The whole theaters vs. Netflix thing re Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” has taken an interesting turn. “The Irishman” will play for one month at Broadway’s Belasco Theater, which will be retrofitted for showing the movie.
Theater chains have balked at showing Netflix and Amazon movies in their theaters because of the short windows before the movies are played on their TV platforms. There is still no list of theaters for “The Irishman,” which will be up for many Oscars and is highly anticipated in New York, of all places.
Without the Ziegfeld Theater (still can’t believe it’s a catering hall– the owners should drowned in stale popcorn) New York doesn’t have a “movie palace” to debut important films.
The Belasco, owned by the Shuberts, is a grand palace that seats 1,000 people. Bryan Cranston in “Network” just played there. The theater has a long, storied history. Hit shows have included the ridiculous–“Oh Calcutta!” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — to the sublime, like Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” and and the amazing 1997 production of “A Doll’s House” with Janet McTeer.
Netflix will run “The Irishman” there from November 1st to December 1st, which is a few days longer than their original planned theater run (it was supposed to end November 27).
The Belasco is right next door to the great Cafe Un, Deux, Troi aka One, Two, Three. Last spring I was sitting in the window having dinner when Tony Goldwyn popped up during “Network”– it’s part of the show. Make your reservation now! Ask for Jose.
