High Contrast Cinema

Minster Hall at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne. Large projector screen, sound system, flexible seating options.

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Screenings

Upcoming

Laura

28-02-2025 at 20:00

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Synopsis

High Contrast Cinema's 'Femme Fatale' season continues with an enduring classic from 1944, directed by Otto Preminger.

In Laura, a police detective is drawn into Manhattan high society to investigate the murder of a stunning ad exec, and the more he learns about her, the more obsessed he becomes; his focus dwelling on the portrait that hangs in her apartment. As his obsession grows, it becomes clear that there may be more to the case than it first seemed.

Starring Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews, with support from Clifton Webb and Vincent Price, Laura features one of film noir's greatest femmes fatales, proving they don't always need to be present to cast their spell.

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Location

High Contrast Cinema, Hanham Road, Wimborne, BH21 1AS

Archive

Strangers On A Train

13-09-2024 at 20:00

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Synopsis

High Contrast Cinema begins its second year at the Allendale Centre with a classic from the Master of Suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock. An adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel, Strangers On A Train turns a chance meeting on a locomotive into a one-sided plan to 'swap' murders that swiftly spirals out of control. Starring Farley Granger and Robert Walker, it's not one of the more recognisable titles in Hitchcock's filmography but it eminently displays his finely-honed skills in the thriller genre and offers an abundant supply of reasons why he is still considered to be one the greatest film directors ever.

Strangers On A Train is rated PG for mild bad language and violence.

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Suddenly

04-10-2024 at 20:00

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Synopsis

High Contrast Cinema bring a rare screening of Suddenly (1954) to the Allendale Centre. Frank Sinatra, fresh from his Oscar win for From Here To Eternity, flips his public persona on its head with the most overtly villainous role of his career as a would-be presidential assassin. With reliable support from Sterling Hayden, this taut thriller, directed by British-born Lewis Allen, is elevated by Sinatra's tremendous performance. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Sinatra requested that the film be removed from circulation which helped lead to its status as an underrated classic; an opportunity to see it on the big screen should not be missed!

Suddenly is rated PG for general viewing but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

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The Killers

01-11-2024 at 20:00

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Synopsis

As the nights draw in, High Contrast Cinema bring a fatalistic film noir classic from 1946 back to the big screen. The Killers, featuring the film debut of Burt Lancaster opposite a smouldering Ava Gardener, is based on a short story by Ernest Hemingway, and one of the rare adaptations of the legendary writer's work that he approved of. Featuring plenty of noir staples - a femme fatale, a flashback structure, atmospheric visuals evoking a shady underworld - it's arguably director Robert Siodmak's finest entry into the genre, and with reliable support from Edmond O'Brien it remains as thrilling as it was 78 years ago.

The Killers is rated PG for general viewing but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

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Miracle on 34th Street

01-12-2024 at 19:00

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Synopsis

High Contrast Cinema welcomes the festive season with a screening of the perennial Christmas classic from 1947, Miracle on 34th Street. When bewhiskered gent Kris Kringle, working as a department store Santa Claus at Macy’s in New York, claims to be the real Santa, his sanity is called into question, leading to a court case to determine his authenticity. Co-starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne and a very young Natalie Wood, the film has entertained for generations with its seasonably sentimental reminder of the importance of kindness, joy, love and "all the other intangibles".

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Gun Crazy

24-01-2025 at 20:00

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Synopsis

High Contrast Cinema launch their 'Femme Fatale' season with the thrilling lovers-on-the-run Gun Crazy from 1950. John Dall plays Bart Tare, an ex-soldier with a firearm fixation who finds himself bewitched by Peggy Cummins’ Annie Laurie Starr, a carnival sharpshooter who lures him into a violent crime spree that can only ever end in tragedy.

Directed by Joseph L. Lewis, Gun Crazy is a wildly entertaining B-movie that influenced the French New Wave to the New Hollywood movement and much more besides. Annie Starr is widely considered to be one of the most dangerous and iconic femmes fatales from the classic film noir period - so who better to start the season off with?

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