Oscar-contending film series in San Rafael
The Smith Rafael Film Center’s annual selection of Oscar submissions from around the world makes a welcome return with 15 foreign films playing during the next week.
Other highlights include the documentary “Iraqi Odyssey 3D” (1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3), the South Korean historical epic “The Throne” (7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3) and Guatemala’s “Ixcanul,” starring an all-indigenous cast.
Gene Kelly double feature: “On the Town” (4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31) has always given me pleasure — Technicolor location filming in 1949 New York City, the sadly neglected song “New York, New York” that has been overshadowed by a different song, made famous by Frank Sinatra, that unfortunately has the same title; and Vera Ellen as “Miss Turnstiles.”
Kelly and Donen achieved perfection with their next film, “Singin’ in the Rain” (2 and 6 p.m.) co-starring Donald O’Connor and Carrie Fisher’s mom, Debbie Reynolds.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”: A New Year’s Eve edition of the 1975 cult classic film and live performance by the Bawdy Caste.