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What film received the New York Film Critics Circle top award in 1962? Was it “Shoot the Piano Player,” “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane,” “The Man who Shot Liberty Valance,” “Jules and Jim,” or “Lawrence of Arabia” (above)?

In fact, it was none of the above. That year — widely considered to be one of the best in the history of cinema — a newspaper strike prevented the critics circle from picking a favorite.

So next week, the Brooklyn Academy of Music will try to re-write that wrong with a retrospective on the year itself: “1962: New York Film Critics Circle.”

It was a notable year for movies because French New Wave films that had been sweeping Europe for years were finally released — in one big bunch — to American cineastes.

As a result, New Yorkers saw Jacques Demy’s “Lola,” the dark cabaret tale that was the director’s American debut; plus two Truffaut films — “Shoot the Piano Player” and “Jules and Jim” (which will be introduced on Nov. 6 by the New York Post’s Kyle Smith!) — as well as Agnes Varda’s ode to winding Paris streets, “Cléo from 5 to 7.”

Meanwhile, in Hollywood, directors were pumping out epics like “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Hatari!”

And there were great weird films like “The Chapman Report” (buns with ball, above).

Which would have won Best Picture? You decide.

“We welcome the opportunity to learn and revise film history,” said Critics Circle Chairman Armond White, who co-curated the series.

©2009 Community Newspaper Group

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