Best rep films of 2010: Old classics, fresh voices

It was an eventful 2010 on the art and repertory film circuit - magical nights at the Castro during the San Francisco International Film Festival honoring Robert Duvall and Joan Rivers, the demise then resurrection of the Clay Theatre and big nights at the Mill Valley Film Festival with Edward Norton, Annette Bening and Sam Rockwell.

Here are some of the memorable movie events covered in 96 Hours during 2010, in chronological order:

"The Lady From Shanghai," April 21, Castro Theatre: Turner Classic Movie fans everywhere were thrilled the cable channel launched its first film festival, even if they couldn't get to Los Angeles, where it was held. Five other cities were lucky enough to get a free taste of the festival, and San Francisco was treated to an Orson Welles classic partially filmed here. Director Peter Bogdanovich, Welles' good friend, regaled the 900-strong crowd with Wellesian anecdotes, with Jan Wahl interviewing him onstage.

"All About Evil," May 1, Castro: Local personality Joshua Grannell is better known as Peaches Christ, famous for her "Midnight Mass" film screenings. But shedding the drag and putting on his director's viewfinder led to one of the best locally produced films of the year, a severed-tongue-in-cheek horror film with wit as sharp as the knives. Stars Natasha Lyonne, Mink Stole and Peaches herself helped Grannell kick off the film with a memorable Saturday night show at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

"The Whistler" films, Roxie and Pacific Film Archive, May and June: Elliot Lavine, who programmed film noir series regularly at the Roxie in the 1990s, revived his love for the dark genre, bringing back his B-movie festivals. His biggest coup: getting Columbia Pictures to strike new prints of their 1944-48 series, never on DVD. Richard Dix played a different character in each film, exploring the dark side of some moral dilemma. In a way, these were like 1940s versions of "The Twilight Zone" or "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episodes.

"The Red Machine," Red Vic Movie House, May 27: Making an indie film is tough enough, but Stephanie Argy and Alec Boehm really loaded the dice against themselves when they decided to set their dirt-cheap spy thriller in the 1930s. That they pulled off a period piece on such a low budget is nothing short of amazing. An excellent script and cast helps.