Kurosawa Films at Stanford Theatre

Kurosawa Brochure
Stanford Theatre (Schedule)

Kurosawa Film Festival

Stanford Theatre
221 University Avenue
Palo Alto, California

February 7 to March 15, 2020

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

Kurosawa Film Festival
inside Stanford Theatre Brochure

Preface: Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto showed 11 films of "Akira Kurosawa (February 7-March 15, 2020). Previous showings of Kurosawa films at Stanford Theatre include 8 shown (August 1-21, 2015), 18 shown (February 20-March 30, 2010), and 8 shown (September 12-October 11, 1998). Below are haikus written on the 11 films with 6 photos of the Stanford Marquee as well as photos of the window and lobby displays, and film posters with photo placards in the Memorabilia Room at the Stanford Theatre. Used James Stewart Film Festival and Movies of 1939 as template for this web page. I am taking William Cavada's LINC 70B Web Page Design II (February 10-March 20, 2020) at Foothill College. Course syllabus: Create and develop webpage & website using free online tools; embed page with hyperlinks, images, video, & sound; fonts & background color. Since this class coincides with the Kurosawa films, I've decided to do my web page design on "Kurosawa Films at Stanford Theatre". May readers enjoy my homage
to the films of Akira Kurosawa.

Sunday, February 9, 2020, 7:30-11:00 pm
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre Brochure: Akira Kurosawa
was an artist of universal humanity. His films cover an
astonishing range, from period samurai, to adventure,
to film noir detective, to social criticism, to romance.
The amazing Toshiro Mifune appears in 9 of the titles,
and three of these films are inspired by Shakespeare.
Film summaries were written by Michael Jeck for
a previous program at Film Forum in New York City.

Kurosawa is one of my favorite film directors;
His Ikiru & Seventh Samurai are ranked as
11th and 13th among my favorite 28 films.

Marquee of Seven Samurai
starring Toshiro Mifune

Sunday, February 9, 2020, 7:30-11:00 pm
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: Akira Kurosawa directs
"Seven Samurai" (1954) with Toshiro Mifune,
Takashi Shimura, Daisuke Kato, Isao Kimura,
Minoru Chiaki, Seiji Miyaguchi, Yoshio Inaba,
Yoshio Tsuchiya, Bokuzen Hidari, Yukiko Shimazaki;
Kamatari Fujiwara, Keiko Tsushima, Kokuten Kodo, Shinpei Takagi; (YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6);
(Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5); 11:36 pm Bus #22 home

Voted the greatest foreign-language film
in BBC's 2018 international critics' poll;
Listed 13th among my favorite 28 films.

Friday, February 14, 2020, 5:55-7:20 pm
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: Akira Kurosawa directs
"Drunken Angel" (1948), starring Toshiro Mifune,
Takashi Shimura, Reizaburo Yamamoto , Michiyo Kogure, Chieko Nakakita , Eitaro Shindo, Noriko Sengoku, Shizuko Kasagi, Masao Shimizu, Yoshiko Kuga; (YouTube: 1, 2 ,3, 4, 5); (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Shimura plays "Drunken Angel" doctor;
first film of Akira Kurosawa & Mifune
of the 15 films they made together.

Marquee of Ikiru & Drunken Angel

Friday, February 14, 2020, 7:30-9:55 pm;
Stanford Theatre: Akira Kurosawa directs "Ikiru"
("To Live") (1952), starring Takashi Shimura, Shinichi Himori, Haruo Tanaka, Miki Odagir, Minoru Chiaki, Bokuzen Hidari, Kamatari Fujiwara, Minosuke Yamada, Nobuo Nakamura, Nobuo Kaneko;
(YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4, Full film); (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Goethe's Faustian theme as Watanabe
escorted by Sakai as Mephistofeles and
built a children's playground at the end.

