Over a half-century in the movies, Howard Hawks influenced every major genre-war, musical, western, biopic, melodrama-when he wasn't inventing a new one, as he did with prototypical screwball Twentieth Century, or quintessential gangster film Scarface. A former race car driver and aviator in WWI, he started in the props department and worked his way up to the ranks of director where he was known as the consummate professional. Hawks's films share a consistently flawless visual style, well-written stories, and themes of comradeship, morality, and courage, while his pairing of charismatic male leads like Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart with strong ladies such as Katherine Hepburn and Lauren Bacall make for some of the most entertaining movies of the classical era. BAMcinématek toasts the original American auteur with 16 of his greatest works.

Featured Works:

Criminal Code (1931); Scarface (1932); Tiger Shark (1932); Twentieth Century (1934); The Road to Glory (1936); Bringing Up Baby (1938); Only Angels Have Wings (1939); His Girl Friday (1940); Sergeant York (1941); To Have and Have Not (1944); The Big Sleep (1946, pictured); Ball of Fire (1947); A Song is Born (1948); I was a Male War Bride (1949); Monkey Business (1952); The Big Sky (1952)

Program information:
Hawks

Related Articles:
Golden Years by Dan Sallitt posted Jun. 04, 2008
Bringing Up Hawks by David Schwartz posted Sep. 25, 2008