays
Johnnie Gray, an engineer whose fiancee (Marion Mack) is kidnapped by Union
soldiers.
The Stranger (1946)
US/Black and White/95 Minutes
In The Stranger, Orson Welles delivers a film noir classic worthy of his reputation. He
directs and also stars as Franz Kindler, a former Nazi wanted by the UN war crimes
tribunal who has come to America and assumed a new identity as a small town school
professor married to the daughter of a Supreme Court Justice (played by Academy
Award winner Loretta Young).
Cyrano De Bergerac (1950)
US/Black and White/113 minutes
This adventure has been remade numerous times, but the 1950 version contains Jose
Ferrer’s touching, Academy Award-winning performance as the title character, the
swordsman-poet hopelessly in love with the beautiful Roxane, who loves handsome
but tongue-tied Christian. Afraid he can never win her heart, Cyrano composes
beautiful words for Christian to recite to Roxane.
Film Buzz takes place on the last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each month at
19h30. Entry is free and operates on a first come, first served basis. The Pavilion can
only accommodate 60 people per screening, so it is advised that moviegoers arrive
early.
