Noir City 5: Opening Night Part 1

The M.I.K.E. checked out the opening night of the NC 5 & here are some of his thoughts:
Well, the mood was right for noir - it was a dreary & misty rain filled evening (complete with the cliched wet pavement/light reflecting against it ). I Grabbed a bite & later walked down the block to the Castro. Chaos. No line organization & the ticket taker was less than helpful ( even going so far as to read on the job & look board when people asked for help), so you know- TYPICAL SF ATTITUDE. So I make my way back of the line & do a little people watching. Lots of fedoras & women with those fake flower hair clips all over the place. It was like a sci-fi convention nerd-a-thon (perhaps they were doing some sort of homage to the Trek episode " A Piece of the Action" AKA the Gangster Planet). People, you should know better.
But I digress.....back to the line. Now I have to deal with some weirdo in front of me who kept on turning around as if I would talk to him. No dice chump. Never gonna happen. When I travel alone, that's how I want to be left. Shut-up & watch the movie. After about 15 minutes or so, come to find out that I'm the WRONG LINE. Here's the skinny: one was for Will Call(me) & the other for getting into after you bought your ticket. Hey Castro, a little organization so people are not blocking the sidewalk ? Not too tough. So after that was cleared up, I picked up my ticket ( the old bag working the will call was lost. Tip:no bluehairs working the lines.)Now to the BACK of yet ANOTHER line (sans Mr.Chatter Box)& the ball was a rollin'. There was a reception upstairs for Marsha Hunt that made me feel like a unwelcome gunsel casing the joint. Losta shifty looks ( I guess it went with the theme of the evening)so I left. The balcony was full of the beautiful people & they rub me the wrong way. I legged it outta there from all of the parlor snakes & their skirts so I could grab a seat dead center.
Time for the 1st flick, Mann's RAW DEAL. I have had this movie on VHS for years & remember enjoying it on the tube.The big screen added a nice touch with an audience was into it (although people had way too much nervous PC laughter when Raymond Burr gives his lady friend a little face flambe for being too close at the wrong time).
Overall, things were going well by the time Eddie Muller brought out the belle of the ball Ms. Hunt. Then things got political.
More about that in Part 2.