Tonight Feb.10 - HAROLD AND MAUDE Kicks off Valentine's Day Weekend @ The American Cinematheque.

It's that time of year again - the time when we're reminded of all the bliss, ecstasy, contentment (and, yes, uncertainty and even misery) that goes arm-in-arm with romance. And what better way to celebrate this roller coaster of a holiday than to go to the movies and see the power of love beautifully and cathartically magnified on the big screen?

Join The American Cinematheque Valentine's Day weekend for films both classic and contemporary that celebrate amour in its many forms, including CASABLANCA, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, HAROLD AND MAUDE, GONE WITH THE WIND, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, THE AFRICAN QUEEN, THE PRINCESS BRIDE and THE NOTEBOOK.

Thursday, February 10 – HAROLD AND MAUDE, Producer Robert Evans fought hard for non-conformist editor-turned-filmmaker Hal Ashby to be allowed to direct this wildly offbeat romance between suicidal youngster Bud Cort and eccentric, 80-year-old Ruth Gordon. The result is one of the most poignant and subversive films of the New Hollywood era. - 1971, Paramount, 91 min, 35mm
7:30p


Saturday, February 12 – Double Feature: Digitally Restored! THE AFRICAN QUEEN, 1951, Gin-soaked captain Humphrey Bogart decides to take pity on skinny, psalm-singing spinster Katharine Hepburn after her brother is killed in a German attack during WWI - and instead, winds up falling in love, and ferrying her downriver to launch a suicidal assault on a German warship! - Paramount, 105 min. Dir. John Huston.
7:30p

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, - Digitally Restored! This 1953 Oscar winner (for Best Picture, Director, Cinematography and others) remains a timeless combination of war movie and love story that's as smart and adult as it is entertaining. James Jones' novel about military life at a Hawaiian army barracks on the brink of America’s entering World War II is the source for a riveting drama starring Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Montgomery Clift and many others. 1953, Sony Repertory, 118 min. Dir. Fred Zinnemann. 35mm

Sunday, February 13 – The second of four Sunday matinees, running monthly at the Egyptian Theatre. Join The American Cinematheque in the coming months for LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR and LA BOHEME, screening in beautiful digital format on the really big screen.
1:00p


THE ELIXIR OF LOVE, Donizetti's charming comedy is a celebration of innocence, so what setting could be better than a small Italian-American community in Napa Valley, circa 1915? In this ingenious update, the naive Nemorino believes a love potion will win him Adina's heart. Blossoming from a shy Italian immigrant to a plucky entrepreneur, he captures both his sweetheart and the American dream over the course of this delightful opera buffa. Tenor Ram�n Vargas superbly embodies the role of the lovesick Nemorino. The beautiful but aloof Adina is sung by soprano Inva Mula. Sung in Italian with English subtitles. In two acts with one 10 minute intermission. 158 min.

Sunday, February 13 – DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, This story of Tsarists, revolutionaries, two beautiful women in love with the same man, a nation in upheaval and, above all, the poet physician (Omar Sharif) who witnesses and remembers it all - is one of the most lyrical, visually breathtaking films in the history of the medium. Co-starring Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Rod Steiger, Tom Courtenay and Alec Guinness, with sublime music by Maurice Jarre. 1965, Warner Bros., 193 min. Dir. David Lean. 35mm
5:00p


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Sunday 5.30. @ The Egyptian - THE WIZARD OF OZ - Digitally Restored

Digitally Restored! The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland is Dorothy in this sublime, candy-colored adaptation of L. Frank Baum's children's favorite, one of the most beloved film classics of all time. Take a surreal stroll down the yellow brick road with Dorothy as she encounters the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, Glinda the Good Witch, and the Wicked Witch of the West. Directed by Victor Fleming 1939, Warner Bros., 101 min.