Friday, February 21, 2020, 5:15-7:20 pm;
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: Akira Kurosawa
directs "Stray Dog" (1949), starring Toshiro Mifune,
Takashi Shimura, Keiko Awaji, Eiko Miyoshi,
Noriko Honma, Isao Kimura, Minoru Chiaki,
Ichiro Sugai, Gen Shimizu, Noriko Sengoku;
(YouTube: 1, 2 ,3, 4, 5); (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Rookie cop Mifune's pistol stolen
and used in murder, now he goes
out to hunt for the killer.

Marquee of Rashomon & Stray Dog

Friday, February 21, 2020, 7:30-9:00 pm;
Stanford Theatre: Akira Kurosawa directs
"Rashomon" (1950), starring Toshiro Mifune,
Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura,
Minoru Chiaki, Noriko Honma, Daisuke Kato,
Kichijiro Ueda; (YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
Film (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Four versions from the bride, samurai husband
through medium, bandit, and woodcutter—
which of them is telling the truth or none.

Friday, November 15, 2019, 5:55-7:20 pm;
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: Elliott Nugent directs
"Never Say Die" (1939), starring Martha Raye,
Bob Hope, Andy Devine, Alan Mowbray,
Gale Sondergaard, Sig Ruman, Ernest Cossart,
Paul Harvey, Monty Woolley, Christian Rub;
(YouTube: 1, 2, full film); (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Bob Hope's medical records switched
with a dog's and faces death in 6 months,
but rescued by oddball heiress Martha Raye.

Story of Vernon & Irene Castle
& Never Say Die Marquee

Friday, November 15, 2019, 7:30-9:05 pm;
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: H. C. Potter directs
"Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" (1939), starring
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver,
Walter Brennan, Lew Fields, Etienne Girardot,
Janet Beecher, Rolfe Sedan, Leonid Kinskey;
(YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4); (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Vernon & Irene Castle become ballroom
dancing sensation in Paris & America
during pre-World War I years.

Friday, November 22, 2019, 5:35-7:20 pm;
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: Anatole Litvak directs
"Confessions of a Nazi Spy" (1939), starring
Edward G. Robinson, Francis Lederer, George Sanders, Paul Lukas, Henry O'Neill, Dorothy Tree, Lya Lys,
Grace Stafford, James Stephenson, Sig Ruman,
Joe Sawyer, Lionel Royce; (YouTube: 1, 2, 3);
(Film Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Edward G. Robinson of FBI catches
Nazi spies across America stealing
military secrets for Hitler in 1937-39.

Marquee of Wuthering Heights
& Confessions of a Nazi Spy

Friday, November 22, 2019, 7:30-9:15 pm;
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: William Wyler directs
"Wuthering Heights" (1939), starring Laurence Olivier,
Merle Oberon, David Niven, Flora Robson, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Hugh Williams, Donald Crisp, Leo G. Carroll, Miles Mander, Cecil Kellaway, Cecil Humphreys, Rex Downing, Sarita Wooton, Douglas Scott; (YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5); (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Great film of Emily Brontë's classic
with William Wyler directing and
Gregg Toland as cinematographer.

Sunday, November 24, 2019, 5:45-7:20 pm;
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: John Ford directs
"Stagecoach" (1939), starring Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Thomas Mitchell, Andy Devine, John Carradine, George Bancroft, Louise Platt, Donald Meek, Berton Churchill, Elvira Ríosl, Brenda Fowler, Nora Cecil, Francis Ford, Vester Pegg, Joe Rickson, Jack Pennick, Duke R. Lee; (YouTube: 1, 2, full film); (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

After years in B-movies, John Wayne
became an overnight star as Ringo Kid
in Stagecoach directed by John Ford.

Marquee of Stagecoach & Juarez

Sunday, November 24, 2019, 7:30-9:35 pm;
Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre: William Dieterle directs
"Juarez" (1939), starring Paul Muni, Bette Davis, Brian Aherne, John Garfield, Claude Rains, Donald Crisp, Joseph Calleia, Gale Sondergaard, Gilbert Roland, Henry O'Neill, Harry Davenport, Louis Calhern,
Walter Kingsford, Irving Pichel, Montagu Love;
(YouTube: 1, 2, 3); (Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Juárez was 26th Mexican President (1858-1872)
fighting Emperor Maximillian installed by Napoleon III; Bette Davis is Maximillian's wife..

