SoCal classic movies, Aug. 21-28: ‘Rear Window,’ ‘Big Wednesday,’ ‘Boulevard Nights’, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and more
SoCal classic movies, Aug. 21-28: ‘Rear Window,’ ‘Big Wednesday,’ ‘Boulevard Nights’, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and more
Classic films, film festivals, event screenings, restorations and revivals
Welcome to the latest edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to classic movies, events and revivals, film festivals and more screening in LA and OC this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
Roll ’em!
‘Caligula — The Ultimate Cut’ When in Rome, don’t do as the Romans do in this completely rebuilt 2024 version of the notorious 1979 historical epic starring Malcolm McDowell, Peter O’Toole and Helen Mirren and bankrolled by former Penthouse magazine publisher Bob Guccione. Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 3:30 and 7 p.m. Fridays and Sundays-Thursdays, 2:50 and 6:30 p.m. Saturdays thru Aug. 29. $13.75-$18.50. (310) 473-8530. landmarktheatres.com
Also at Alamo Drafthouse, 700 W. 7th St., downtown L.A. Various dates and times thru Aug. 28. $20. drafthouse.com
Also at the Frida Cinema, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 23-24. $13. thefridacinema.org
‘Army of Shadows’ Vive la résistance! Lino Ventura and Simone Signoret fight the good fight in Nazi-occupied France during WWII in this nail-biting 1969 thriller directed by influential French filmmaker and former Resistance fighter Jean-Pierre Melville. The Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 1, 4 and 7:10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 21-22; 7 p.m. Friday thru next Wednesday, Aug. 23-28. Also at Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino. 12:50, 4 and 7:10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 21-22. $7-$16. laemmle.com
‘The Auschwitz Report’ The year’s edition of Holocaust Museum LA’s annual Teicholz Film Series concludes with Peter Bebjak’s fact-based 2021 drama about two Jewish prisoners who escaped the notorious Nazi death camp in hopes of alerting the Allies to the atrocities being committed there. AMC The Grove 14, 189 The Grove Drive, L.A. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22. Free. RSVP at holocaustmuseumla.org
‘Big Wednesday’ Surf’s up but the Vietnam War looms in John Milius’ 1978 coming-of-age tale set in 1960s Malibu and starring William Katt, Gary Busey and Jan-Michael Vincent. Presented in 35mm. Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. 11:45 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 23-24. $13. vistatheaterhollywood.com
‘Léon: The Professional’ Jean Reno plays the titular hitman, and Natalie Portman, the 12-year-old orphan that he’s protecting from corrupt DEA agent Gary Oldman in Luc Besson’s suspenseful 1994 action thriller. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 6:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Monday, 7:45 p.m. next Wednesday, 8 p.m. next Thursday, Aug. 23 thru 29. $13. thefridacinema.org
‘The Natural World of Studio Ghibli’ This three-part celebration of animated fantasy tales by beloved Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki kicks off with 1997’s “Princess Mononoke,” continues with 2001’s “Spirited Away and concludes with 1984’s “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,” all screened outdoors under the night sky. In Japanese with English subtitles. The Ford, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd E., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23-25. $22-$32, with reduced fees for those purchasing tickets to all three screenings. (323) 850-2000. theford.com
‘Showgirls’ It’s Elizabeth Berkley vs. Gina Gershon to see who rules the Las Vegas Strip in Paul Verhoeven’s over-the-top, mature-audiences-only 1995 melodrama. Kyle MacLachlan also stars. Presented in 35mm. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23. $9-$12; advance tickets sold out; limited walkups available. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Boulevard Nights’ Co-stars Richard Yniguez and Danny De La Paz will take part in a Q&A at a screening of Michael Pressman’s 1979 cult classic about two Mexican American brothers experiencing life on the mean streets of East L.A. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena. Meet and greet, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24; panel, 7:30 p.m.; movie, 8:30 p.m. $17.85. eventbrite.com
‘The Onion Field’ Filmmaker Harold Becker will be on hand for a Q&A at the world premiere screening of a new 4K restoration of this gripping 1979 drama based on Joseph Wambaugh’s 1973 true crime novel about the kidnapping and murder of an LAPD detective in 1963. With John Savage, Ted Danson and James Woods. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ “Twilight,” schmilight! Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton are the sexiest vampire couple you ever did see in this typically off-kilter 2013 tale from writer-director Jim Jarmusch. Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright and John Hurt also star. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. $11.25; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Pulp Fiction’ The lives of assorted shady characters intersect in 30th anniversary screenings of Quentin Tarantino’s darkly comic, gleefully profane 1994 crime drama. With John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis and Uma Thurman. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 12:30, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday-Thursday; Aug. 24 thru 29. $9-$13.50. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
’The Deer Hunter’ Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and the aforementioned John Savage star in Michael Cimino’s Oscar-winning 1978 epic about three friends from rural Pennsylvania who experience firsthand the horrors of the Vietnam War. With John Cazale, George Dzundza and Meryl Streep. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Rear Window’ James Stewart stars as a homebound photographer who sees something he shouldn’t’ve oughta in the apartment across the way in 70th anniversary screenings of Alfred Hitchcock’s gut-twisting 1954 thriller. Grace Kelly and Raymond Burr also star. Fathom Events, various theaters (see website). 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. next Wednesday, Aug. 25 & 28. $18 and up. fathomevents.com
‘Some Like It Hot’ Two musicians (Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon) hide out from the Chicago mob by dressing in drag and traveling with an all-female band fronted by the voluptuous Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe) in Billy Wilder’s classic 1959 romp. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena. 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. $14.64. eventbrite.com
‘The Rules of the Game’ with ‘The Earrings of Madame de ...’ Double bill pairs Jean Renoir’s biting 1939 social satire, widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, with Max Ophuls’ tragic 1953 romance; both presented in 35mm with English subtitles. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Tuesday-next Wednesday, Aug. 27-28. $14.25; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Singin’ in the Rain’ in Concert Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor will be hoofin’ it on screen as conductor David Newman and the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform the score live-to-picture for this presentation of the classic 1952 MGM musical. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27. $1-$186. (323) 850-2000. hollywoodbowl.com