Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival Returns to the Palm Springs Cultural Center May 8-11, 2025.

Alan K. Rode thinks the film program for the 2025 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival might be the best yet in terms of new discoveries and venerated classics. It’s a big claim for a noir festival well known for finding rarely seen films that are not available anywhere else. “I have to pinch myself to realize our event has both endured and prospered for over a quarter of a century: it’s simply incredible to realize this is our 26th year” said Rode, who is the festival’s co- producer and host.

The opening night movie scheduled for Thursday May 8 is Cry Wolf (1947) starring Errol Flynn and Barbara Stanwyck; the sole on-screen pairing of Hollywood’s most venerated stars. Rode enthused about opening night: “I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce this film with Rory Flynn, Errol’s daughter as our scheduled special guest.” A former Palm Springs resident, Ms. Flynn will be signing her book, The Baron of Mulholland: A Daughter Remembers Errol Flynn before the screening.

Overall, the festival’s programming is the expected mix of well-known films with new discoveries that Rode termed as “cinematic archeology.”

“I’ve been fortunate to have the support of several of the studio archives, enabling us to show some films that haven’t been screened theatrically for decades and are not available on physical media or streaming.” These rarities include a little-known Republic programmer Unmasked (1950) starring a pre- Perry Mason Raymond Burr at his slimiest, a forgotten Mark Hellinger film Swell Guy (1946) in 35mm and a seldom seen noir-stained melodrama Paid in Full (1950) starring Lizabeth Scott and Robert Cummings.

Rode added: “We’ll also be showing Johnny O’Clock (1947) on Friday May at 1:00 pm with Eddie Muller, host of TCM’s NOIR ALLEY signing his new book Dark City Dames: The Women who Defined Film Noir prior to the screening.” On the bill for Saturday night is The Unseen (1945) an eerie blend of mystery, horror and noir starring Joel McCrea. McCrea’s grandson, actor Wyatt McCrea is scheduled to introduce the film with Rode.

In addition, the festival will be screening The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), one of the essential neo-noir crime films of the 1970s and Angel Face (1953). Both of these films feature predominant post war noir leading man Robert Mitchum whose acting, according to Rode, “was like cinematic jazz.’

Also featured during the weekend festival are Lust for Gold (1949) a noir-western starring Glenn Ford and Ida Lupino, Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) with James Cagney essaying his final and most devious gangster turn, and Act of Violence (1949), the only film noir directed by the great Fred Zinneman. 

The main festival schedule wraps up on Sunday afternoon with On The Waterfront (1954), featuring the great Marlon Brando in one of his best performances. “People can argue about Waterfront’s ‘noir legitimacy’ but no one can dispute the dramatic sweep and power of one of the greatest American films ever made,” averred Rode. “It’s a film that had a powerful influence on me and millions of others; it deserves to be seen on the big screen of the Palm Springs Cultural Center.”

On The Waterfront technically wraps up this year’s schedule, but it’s not the end of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir celebration. At 7pm, Guillermo del Toro’s masterpiece NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2021) will be presented on the big screen in glorious Black & White. In attendance will be director/producer Guillermo Del Toro and screenwriter Kim Morgan.

Tickets and All Access Passes to the 2025 edition 

of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival are available at https://arthurlyonsfilmnoir.org/ or at Eventbrite.

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The Arthur Lyons Film Festival is a presentation of the Palm Springs Cultural Center – a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, that was established to encourage the development of the cultural arts in the Coachella Valley with a specific focus in the areas of film, fine art, and community festivals. Founded in 2000 by the late mystery author and Palm Springs community leader, Arthur Lyons, the popular Film Noir festival includes an eclectic mixture of prestigious and obscure black and white “B” movies from the classic film noir period. The Festival is known for unearthing and screening rare films, restored classics, and for the special appearances of the stars who were in them.