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Letter From Film Forum

 Three times, I have lured my husband to Film Forum -- for "Ninotchka," "The Third Man," and "Sunset Boulevard." 


There are unwritten codes in this space; if my spouse took me to a football game, I would expect to follow meticulous directions, and at Film Forum, the roles are just reversed. For example, an unstated rule: You do not try to use the men's room after 1 pm on the weekend.

Also: The front row is actually fine.

Also: It doesn't matter if the film is seventy years old. On a Saturday, it will sell out.

These are things I've learned the hard way -- through trial and error -- and I'm proud of the learning I've accomplished.

Seeing "Sunset Boulevard" with an appreciative crowd -- with a functional sound system -- you can't beat this. My spouse enjoyed the "gay" lines: "You there, why are you so late?" "Why not try the vicuña? If the lady's paying..." "I *am* big. It's the pictures that got small." ...I personally enjoyed the use of dramatic irony; over and over, we quickly learn crucial lessons that the characters themselves have not learned. 1. Don't trash a script unless you're certain your audience does not include the scriptwriter. 2. A new guest is not necessarily the man you have hired to bury your monkey. 3. Sometimes, a phone call isn't about a playdate; it's just a request to borrow your car.

At the end of the show, the crowd went wild. Discussions ensued. Yes, clearly, that was Cecil B. DeMille in a cameo, but did anyone notice Buster Keaton? Hedda Hopper?

I very much hope to return -- for "Tenement Stories" -- if only to see "The Asphalt Jungle." This is among my favorite spots in New York.
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