Memorial Day Weekend at Sag Harbor Cinema

Sag Harbor Cinema will ring in its third year of operation over Memorial Day weekend with a series of special screenings. Saluting the release of Depeche Mode’s latest album, “Memento Mori,” after a 22 year hiatus, the cinema will revisit D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus’s “Depeche Mode 101” (1989). Considered one of the highlights of Pennebaker/Hegedus’s brilliant career and recently restored, the film documented the final 101 show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and the busload of fans that followed the band’s tour. Chris Hegedus and Frazer Pennebaker, who directed and produced the film respectively, will attend the screening on Sunday, May 28, at 7:15 p.m., and participate in a Q&A.

Sag Harbor Cinema will also reprise Sound Visions, its signature program of shorts by East End filmmakers, curated by artistic director Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan with Sam Guest and Julia Baylis. Now in its third year, the program brings to audiences an exciting selection of films made by local artists, spanning a wide range of genres, including animation and experimental. Amongst the titles are “Walk of Shame” by Dane Ray, “East End” by Grant Curatola, “Lollygag” by Tij D’oyen, “In Ten Thousand Years, Maybe” a series by Adrian Dexter and “World on a String” by Spencer Holden. The filmmakers will speak about their films during a Q&A following the screening, Monday, May 29, at 4 p.m.

“The Worlds of Julie Andrews,” the cinema’s yearlong retrospective dedicated to the esteemed actress, continues with a screening of Blake Edwards’s “A Shot in the Dark” preceded by a live introduction by another master of comedy, director John Landis (“Animal House,” “Trading Places”) via Zoom. Though the script was written as an adaptation of the French play, “L’Idiote,” Edwards decided the film would suit as an Inspector Clouseau story, starring Peter Sellers at his comedic peak.

Edwards was brought onto the project before the original “Pink Panther” film was completed, and penned the screenplay, with “The Exorcist” writer William Blatty, in only a few weeks. The film was released only three months after the “Pink Panther,” making it one of the fastest released sequels in film history. “A Shot in the Dark,” to be screened Saturday, May 27, at 8:30 p.m., remains one of the most beloved of the “Pink Panther” movies.

“It has been a joy to see our audience expand, become more curious as our programs become richer and more ambitious, over the past three years,” said Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan, the cinema’s founding artistic director. “During the fundraising campaign to rebuild the cinema, John Landis had generously curated for us a comedy series, ‘It’s Funny!’ It is a thrill now to have him offer his perspective on another genius of American comedy, Blake Edwards, and one of the funniest ‘Pink Panther’ films. The timely restoration of ‘Depeche Mode 101,’ together with the band’s new record and world tour gives us a chance to bring back to the cinema Pennebaker/Hegedus — the subject of our first-ever year round retrospective. Sound Visions, our survey of emerging, local cinematic talent grows stronger and more varied each year.”

Also opening Memorial Day weekend, fresh off its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, will be Nicole Holofcener’s marital comedy “You Hurt My Feelings” starring Julia Louis Dreyfus. “Fast X” and “Master Gardener” will continue their runs throughout the weekend and in anticipation of the release of Wes Anderson’s latest film “Asteroid City,” which will be coming to Sag Harbor Cinema June 23, the kids and families matinee for Memorial Day weekend is “Moonrise Kingdom.”

Along with more information about the programs, tickets will be available on the cinema’s website, sagharborcinema.org. Sag Harbor Cinema is at 90 Main Street, Sag Harbor.

“Depeche Mode 101”

Dir. D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus

USA, 1989; 120 mins., in English

On the road with the pioneer synth/pop band in 1988 followed by a busload of fans as they perform across America en route to their final 101 concert at the Rose Bowl in California. Pennebaker’s acclaimed documentation of the band signaled to onlookers that Depeche Mode were serious, more polished, and ready to battle it out with U2, who put out their own film “Rattle & Hum” in the same year.

“A Shot in the Dark”

Dir. Blake Edwards

USA, 1964; 103 mins., in English

Rated PG

A murder has been committed at the palatial Parisian residence of Benjamin Ballon. All the evidence points to sexy, wide-eyed housemaid Maria Gambrelli (Elke Sommer). Police inspector Dreyfuss is prepared to make an arrest — and then the gloriously, monumentally inept Inspector Clouseau arrives on the scene. Clouseau may have difficulty getting through the day without falling into ponds, knocking people cold with opened doors and pocketing flaming cigarette lighters, but his instincts are right on target when he decides that Mme. Gambrelli is being framed by someone else in the Ballon household. Even as the murder victims pile up, Clouseau is determined to prove Mme. Gambrelli’s innocence. You’d never know it, but “A Shot in the Dark” was inspired by a standard three-act stage comedy by Harry Kurnitz, which in turn was adapted from the French play “L’Idiote” by Marcel Achard.

The Sound Visions program showcases local talent and introduces audiences to the next generation of filmmakers. Curated with Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan by Sam Guest and Julia Baylis, whose “Wiggle Room” premiered at Sundance 2021, Sound Visions brings in films of many different genres. The audience is given the opportunity to learn more about the films and ask questions during a live Q&A that follows the screening.

“East End” (2022) Dir. Grant Curatola; “In Ten Thousand Years, Maybe” (2015-2023) Dir. Adrian Dexter; “Lollygag” (2022) Dir. Tij D’oyen; “Walk of Shame” (2022) Dir. Dane Ray; “World on a String” (2016) Dir. Spencer Holden;

“You Hurt My Feelings”

Dir. Nicole Holofcener

USA, 2023; 93 mins., in English

Rated R

From acclaimed filmmaker Nicole Holofcener comes a sharply observed comedy about a novelist whose longstanding marriage is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband give his honest reaction to her latest book. A film about trust, lies and the things we say to the people we love most.

“Moonrise Kingdom”

Dir. Wes Anderson

USA, 2012; 94 mins., in English

Rated PG-13

Set on an island off the coast of New England in summer 1965, “Moonrise Kingdom” tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore — and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff, Captain Sharp. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader, Scout Master Ward. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Bob Balaban; and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as Sam and Suzy, the boy and girl.