SoCal classic movies, Feb. 21-28: ‘The Temptress,’ ‘Atonement,’ ‘Action Jackson’ 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!
‘Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete’ This 2005 entry in the anime franchise based on the video game series returns to theaters for two nights only. Tetsuya Nomura directs. In Japanese with English subtitles or dubbed in English with no subtitles. Various showtimes, Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 21-22. $18. amctheatres.com
American Cinematheque’s Nitrate Film Festival Feast your eyes on a selection of exceedingly rare — and highly combustible — archival prints of the classic Hitchcock thrillers “Rebecca” and “Spellbound,” from 1940 and 1945, respectively; Vittorio De Sica’s essential 1948 neo-realist fable “Bicycle Thieves”; and Anthony Mann’s gritty 1950 western “Winchester ’73” starring James Stewart. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Various showtimes, thru Feb. 24. $15, $20. americancinematheque.com
‘Atonement’ All is fair in love and World War II in director Joe Wright’s swoon-worthy 2007 adaptation of Ian McEwan’s romantic 2001 novel. Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan star. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. $12. thefridacinema.org
‘DePalm-a-Thon’ “Scarface”? “Dressed to Kill”? “The Untouchables”? “The Bonfire of the Vanities”? Your guess is as good as ours in this triple bill of flicks to-be-announced, all directed by Brian De Palma. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 7:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23. $15. thefridacinema.org
‘Days of Heaven’ Richard Gere, Brooke Adams and Sam Shepard form an unusual romantic triangle in Terrence Malick’s dreamlike 1978 drama set in turn-of-the-last century Texas and featuring a score by the great Ennio Morricone. Presented in 4K digital. American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘A Matinee with Georges Méliès’ The pioneering French filmmaker is saluted with a curated selection of his effects-laden silent-era efforts. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25. $9-$12. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘It Happened One Night’ with ‘The Awful Truth’ A double bill of classic screwball comedies pairs Frank Capra’s Oscar-winning 1934 road picture starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert with Leo McCarey’s riotous 1937 romp starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne; presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 24-25. $10; double features, $13; advance purchase recommended. thenewbev.com
‘Preserving Historic Color Videotape: Mr. Television (a.k.a. Milton Berle) and Friends’ The legendary comic and TV host also known as “Uncle Miltie” shares the small screen with famous faces from Harpo Marx to Ella Fitzgerald in this collection of recently restored variety show segments from the 1950s. UCLA Film & Television Archive, UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Action Jackson’ The late, great Carl Weathers kicks butt and doesn’t even bother taking names in this 1988 action flick that should have kicked off a franchise. With Vanity, Craig T. Nelson and Sharon Stone. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘The Temptress’ A woman like that could ruin a man — if he was lucky — in this silent 1926 melodrama starring screen icon Greta Garbo. Presented in 16mm with live musical accompaniment by Cliff Retallick. Lumiere Cinema at the Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25. $15. retroformat.org
‘La Bamba’ Lou Diamond Phillips portrays ill-fated 1950s-era Chicano rock ’n’ roll star Ritchie Valens, the pride of Pacoima, in this 1987 bio-pic written and directed by Luis Valdez. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘12 Years a Slave’ Filmmaker Steven McQueen and co-star Alfre Woodard will be on hand for a screening of McQueen’s Oscar-winning 2013 historical drama starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Lupita Nyong’o. Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Original cast members Ted Neeley, Yvonne Elliman, et al. will be on hand for 50th anniversary screenings of Norman Jewison’s 1973 adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera about the man from Galilee. NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26. Also at the Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27; Claremont 5, 450 W. 2nd St., Claremont. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28; Newhall, 22500 Lyons Ave., Newhall. 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29. $13, $16. laemmle.com
‘Kung Fu Hustle’ with ‘Shaolin Soccer’ Writer, director and star Stephen Chow gives Jackie Chan a run for his money in this double bill of martial-arts action comedies from the early aughts. In Chinese with English subtitles. Presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and 9:40 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Feb. 27-29. $10; double features, $13; advance purchase recommended. thenewbev.com
‘En plein dans l'œil (Right in the Eye)’ Composer-scenographer-pianist Jean-François Alcoléa and two other multi-instrumentalists supply a live score for a selection of classic silent-era shorts by pioneering French filmmaker Georges Méliès. Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28. $30 and up. theatreraymondkabbaz.com
‘Licorice Pizza’ All is fair in love and the San Fernando Valley in filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson’s nostalgic 2021 romantic fable set in the early 1970s. With Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Bradley Cooper, Sean Penn and Tom Waits. Presented in 35mm. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28. $12; advance purchase required. studios.wearebraindead.com
FESTIVALS
DaVinci International Film Festival The annual showcase for independent cinema from around the world returns with screenings, mixers, panel discussions and more. AMC The Grove 14, 189 The Grove Drive, L.A. Various showtimes, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25. $15 and up; passes, $125. davincifilmfestival.com