The Essentials | City Weekly’s Entertainment Picks July 24-30 

FILM
By Jacob Stringer
If they saw it on the street, international film festivals the world over probably would turn away and pretend they never even saw B.I.F.F. coming. The BICKNELL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is truly the goofy red-headed stepchild of the world film circuit—assuming it even registers on the radar at all.

Luckily for us, it’s held annually here in backwater Utah—approximately eight miles northwest of Torrey, 30 miles southeast of Koosharem and 55 miles due north of Escalante as the crow flies. If you’re still confused, GoogleMap the directions, because it’s worth finding.

Not only does B.I.F.F. boast such random goings-on as a swap meet and the world’s fastest parade (racing by at a breakneck pace of 55 mph), its B-movie programming leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. This year’s lineup—organized under the “Wild Wild Worst: Bad ‘B’ Westerns” theme—includes the Howard Hughes/Jane Russell (pictured) cinematic classic The Outlaw (1946) and Tom Laughlin’s The Master Gunfighter (1975). As a sort of bright, shiny diminutive cherry on top, B.I.F.F. will screen one of the best Westerns of all time: The Terror of Tiny Town. Filmed with all the 1930s traditional Western schtick in mind—think good guys garbed in white, bad guys bedecked in black, sunsets and serenades—the entire cast is made up of little people galloping upon their trusty Shetland steeds, “Little Guys With Big Guns!”

Bicknell International Film Festival Presents: “Wild, Wild Worst—Bad ‘B’ Westerns” @ Wayne Theater, 11 E. Main, Bicknell, July 25-26, TheBIFF.org

But Williams also belts out her own tunes, in addition to those by other songwriters. Her rough-hewn voice has always lent itself to lyrics filled with longing, loss and love. However, you might see a slightly different side of Williams this time around. When a song is called “Honeybee,” it surely must be some sort of ballad—only there’s nothing balladlike about it as Williams pounds out Anna Laube’s hard rock power anthem. Sure, it’s a song about love, but it’s angrily happy, a little dirty, and fully embraces that passion one never hopes to lose in a relationship.

Last year, while performing in Salt Lake City at Kingsbury Hall, she explained that her management team expressed concern that she might lose her “edge,” since finding love. But knowing Williams and seeing the intensity with which she plays, such suggestions seem ludicrous. She’s still a kick-ass chick, ferocious musician and exorbitantly talented songwriter. Her show? It’ll be nothing short of that.

Lucinda Williams @ Deer Valley Resort Snow Park Amphitheater, 435-655-3114, July 28, 7 p.m. ParkCityTickets.com

At least one of those questions is answered in Loving Frank, NANCY HORAN’s historical novel based on the true story of Wright’s lengthy love affair with Mamah Borthwick Cheney in the early 1900s. Both were married to other people at the time; in fact, it was when the Cheneys hired Wright to design their house that the two met, leading to a scandalous affair worthy of the most tawdry soap opera.

The book, which draws as much as possible on the known facts of the relationship, is told from Cheney’s point of view, painting her as a progressive, free-thinking woman who grappled with the various labels that society wanted to put on her. Cheney comes off more selfish than sympathetic, and Wright seems like the same old “I’m an Artist, so I can do whatever I want” type, which doesn’t engender a lot of support for his behavior. But Horan—who will speak about the book in Salt Lake City this week—provides writing that is crisp and engaging, and her attention to period detail makes for a fascinating read. What’s more, since the story is not well known outside of Frank Lloyd Wright fan clubs, the odds are good that you’ll be surprised by the way it turns out.

Nancy Horan @ City Library, 210 E. 400 South, 524-8200, July 30, 7 p.m. Free to the public.

Here & Now: Other New Happenings This Week
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVUE Our local summer-league showcase of NBA rookies, newcomers and hopefuls, up close and sweaty. Salt Lake Community College Redwood Campus, 4600 S. Redwood Road, 325-SEAT, through July 25, UtahJazz.com

KSL DAYS OF ’47 PARADE Wave those flags and suck in great heaping lungfuls of pride for your pioneer heritage. Begins at Main St. and South Temple, July 24, 9 a.m. DaysOf47.com

NATIVE AMERICAN CELEBRATION The annual festival recognizing Utah’s indigenous peoples, including food, crafts, performances and fireworks. Liberty Park, 500 E. 900 South, 533-9503, July 24, all day. NACIP.com

MICHAEL NORMAN The Utah author reads from and signs his new Sam Kincaid mystery novel Silent Witness. Barnes & Noble South Towne, 10180 S. State, 233-0203, July 25, 6 p.m.

CLASSICAL MYSTERY TOUR Original members of the Beatlemania cast join the Utah Symphony for 30 Fab Four classics. Deer Valley Resort, Park City, 355-2787, July 26, 7:30 p.m. DeerValleyMusicFestival.org

I LIKE TCHAIK Intermezzo Chamber Music Series presents a program including Tchaikovsky’s Quartet No. 1 in D Major. Westminster College Gore Concert Hall, 1840 S. 1300 East, 230-2817, July 28, 7:30 p.m. IntermezzoConcerts.org

DISNEY’S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Live stage version of the insanely popular Disney Channel TV-movie phenomenon, sans Corbin, Ashley, Vanessa & Zac. Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, 355-2787, July 29-Aug. 3, BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com

BIG: THE MUSICAL Regional premiere of the singin’-dancin’ version of the 1988 Tom Hanks comedy about a boy who wakes up as an adult. Hale Centre Theatre, 3333 S. Decker Lake Dr., 984-9000, July 29-Sept. 20, HaleCentreTheatre.org

JOAN TOWER Award-winning composer speaks as part of Utah Symphony & Opera’s “Meet the Composer” series. Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, 524-8200, July 29, 4:30-6 p.m. SLCPL.org