SoCal classic movies, June 19-26: ‘South Park,’ ‘Fail Safe,’ ‘Liquid Sky,’ the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival 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!
‘White Heat’ with ‘The Public Enemy’ James Cagney is on top of the world, Ma, in this double bill pairing Raoul Walsh’s 1949 gangster drama with William A. Wellman’s 1931 crime drama. Presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and 9:55 p.m. Wednesday, June 19. $13; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Do the Right Thing’ Spike Lee wrote, directed and co-starred in this explosive 1989 exploration of racial tensions in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood one swelteringly hot summer. With Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez. Presented in 35mm. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘The Lovers (Les Amants)’ An unhappy homemaker (Jeanne Moreau) embarks on an affair with a young archaeologist in 65th anniversary screenings of Louis Malle’s racy-for-its-day 1958 romantic drama. In French with English subtitles. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A.; Laemmle Glendale, 207 N. Maryland Ave., Glendale; Laemmle Newhall, 22500 Lyons Ave., Newhall; Laemmle Claremont 5, 450 W. 2nd St., Claremont; Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino. 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19. $10, $13. laemmle.com
The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival The Jewish experience is explored in comedies, dramas, documentaries, etc. at the return of this annual showcase. Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; other area venues. Various showtimes, Wednesday-Monday, June 19-24. $13-$45. lajfilmfest.org
‘Powwow Highway’ Two Native American men take a roadtrip from Montana to New Mexico, reconnecting with their heritage along the way, in Jonathan Wacks’ 1988 indie drama starring Gary Farmer and A Martinez. Benton Museum of Art, Pomona College, 120 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont. 8 p.m. Thursday, June 20. Free. pomona.edu
‘All That Jazz’ The new film series “It’s Showtime at the AC” celebrating movie musicals kicks off with Roy Scheider starring as a Bob Fosse-like choreographer and filmmaker in choreographer and filmmaker Bob Fosse’s semi-autobiographical 1979 showbiz fable. With Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. Friday, June 21. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
‘Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!’ A trio of troublemaking go-go dancers (Tura Satana, Lori Williams, and Haji) get their kicks in Russ Meyer’s racy-for-any-era 1965 exploitation flick. Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. 11:59 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 21-22. $12.50, $15. vistatheaterhollywood.com
2024 UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema The annual showcase co-presented by the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Farhang Foundation continues. UCLA Film & Television Archive, UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, June 21-23 and 28-30. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘D.E.B.S.’ A teenage crimefighter (Sara Foster) finds herself crushing hard on the criminal mastermind (Jordana Brewster) she is tasked with taking down in Angela Robinson’s fun-and-flirty 2004 action comedy. With Meagan Good, Jill Ritchie and Devon Aoki. Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Doors, 7:15 p.m. Saturday, June 22; screening, 9 p.m. $20. cinespia.org
‘Gaytino! Made in America’ Filmed version of musical theater veteran Dan Guerro’s tune-filled solo show about his journey from East L.A. to Broadway and back again. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N. Main St., downtown L.A. 7 p.m. Saturday, June 22. Free. lapca.org
‘Liquid Sky’ A fashion model in NYC finds herself caught up in a world of sex and drugs and alien encounters in Slava Tsukerman’s bonkers 1982 cult classic. With Anne Carlisle. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 10 p.m. Saturday, June 22. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy Return with us now to Middle Earth — and prepare to stay a while — with screenings of the extended editions of Peter Jackson’s adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy of fantasy novels: 2001’s “The Fellowship of the Ring” (Saturday, June 22), 2002’s “The Two Towers” (Sundays, June 23) and 2003’s “The Return of the King” (Mondays, June 24). With Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, et al. Fathom Events, various theaters, showtimes and prices (see website). fathomevents.com
‘Fail Safe’ A weekend-long salute to director Sidney Lumet wraps up with this 1964 Cold War thriller about a technical glitch that sends U.S. bombers armed with nuclear weapons to destroy Moscow. Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau star. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 23. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Grey Gardens’ An eccentric former socialite and her equally eccentric adult daughter live out their lives in a decaying Hamptons mansion in the Maysles Brothers’ groundbreaking 1975 documentary. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 p.m. June 23. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Mikaël’ 100th anniversary screening of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s silent, queer-themed 1924 drama about the relationship between a famous painter and his much younger assistant and model. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 3 p.m. Sunday, June 23. $9-$13.50. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘My Darling Clementine’ The Art Directors Film Society presents a screening of John Ford’s classic 1946 western depicting the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The aforementioned Henry Fonda stars. Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 23. Free with RSVP. theautry.org
‘South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut 25th Anniversary Sing-A-Long’ Your favorite foul-mouthed fourth-graders return to the big screen in this irreverent 1999 musical based on Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s off-color animated series. Fathom Events, various theaters (see website). 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 23 & 26. $18, $20. fathomevents.com
‘A Hard Day’s Night’ The Beatles bring the songs and assorted shenanigans in a one-night-only 60th anniversary screening of Richard Lester’s tune-filled 1964 romp showcasing the Fab Four at the height of Beatlemania; pop music writer Domenic Priore will be on hand to introduce the film. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 25. $16. laemmle.com
‘Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!’ A former mental patient develops a fixation on an adult film star in Pedro Almodóvar’s dark 1989 rom-com starring Antonio Banderas and Victoria Abril. In Spanish with English subtitles. Alamo Drafthouse, 700 W. 7th St., downtown L.A. 7:15 and 9 p.m. Monday, 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, June 24-25. $9, $18. drafthouse.com
‘Bicycle Thieves’ They stole his bike, and he wants it back in Vittorio De Sica's essential 1948 morality play set in post-WWII Italy. In Italian with English subtitles. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 26. $12. thefridacinema.org