2009 NOIR CITY 7 - Film Noir Foundation - January 23-February 1, 2009

Arlene Dahl with Eddie Muller Opening Night Noir City 7

The San Francisco Film Noir Festival returned to the majestic Castro Theatre in San Francisco, January 23 — February 1, 2009. The theme of this year's festival was Newspaper Noir, with many of the films set in the world of newspapers, or, in some cases, publishing or radio. Programmers Eddie Muller and Anita Monga made a special effort to have NOIR CITY's nightly double bills (and for the first time separate Saturday matinees) reflect the traditional programming of theaters in the 1940s. To that end, they sought out rare, legitimate B films—shorter movies that were intentionally made to fill out the second half of a double bill. "I think this will probably be as close as you're going to get to actually going to the movies in 1948," says Muller.

NOIR CITY guest of honor Arlene Dahl captivated a sell-out crowd of 1,400 enthusiastic movie fans following the Saturday night screening of her 1956 film Wicked as They Come. Arlene was as glamorous as ever and delighted the audience with tales of her professional and private life as she conversed with host Eddie Muller over champagne. No one who was there will soon forget the magical evening. (Photo: David Allen).

›› View photo coverage of NOIR CITY 7.

The San Francisco Chronicle's Mike Kepka visits NOIR CITY for the Saturday screening of The Unsuspected in his multi-media series, "The City Exposed." ›› Slides and audioclip here.

NBC • Film Noir Festival Darkens the SF Night