The Reel McCoy Film Group
Screening world cinema and forgotten gems since 1990
Screening world cinema and forgotten gems since 1990
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The Reel McCoy Film Group is a not-for-profit film society that since 1990 has been catering for people interested in cinema, particularly those who like to see timeless classics and overlooked gems at low cost. Membership is $50 per annum, $35 for 6 months, or $20 for 3 months. Membership runs from the date of joining.
With very grateful support from
 Canberra Museum and Gallery Members of CMAG are welcome to join the Reel McCoy at a substantial discount: membership for a year for only $20. Screenings are held in the Theatre of Canberra Museum and Gallery (corner of London Circuit and City Square, Canberra City), usually on the second and last Sundays of each month at 12:30 pm. Next screening: Sunday, 8 October 2023 at 12:30 pm
IKIRU
Mr Watanabe (Shimura) is a bureaucrat who has worked at Tokyo City Hall for more than thirty years without accomplishing anything. He learns he is dying and realises that he has never really been alive. Now he must learn how to confront death and how to find meaning in his life. Although this was recently remade as the English film Living (2022) the original is still considered better. Celebrated director Akira Kurosawa fashioned not only a penetrating study of a man's last days, but a brilliant commentary on middle class life and bureaucracy that is universally understood.
For more information, e-mail us or come along to a screening The Reel McCoy Film Group is a member of the Australian Film Societies Federation. Contact them to learn how to start and run a film society or group of your own. Programme for the second half of 2023:
Sunday 9 July 2023
THE SEARCHERS USA · 1956 · 119 min. Director John Ford Cast John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond A special commemoration screening for the late Richard Keys, co-founder of the Reel McCoy Film Group. One of Richard’s favourite films, The Searchers is an American classic, a complex western, beautifully written, directed, and photographed. It follows two men, Ethan Edwards (Wayne) and Martin Pauley (Hunter), as they search for a young girl, Debbie, abducted by Indians following a massacre. Ostensibly, Debbie is Ethan’s niece, but is she more, a daughter perhaps? And his motive for the search seems more like revenge than rescue. And what is the role of Martin, who is part Indian?
Sunday 30 July 2023
THE INSULT Lebanon · 2017 · 112 min. Director Ziad Doueiri Cast Adel Karam, Kamel el Basha, Diamand bou Abboud Tony (Karam), a right-wing Christian and Salameh (el Basha), a Palestinian refugee, argue, and an insult leads to violence and a court case. The following legal drama examines and exacerbates long-festering wounds from the 1970s' Lebanese Civil War and causes political upheaval in an already unstable country. This film is Lebanon's first Oscar® nomination. David Stratton said: "Provocative and inclusive. A tense courtroom drama that seems certain to open the eyes of viewers to some of the Middle East’s most intractable situations. Superbly acted by all concerned. Anyone interested in political cinema should rush to see this fine movie."
Sunday 13 August 2023
BE NATURAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ALICE GUY-BLACHÉ USA · 2018 · 103 min. Director Pamela B. Green Cast Alice Guy-Blaché, Pamela B. Green, Jodie Foster As an employee of Gaumont, Alice Guy-Blaché was present at the Lumière brothers' first screening in 1895 and was captivated by the possibilities of film. From the very next year she went on to produce and direct approximately 1000 films, first in France and later in her studio in the USA. Her position in Gaumont and then as head of a studio meant that she had a unique opportunity to experiment not only in narrative but also to explore innovations in camera work, editing, and sound. Pamela Green's documentary does much to re-discover this largely forgotten and certainly innovative filmmaker.
Sunday 27 August 2023
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS USA · 1954 · 103 min. Director Stanley Donen Cast Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn Mountain farmer Howard Keel comes to town to get himself a wife. Dancing, singing Jane Powell says yes and back to the mountains they go. When they arrive, there are six brothers who decide to do exactly the same thing – only they forget to get permission from the girls’ parents. The politically incorrect plot is handled with a wholesome humour that makes this film irresistible. Add infectious music (by Johnny Mercer and Gene DePaul), a funny script (by Dorothy Kingsley, Frances Goodrich, and Albert Hackett), and the most fabulous dance sequences by Michael Kidd. Audiences so loved it, it became a popular Broadway show.