Stanford Theatre from Mezzanine
221 University Ave, Palo Alto

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Jesse James: Henry Fonda, Tyrone Power
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Gone With the Wind Poster
Stanford Theatre Lobby

The Great Man Votes (John Barrymore)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Gunga Din (Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen,
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) Display Window

Love Affair (Irene Dunne & Charles Boyer)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Midnight (Don Ameche, Claudette Colbert,
John Barrymore) Stanford Theatre Display Window

Hound of the Baskervilles (Basil Rathbone)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Three Smart Girls Grow Up (Deanna Durbin)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Never Say Die (Bob Hope & Martha Raye)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Stagecoach (John Wayne & Claire Trevor)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Wuthering Heights (Lawrence Olivier & Merle Oberon)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Story of Vernon & Irene Castle Poster
Stanford Theatre Lobby

Story of Vernon & Irene Castle
(Fred & Ginger) Display Window

Story of Alexander Graham Bell
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Dark Victory (Bette Davis)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Confessions of a Nazi Spy (Edward G. Robinson)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Beau Geste Placards
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Midnight Placards
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Three Smart Girls Grow Up Placards
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Goodbye Mr. Chips & Love Affair Placards
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Mr. Chips & Second Fiddle Flyers
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Juarez Poster (Paul Muni)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Story of Vernon & Irene Castle Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Midnight Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Three Smart Girls Grow Up Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Stagecoach Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Love Affair Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Beau Geste Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

The Four Feathers Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Stanley and Livingstone Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Garbo Laughs in Ninotchka Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Gone With the Wind Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Shop Around the Corner
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Gone With the Wind Placards
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Stanley and Livingstone (Spencer Tracy)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Each Day I Die (James Cagney & George Raft)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Blondie Takes a Vacation (Penny Singleton)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Beau Geste (Gary Cooper, Ray Milland,
Robert Preston) Stanford Theatre Display Window

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Jamaica Inn (Charles Laughton & Maureen O'Hara)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

The Rains Came (Tyrone Power & Myrna Loy)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

The Four Feathers (John Clements)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Druns Along the Mohawk (Claudette Colbert &
Henry Fonda) Stanford Theatre Display Window

Roaring Twenties (James Cagney & Humphrey Bogart)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Deanna Durbin: 3 Smart Girls Grow Up
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Sherlock Holmes Poster
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

Gone With the Wind Placards
Stanford Theatre Memorabilia Room

The Old Maid (Bette Davis)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

The Women (Norma Shearer & Joan Crawford)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Intermezzo (Leslie Howard & Ingrid Bergman)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Shop Around the Corner (Jimmy Stewart,
Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan) Display Window

Garbo Laughs in Ninotchka Poster
Stanford Theatre Lobby

Gone With the Wind Poster
Stanford Theatre Lobby

Shop Around the Corner Placards
Stanford Theatre Lobby

It's a Wonderful Life
Stanford Theatre Lobby

Wizard of Oz (Judy Garland)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Gone With the Wind (Vivien Leigh & Clark Gable)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Clark Gable as Rhett Butler
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Scarlett & Rhett in Gone With the Wind
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Upcomong Showing: Little Women (1933)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

It's a Wonderful Life
Stanford Theatre Display Window

It's a Wonderful Life Poster
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Jan. 17 Showing: Little Women (1933)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

Jan. 17 Showing: Little Women (1949)
Stanford Theatre Display Window

80 Years Ago in This Theatre
Movies of 1939 Brochure

Backside of "80 Years Ago" Brochure
Deanna Durbin in Three Smart Girls Grow Up

Christmas Tree in Lobby
of Stanford Theatre (2019)