Syracuse Film Society Features Lorre Film

On Monday, June 17, 2024, the Warner Bros all-star musical extravaganza Hollywood Canteen ends the summer film festival at the Syracuse Cinephile Society, located in Syracuse, New York.

The program, including one or more short subjects as well as the feature film, begins at 7 pm in a special screening room at the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant, located at 689 North Clinton Street in Syracuse, New York. Parking is available in the lot beside the restaurant.

Directions to the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant are available on the Cinephile Society's website.

Admission to the Syracuse Cinephile Society event is $3.50 for Cinephile members, and $4 for non-members. Annual membership in the Syracuse Cinephile Society may be purchased for $5.

Film fans attending the movie are invited to come to the restaurant by 6 pm to enjoy dinner before the program.

“What would you be comfortable doing?” director Delmer Daves asked Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet.

The answer? A minute-and-a-half sketch in which the pair, playing off their menacing screen images, rescue singer Patty Andrews of the Andrews Sisters from her G.I. dance partner (James Flavin).

It’s considered a highlight in this star-studded tribute to the famous Hollywood Canteen, which served anyone in uniform during World War II.

In the pages of The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, author Stephen D. Youngkin describes Peter’s participation in the real Hollywood Canteen, as recalled by a young G.I. named William Campbell, who later became an actor appearing in many movies and TV shows, notably as Trelane in the Star Trek episode, “The Squire of Gothos” (January 12, 1967).

Besides serving the visiting soldiers and bussing tables, Peter also joined in on the sing-alongs.

In 2013, authors Lisa Mitchel and Bruce Torrence recounted the history of the Canteen in their book Hollywood Canteen: Where the Greatest Generation Danced With the Most Beautiful Girls in the World. The book may be purchased through BearManor Media and Amazon.

The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre may also be purchased through Amazon and other online booksellers.

And the Syracuse Cinephile Society will return in the fall with another schedule of classic movies and short subjects. Happy summer!

Moto Film Scheduled for Syracuse Cinephile Event

Peter Lorre’s intrepid detective Mr. Moto is no stranger to the movie fans at the Syracuse Cinephile Society of Syracuse, New York!

On Monday, October 9, 2023, Mr. Moto makes his third appearance at the twice-yearly film festival when Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938), number 5 in the Mr. Moto series, opens a mystery double-bill with Grand Central Murder (1942), starring Van Heflin and Virginia Grey.

All films in the series begin at 7 pm in a special screening room at the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant, located at 689 North Clinton Street in Syracuse, New York. Parking is available in the lot beside the restaurant.

Planning to come for dinner before the show? The Cinephile Society recommends arriving no later than 6 pm in order to finish dinner by 7 pm.

Directions to the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant are available on the Cinephile Society's website.

Admission to the Syracuse Cinephile Society event is $3.50 for Cinephile members, and $4 for non-members. Annual membership in the Syracuse Cinephile Society may be purchased for $5.

The 2023 Fall Schedule began on Monday, September 11, and will run until Monday, December 4, 2023. The full schedule for the Monday Night Series is available on the Syracuse Cinephile Society website.

In the pages of The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, Stephen D. Youngkin discusses the making of the Mr. Moto series, including interviews with Norman Foster, who directed Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938) and five other Moto films; and Harvey Parry, who doubled for Peter on stunts throughout the Moto series, as well as several movies at Warner Bros. in the 1940s.

Although initially interested in playing the globe-trotting Japanese importer for whom detecting is a hobby, Peter soon grew of the character. Continually addressed as "Mr. Moto" by the public, playing Mr. Moto in sketches on the radio variety series of the late 1930s, and getting few opportunities to appear in non-Moto projects at 20th Century-Fox all added to Peter’s disappointment with the series.

In 2006 and 2007, 20th Century-Fox remastered and restored all eight of the Moto films, hired John Cork and his production company Cloverland to produce a unique documentary – including interviews with Stephen Youngkin – for each movie, and released the series in two DVD box-sets with additional extras.