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Friday @ the Egyptian Theater - New 35mm Print of Akira Kurosawa's 'RAN'

New 35 mm! RAN, In Akira Kurosawa's epic and existential samurai/Noh theater rendition of Shakespeare's "King Lear," a once-merciless and bloodthirsty Lord Hidetora (Tatsuya Nakadai) leaves his kingdom to his three sons. As Hidetora attempts to enjoy retirement in his twilight years, he is dropped into a nightmarish hell when filial squabbling and betrayal erupts. In Japanese with English subtitles. 1985, Rialto Pictures, 160 min.

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QUEER GAZING

EXPLORING GAY FILM AESTHETICS

Co-presented with Outfest [Spielberg Theatre] QUEER GAZING:

Whether it’s "lavender," "pink," gay or queer in visual and narrative design, homosexuality’s influence in cinema is now pretty much mainstream. But is there an actual "gay film aesthetic"? How have "homo-revisionist" readings of classic films added creative depth to gay cinema's foundation? Take a wild ride through everything from homoeroticism to the establishment of the queer POV called "The Gay Gaze" and rediscover queer cinema in more of its flamboyant glory. Thomas Ethan Harris instructs. Film clips will be used to inspire an open dialogue with the audience.

Click for more information about the Cinematheque's Seminar Series.

Deadline: Noir City at the Egyptian | April 2-11

Opening Night Noir: OUT OF THE PAST with Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer | Thursday, April 2nd at 7:30pm

The streets and alleys keep getting darker, the tough guys tougher and the femmes more fatale. So to prepare you for dealing with the nocturnal netherworld out there (and hold you over till you can glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel), we’ll be screening more grand forays into the heart of darkness.

We kick off with a Jane Greer double bill (the classic OUT OF THE PAST co-starring Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas, and the rare THE COMPANY SHE KEEPS), followed by Robert Siodmak’s impossibly hard-to-see FLY-BY-NIGHT, Fritz Lang’s WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS, an Anthony Mann double feature (the rare TWO O’CLOCK COURAGE and DESPERATE), a Newspaper Noir double bill of DEADLINE U.S.A. and ultra-rare CHICAGO DEADLINE, plus THE RACKET, THE ENFORCER, WALK SOFTLY STRANGER, Joseph Losey’s impossible-to-find CHANCE MEETING, NOCTURNE and scarce and forgotten B Noirs SMOOTH AS SILKROSES ARE RED!

There’ll also be new prints of rarities like John Farrow’s Faustian fable ALIAS NICK BEAL, Joseph Losey’s sin-in-the-suburbs masterpiece THE PROWLER (newly restored by UCLA!), heist saga SIX BRIDGES TO CROSS, the delirious Commie-witchhunt classic WOMAN ON PIER 13 and the "Am-I-going-crazy?" gem THE OCTOBER MAN.

Also on the last day of the series, Sunday, April 19, there’ll be a special afternoon memorial tribute to actress Ann Savage with testimonial panels and screenings.

Full schedule, tickets, and info here.

SUNDAY: Forrest Ackerman Tribute at American Cinematheque

Forrest Ackerman (1951) Photography by Allan Grant for LIFE Magazine

Sunday, March 8 – 4:00 PM at the American Cinematheque

A TRIBUTE TO FORREST J ACKERMAN (1916 - 2008)

A tribute to one of the most Famous Monsters of them all, celebrating his memory, friendship and the legions of fans. Join us for testimonials from those who knew and loved Forry, plus film clips, slides, performances and more! Profiles in History will display a few of the Forrest J Ackerman auction items they are handling, including some Bela Lugosi Dracula costumes and the robot from METROPOLIS.

He was the editor-writer of the American magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, as well as an author, actor and producer (Vampirella). Also called "Forry," "The Ackermonster," "4e" and "4SJ". Ackerman was influential in the formation, organization, and spread of science fiction fandom, and a key figure in the wider cultural perception of science fiction as a literary, art and film genre. Famous for his word play and neologisms, he coined the genre nickname "sci-fi".

Guests confirmed to date include Ray Bradbury, James Warren (publisher of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine and John Landis. All guests subject to availability.

Reception preceding the tribute starting at 3:00 PM. FREE ADMISSION!

Forry Links:
Myspace
Time Magazine Obit | LA Times Obit | Cinema Retro Magazine