TENSION / ALIAS NICK BEAL

ABOUT THE EVENT:

7:30pm | Introduction by Eddie Muller

7:40pm | TENSION

9:15pm | Intermission

9:25pm| Introduction by Alan K. Rode

9:35 | ALIAS NICK BEAL

Start times are approximate.

ABOUT THE FILMS:

TENSION, Dir. John Berry, 95 Min, Park Circus, USA

Originally released November 25, 1949

Audrey Totter pulls out all the stops portraying her ultimate “bad girl,” vile voluptuary Claire Quimby, in one of the most underrated noir films of the forties. Richard Basehart plays a milquetoast pharmacist married to the over-sexed and chronically unfaithful Claire. But this sad sack has a plan to get revenge, so he can start a new life with his knockout neighbor, Cyd Charisse! A murder plot ensues—but the victim isn’t who we expect. Cops Barry Sullivan and William Conrad smell a rat—but is Sullivan pursuing the truth or the red-hot Totter? Despite its credulity-stretching plot, TENSION is a wholly satisfying thriller, laced with acid dialogue.

FORMAT: 35mm

ALIAS NICK BEAL, Dir. John Farrow, 93 Min, Universal, USA

Originally released March 4, 1949

This Faustian tale of soul corruption has campaigning politician Thomas Mitchell making a devilish pact with slick fixer Nick Beal (Ray Milland)—who may be Lucifer incarnate. Beal ensnares the faithful family man in a scandalous affair with delectable devil-doll Audrey Totter, over whom he casts a devious spell. The fabulous and fabulist screenplay by Jonathan Latimer is rendered by director Farrow (THE BIG CLOCK, WHERE DANGER LIVES) in superb style, from foggy waterfront piers to lavish luxury penthouses. Farrow’s masterpiece was unearthed back in 2008 when Universal struck a new 35mm print exclusively for NOIR CITY (2009). Be here for this 2025 encore presentation of a sensational supernatural noir.

FORMAT: 35mm