Each box-set, as well as The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, may be purchased through the DVD section of The Lost One website.

Moto Movie Scheduled for Syracuse Cinephile Society

The Syracuse Cinephile Society continues their 2019 Spring Season of classic movies with a mystery double-feature on Monday, April 22, 2019 – The Phantom of Crestwood (1932) and Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937), the first in a series of eight films in which Peter Lorre played intrepid Japanese detective Mr. Moto.

All films in the series are shown at the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant, located at 689 North Clinton Street in Syracuse, New York. Parking is available in the lot beside the restaurant.

Directions to the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant are available on the Cinephile Society's website.

The program begins at 7:30 pm, but attendees who plan to come for dinner are recommended to arrive no later than 6:15 pm, in order to finish dinner by 7:30 pm.

Admission to the Syracuse Cinephile Society event is $3 for Cinephile members, and $3.50 for non-members. Annual membership in the Syracuse Cinephile Society may be purchased for $5.

The 2019 Spring Schedule began on Monday, Mar. 18, and will run until Monday, June 24, 2019. The full schedule for the Monday Night Series is available on the Syracuse Cinephile Society website.

In the pages of The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, Stephen D. Youngkin discusses the making of the Mr. Moto series, including interviews with Harvey Parry, who doubled for Peter on stunts throughout the Moto series, as well as several movies at Warner Bros. in the 1940s; and Norman Foster, who directed Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937) and five other Moto films.

Although initially interested in playing the intrepid – and globe-trotting – Japanese importer for whom detecting is a hobby, Peter soon grew of the character. Continually addressed as "Mr. Moto" by the public, playing Mr. Moto in sketches on the radio variety series of the late 1930s, and getting few opportunities to appear in non-Moto projects at 20th Century-Fox all added to Peter’s disappointment with the series.

In 2006 and 2007, 20th Century-Fox remastered and restored all eight of the Moto films, hired John Cork and his production company Cloverland to produce a unique documentary – including interviews with Stephen Youngkin – for each movie, and released the series in two DVD box-sets with additional extras.

Purchase Mr. Moto, Volume 1, from Amazon.

Purchase Mr. Moto, Volume 2, from Amazon.

The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre may be purchased from Amazon U.S., Amazon Canada, and Amazon U.K, as well as other booksellers.

Syracuse Cinephile Society Fest Includes Lorre

The Syracuse Cinephile Society, of Syracuse, New York, continues their spring 2017 season of Monday Night classic movies with a mystery double-feature of The Whistler (1944) and Mr. Moto’s Last Warning (1939) on Monday, March 27, 2017.

All films in the series will be shown at the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant, located at 689 North Clinton Street in Syracuse, New York. Parking is available in the lot beside the restaurant.

Directions to the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant are available on the Cinephile Society's website.

The program will begin at 7:30 pm, but attendees who plan to come for dinner are recommended to arrive no later than 6:15 pm, in order to finish by 7:30 pm.

Admission to the Syracuse Cinephile Society event is $3 for Cinephile members, $3.50 for non-members.

The full schedule for the Monday Night Series is available on the Society’s website.

In the pages of The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, Stephen D. Youngkin discusses the making of the Mr. Moto series, including interviews with Norman Foster, who directed Mr. Moto’s Last Warning and five other Moto films.

Although initially interested in playing the intrepid – and globe-trotting – Japanese importer for whom detecting is a hobby, Peter soon grew of the character. Continually addressed as “Mr. Moto” by the public, playing Mr. Moto in sketches on the radio variety series of the late 1930s, and getting few opportunities to appear in non-Moto projects at 20th Centuryi-Fox all added to Peter’s disappointment with the series.

In 2006 and 2007, 20th Century-Fox remastered and restored all eight of the Moto films, hired John Cork and his production company Cloverland to produce a unique documentary – including interviews with Stephen Youngkin – for each movie, and released the series in two DVD box-sets with additional extras.

Purchase Mr. Moto, Volume 1, from Amazon.

Purchase Mr. Moto, Volume 2, from Amazon.

Purchase The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre from Amazon.