In Brief: Modesto Film Society goes noir with special program
The Modesto Film Society is bringing in a film noir authority for a special presentation and screening this weekend.
Eddie Muller, president of the Film Noir Foundation, will speak before a showing of the 1950 classic “Gun Crazy” on Sunday, March 13. The San Francisco-based film expert and author published “Gun Crazy: The Origin of American Outlaw Cinema” in 2014. He also is a programmer with the San Francisco Noir City Film Festival and involved in noir festivals in Austin, Texas; Chicago; and Portland, Ore.
The film “Gun Crazy” starred Peggy Cummins and John Dall as a sharp-shooting husband and wife who go on an interstate robbery spree. Also known as “Deadly Is the Female,” “Gun Crazy” was directed by Joseph H. Lewis and written by blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo (though was credited to Millard Kaufman because of the blacklist). The film was preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The event, which starts at 2 p.m. at the State Theatre, will be free to film society members and $8 for the general public. Muller also will autograph copies of his book. For more information, call 209-527-4697 or visit www.thestate.org.
Manteca Kindred Arts
The Manteca Kindred Arts Concert Association is calling it quits and ending its long-running concert series.
Manteca Kindred Arts has been running for 29 seasons, the last ending at the end of February. The community concert association started in 1986 and still had some charter members among its ranks. Since then it has presented four to five concerts each year featuring local, regional and national talent.
In a letter to its supporters and members last week, the Manteca Kindred Arts board announced the news and thanked the community for its help and donations over the years. The reasons for dissolving the group include the relocation, aging and health concerns of board members and association volunteers. The board said it preferred “not to focus on feelings of sadness but the joyful ones for having successfully provided beautiful music to our Manteca audiences for 29 years.” For more information, visit www.mantecakindredarts.com.
Ernie Bucio fundraiser
The annual Ernie Bucio Scholarship fundraiser returns to one of his favorite venues, the Barkin’ Dog Grill.
The event on Sunday, March 13, raises money for a music scholarship in Bucio’s name at Modesto Junior College. Bucio was an active performer and educator in the area before his death in 2011. The all-day fundraiser will include 15 bands playing on indoor and outdoor stages.
Music starts at noon and goes until 9 p.m. Admission is free, but donations for the scholarship will be accepted. For more information, call 209-572-2341 or visit erniebucio.com.
Louis L’Amour lecture
The Western novelist Louis L’Amour will be the topic of the Carnegie Arts Center’s free monthly Sunday Arts Lectures this weekend.
Las Positas College faculty member Candace Klaschus will discuss the much-beloved works of the best-selling author. Born in 1908, L’Amour was the world’s best-selling author of Western novels. He began publishing novels in 1950 (several of which were made into movies, including “Hondo” and “The Quick & the Dead”) and continued until his death in 1988.
The lecture coincides with two free exhibitions featuring Western-themed artwork: “Valley Focus on Betty Saletta Sculpture” and “A Handful of Dust” by Allen Birnbach. The lecture will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 13, and admission is free. For more, visit www.carnegieartsturlock.org.
Sonora book signing
Three local novelists are scheduled to appear for readings and book signings as part of Sonora’s Second Saturday Art Night.
Lorance Harwood, Mike Sullivan and Obie Beukers – all members of the Sonora Writers Group – will be at Legends Books and Antiques starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Harwood has recently released the latest of his suspense books in his private investigator series, “Murder Always Leaves Trails.” Sullivan is the author of “The Bench,” “Broken Chains” and, most recently, “What Price Integrity.” Beukers will read from his newly published novel “Single Dream Saloon.”
The event is free. For more information, call 209-743-8097.
This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 11:53 AM with the headline "In Brief: Modesto Film Society goes noir with special program."