SoCal classic movies, July 10-17: ‘Seven Samurai,’ ‘Midsommar,’ ‘Princess Mononoke‘ and more
SoCal classic movies, July 10-17: ‘Seven Samurai,’ ‘Midsommar,’ ‘Princess Mononoke‘ 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!
‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ Calling occupants of interplanetary craft! Richard Dreyfuss stars in Steven Spielberg’s effects-laden 1977 sci-fi epic. With Melinda Dillion, Teri Garr and François Truffaut. Fathom Events, various local theaters (see website). 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 10. $18, $20. fathomevents.com
‘The Lion King’ The circle of life continues in a special 30th anniversary event screening of Disney’s beloved 1994 animated musical. El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11. $25. (800) 347-6396. elcapitantheatre.com
‘A Summer Place’ Love means never having to say “Hot enough for ya?” in Delmer Daves’ 1959 romantic drama starring Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee and featuring composer Max Steiner’s memorable theme. Film music historian Steven C. Smith will be on hand to introduce the screening. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11. $16. laemmle.com
‘Drácula’ Carlos Villarías, not Bela Lugosi, stars in George Melford’s lesser-known 1931 Spanish-language adaptation of Bram Stoker’s vampire tale shot on the same sets as the Tod Browning version. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 9:45 p.m. Friday, July 12. $9-$13.50. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ A young girl discovers a hidden realm filled with fantastical creatures in an outdoor screening of Guillermo del Toro’s dark 2006 fable set in 1940s fascist Spain. With Ivana Baquero and Doug Jones. In Spanish with English subtitles. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 12. $15, $20 (includes museum admission). skirball.org
‘Seven Samurai’ Have sword, will travel: Toshiro Mifune stars in a new 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s essential and influential 1954 action drama about a small farming village in feudal Japan seeking protection against a gang of ruthless bandits. In Japanese with English subtitles. Various theaters, showtimes and prices. Opens Friday, July 12. Details at sevensamurai.film
‘En este pueblo no hay ladrones (There Are No Thieves in This Village)’ The Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles’ “Cine Clásico” series screens a restored version of Alberto Isaac’s star-studded 1965 comedy drama about small-town life and based on a story by Gabriel García Márquez. With Julián Pastor, Luis Buñuel, Alfonso Arau, et al. Japanese American National Museum’s Democracy Center, 100 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. 3 p.m. Saturday, July 15. $10, $12. lacla.org
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Peter O’Toole is your 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. Presented in 70mm. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13. $12, $17. americancinematheque.com
Also at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 14. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Midsommar’ An American tourist (Florence Pugh) finds herself the guest of honor at an increasingly bizarre village festival in rural Sweden in Ari Aster’s atmospheric 2019 horror fable. Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Gates, 7:15 p.m. Saturday, July 13; movie, 9 p.m. $26.66. cinespia.org
The Old Towne Film Festival Summer Fest This inaugural day-long event showcasing works by up-and-coming filmmakers includes blocks of features and shorts plus a producers’ panel and an awards ceremony. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13. Single blocks: $12.75 each; passes, $50, $100. oldtownefilmfestival.com
‘Princess Mononoke’ A prince in medieval Japan meets a fierce young girl raised by wolves in Hayao Miyazaki’s visually stunning 1997 anime tale. Various theaters (see website for details). In Japanese with English subtitles: 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13 and 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, July 15 & 17; dubbed in English: 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 14 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16.$20-$24. fathomevents.com
‘Bringing Up Baby’ with ‘The Palm Beach Story’ A double bill of classic screwball comedies pairs Howard Hawks’ riotous 1938 romp starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn with Preston Sturgis’ freewheeling 1942 farce starring Claudette Colbert, Mary Astor, Rudy Vallée and Joel McCrea. Presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and and 9:40 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, July 16-18. $13; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
LA Shorts International Film Festival This supersized showcase returns with hundreds of short films from over two dozen countries around the world, organized into 61 distinct programs, plus industry panels and filmmaker receptions. Regal Cinemas LA Live, 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A. Various times, July 17 thru 28. Opening night, $30, $60; individual programs, $18.50; passes, $400. lashortsfest.com
‘Love and Anarchy’ Farmer meets prostitute, farmer and prostitute plot to assassinate Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in Lina Wertmüller’s 1973 mix of comedy, drama, romance and intrigue. With Giancarlo Giannini and Mariangela Melato. In Italian with English subtitles. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org