Sunday 10 September 2023
THE RULES OF THE GAME [LA RÈGLE DU JEU] France · 1939 · 113 min. Director Jean Renoir Cast Marcel Dalio, Nora Gregor, Jean Renoir, Mila Parély, Julien Carette, Gaston Modot, Roland Toutain A marquis organises a weekend shooting party and among the guests are: Genevieve, his mistress; Christine, his wife; André, the aviator in love with his wife; and his friend Octave. Over the weekend the upper class and their servants play the game of love which leads to comedy and tragedy. This is a scathing attack on a social system that the director was vehemently against. It is such a portrait of the selfishness and decadence of the French upper class that the French Government banned it out of fear that it would demoralise the French population on the eve of World War 2.
Sunday 24 September 2023
THE SPANISH PRISONER USA · 1997 · 110 min. Director David Mamet Cast Campbell Scott, Rebecca Pidgeon, Steve Martin Joe (Scott) has invented "the process", a very clever, ground-breaking innovation that stands to make his company, and of course him, a fortune. But his innovation is simply far too good: everyone wants it, and someone wants to steal it. With this film, writer and director David Mamet initiated a retreat from the more acerbic, foul-mouthed plays and films he was well known for up to this time; and in doing so creates a delightfully serpentine, off-balance story, where Joe can’t be sure of anything he sees – and nor can we.
Sunday 8 October 2023
IKIRU Japan · 1952 · 143 min. Director Akira Kurosawa Cast Takashi Shimura, Nobou Kaneko, Kyoko Seki Mr Watanabe (Shimura) is a bureaucrat who has worked at Tokyo City Hall for more than thirty years without accomplishing anything. He learns he is dying and realises that he has never really been alive. Now he must learn how to confront death and how to find meaning in his life. Although this was recently remade as the English film Living (2022) the original is still considered better. Celebrated director Akira Kurosawa fashioned not only a penetrating study of a man's last days, but a brilliant commentary on middle class life and bureaucracy that is universally understood.
Sunday 29 October 2023
THE GHOST WRITER UK/France/Germany · 2010 · 128 min. Director Roman Polanski Cast Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams Adam Lang (Brosnan) was "not a politician – he was a craze". Most of Britain loved him once; but now he’s hiding out in the United States, not daring to travel to anywhere else, lest he be arrested. He’s hired a ghost writer (McGregor) to tell his side of the story – but it looks like the former ghost writer was killed, for reasons unknown, by person unknown. And his successor, The Ghost, is, perhaps unwisely, unable to avoid investigating why. This story may be tailor made for the director, Polanski, who infuses supernatural dread into every scene – without a single actual ghost.
Sunday 12 November 2023
COME BACK TO THE 5 & DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN USA · 1982 · 109 min. Director Robert Altman Cast Sandy Dennis, Cher, Karen Black, Kathy Bates Members of the Disciples of James Dean fan club gather on the pre-arranged 20th anniversary of their idol's death. The small dusty Texas town with the faded 5 & Dime store is close to the town of Marfa where Dean died while filming Giant. Tensions build amongst the fan club members as their reminiscences reveal confronting truths long hidden. The Jimmy Dean of the title is the reputed love child of one of the Disciples and Dean himself. Altman shot this film version soon after the successful Broadway production of the play. The film is an ensemble piece with an almost totally female cast, all at their best.
Sunday 26 November 2023
ROAD TO NHILL Australia · 1997 · 95 min. Director Sue Brooks Cast Tony Barry, Vikki Blanche, Paul Chubb, Lynette Curran One of three carloads of lady lawn-bowlers, returning from a tournament in Quambatook, has an accident. The word gets back to the sleepy rural town of Pyramid Hill, population 550, generating multiple rumours as to which car was involved, much confusion on the accident's actual location, and resulting in chaotic search and rescue efforts. This quirky, gentle, rustic comedy boasts a large ensemble cast of well-known Australian film and television character actors and is the product of the feminist production team, Gecko Films. One reviewer described the film as "set in a timeless Australia of stoic women and easy-going men". Please note that programme details are subject to change without notice
List of films screened by Reel McCoy Film Group and
Big House Film Society, |