SoCal classic movies, Aug. 7-14: ‘Godzilla,’ RiffTrax, HollyShorts, ‘The Mummy’ and more
SoCal classic movies, Aug. 7-14: ‘Godzilla,’ RiffTrax, HollyShorts, ‘The Mummy’ 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 arts & entertainment at the LA Times.
Roll ’em!
‘Seven Samurai’ Have sword, will travel: Toshiro Mifune stars in a new 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s influential 1954 action drama set in feudal Japan. In Japanese with English subtitles. Various theaters, showtimes and prices. sevensamurai.film
The Valley Film Festival The long-running showcase continues with a selection of shorts and standalone features. Laemmle HoHo, 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Various showtimes, thru Aug. 8. $15. valleyfilmfest.org
‘Prey for Rock & Roll’ Gina Gershon leaves it all on the stage in Alex Steyermark’s 2003 cult classic about a veteran rocker still struggling to make the big time. With Lori Petty and Drea DeMatteo. The Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. $16. laemmle.com
HollyShorts Film Festival Oscar-qualifying short films from around the world are the main attraction in return of this annual showcase that also includes filmmaker talks, panel discussions and an awards ceremony. TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood; other area venues. Various times, Aug. 8 thru 17. $20 and up; daily pass, $60; all-access pass, $600; panels-only pass, $150. hollyshorts.com
‘RiffTrax Live: Point Break’ Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett of MST3K fame will quip and crack wise over a screening of the 1991 Keanu Reeves-Patrick Swayze action thriller in this special presentation streamed live from the State Theater in Minneapolis. Fathom Events, various local theaters (see website). 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8; replay, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13. $18 and up. fathomevents.com
‘The Red Shoes’ A ballerina gets a leg up on the competition thanks to some infernal footwear in Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s swoon-worthy 1948 drama inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Moira Shearer stars. Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Godzilla’ The baddest kaiju in the whole damn town sets his sights on Tokyo in this classic 1954 creature feature directed by Ishirō Honda. In Japanese with English subtitles. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ The Devil’s in the details as See It on 16mm screens a rare 16mm print of Roman Polanski’s atmospheric horror drama based on the Ira Levin novel. With Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon and Maurice Evans. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9. $9-$13.50. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘Rude Boy’ The Clash demonstrate why they were once dubbed “The Only Band That Matters” in this blistering 1980 mix of drama, behind-the-scenes documentary and concert film. Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8. $10. (310) 473-8530. landmarktheatres.com
‘The Wicker Man’ To be clear: We aren’t talking about Neil LaBute’s laughable 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage but rather Robin Hardy’s original, unnerving 1973 folk-horror fable starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9$12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Coonskin’ There’s something to offend everyone in legendary animator Ralph Bakshi’s live-action/animated 1975 mashup of old Uncle Remus folk tales and classic Blaxploitaion flicks. Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. 11:59 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 9-10. $13. vistatheaterhollywood.com
‘Foxfire’ Clint Eastwood attempts to steal a super-secret Soviet fighter plane and … uh … let me start over. Jane Russell and Jeff Chandler have the hots for each other in this 1955 melodrama set in a small mining town in Arizona; screening as part of the Autry’s “What is a Western?” series. Presented in 35mm. Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. Included with museum admission ($6-$14); reservations recommended. (323) 667-2000. theautry.org
‘Miracle Mile’ It’s apocalypse now, maybe, as rumors of imminent nuclear annihilation put a damper on jazz musician Anthony Edwards’ budding romance with local waitress Mare Winningham in Steve De Jarnatt’s L.A.-set 1988 cult classic. Presented in 35mm. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Ted Mann Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘The Mummy’ An adventurer, a librarian and her brother, a thief, walk into an ancient Egyptian tomb and awaken something they shouldn’t’ve oughta awakened in a 25th anniversary screening of this fun-filled 1999 action tale. Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. Doors, 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10; band, 7 p.m.; movie, 8:30 p.m. $15-$27. streetfoodcinema.com
‘True Romance’ Newlyweds Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette go on the lam with a large stash of someone else’s cocaine in this nasty little 1993 crime tale written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. With Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman and Christopher Walken. Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Gates, 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10; movie, 8:30 p.m. $22. cinespia.org
‘The General’ Those damn Yankees stole his train but he’s a-gonna steal it back in co-director and star Buster Keaton’s stunt-filled 1926 silent-era classic set during the Civil War. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Peter O’Toole is our man in the sand in David Lean’s Oscar-winning 1962 historical epic set during World War I. Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn and Alec Guinness also star. Fathom Events, various theaters (see website). 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11; 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12. $18 and up. fathomevents.com
‘Rock ’n’ Roll High School’ They don't care about history ’cause that’s not where they want to be in this low-budget 1979 romp starring PJ Soles, legendary deejay “The Real” Don Steele and punk-rock progenitors The Ramones as themselves. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena. 2:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11. 12 eventbrite.com