New York State Writers Institute - Classic Film Series

the Spectre of the RoseSPECTRE of the ROSE

APRIL 25, 2003 (Friday) at 7:30 p.m.
Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue
(Free and Open to the Public)

(American, 1946, 90 minutes, b&w, video)

Directed by Ben Hecht
Starring Judith Anderson, Michael Chekhov, Ivan Kirov,
Viola Essen, Lionel Stander

Top-ranked Hollywood scriptwriter Ben Hect accepted lower-than-normal pay to direct and produce his eccentric film noir script inspired by events in the life of dancer-choreograher Vaslav Ninjinsky. A young ballerina attempts to cure a male superstar who has been driven mad by the music for the ballet, "Le Spectre de la Rose." After they marry, she discovers that he may well be murderous. As in most Hecht films, the dialogue is a work of art.

"Terrifying enough to scare the bejeepers out of anybody." - L.A. Times