SoCal classic movies, March 13-20: ‘Metropolis,’ ‘Superman,’ ‘The Lady Eve’ and more
SoCal classic movies, March 13-20: ‘Metropolis,’ ‘Superman,’ ‘The Lady Eve’ 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!
‘The Lady Eve’ Barbara Stanwyck needs Henry Fonda like the ax needs the turkey in Preston Sturges' classic 1941 screwball comedy about a con woman who sets her sights on a wealthy herpetologist. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13. $12. thefridacinema.org
‘Pi’ Darren Aronofsky’s dark 1998 fable about a mathematician driven to the brink of madness returns to theaters for Pi Day, the annual celebration of everyone’s favorite mathematical constant. With Sean Gullette. Various showtimes, Thursday, March 14. laemmle.com, drafthouse.com
‘Mary Poppins’ Julie Andrews is practically perfect in every way while Dick Van Dyke’s British accent is something quite atrocious in Disney’s 1964 fantasy musical based on the P.L. Travers books about a magical British nanny. El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Friday-Thursday, March 15 thru 21, with a special fan event at 7 p.m. Friday, March 17. $12; fan event, $22. (800) 347-6396. elcapitantheatre.com
‘Superman’ in Concert Conductor Thomas Wilkins and the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform John Williams’ classic score live-to-picture to accompany a screening of Richard Donner’s blockbuster 1978 superhero drama starring Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Friday, March 15. $50-$268. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com
‘Nostalghia’ A Russian writer travels to Italy to research the life of a famous composer in Andrei Tarkovsky’s semi-autobiographical 1983 meditation on art and the creative process. In Russian and Italian with English subtitles. Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. Various times, Friday-Thursday, March 15 thru 21. $11.25-$16.25. (310) 473-8530. landmarktheatres.com
‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ The Beatles’ landmark 1976 album serves as the basis for this star-studded 1978 fantasy musical. With Peter Frampton, the Bee Gees, George Burns, et al. Alamo Drafthouse, 700 W. 7th St., downtown L.A. 4 p.m. Friday, March 15; 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 20. $18. drafthouse.com
‘Great Gatsby’ Night Come for the pre-party and stay for a screening of Baz Luhrmann’s flashy 2013 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel; with Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire. Street Food Cinema at the Saban Theatre, Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16; screening, 8 p.m. $25-$50; under 18 requires an accompanying adult. streetfoodcinema.com
‘Metropolis’ The future looks none-too-bright in the 2002 restoration of Fritz Lang’s silent-era 1927 sci-fi fable, one of the essential films of the German Expressionist movement; part of the “From Canvas to Screen” series. Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Included with museum admission ($15, $20; students, active-duty military and ages 18 and younger, free). (626) 449-6840. nortonsimon.org
‘Pure Grit’ A queer Native American woman pursues her love of bareback horse racing in Kim Bartley’s 2021 documentary. Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Included with museum admission ($6-$14); reservations recommended. (323) 667-2000. theautry.org
‘Aelita, Queen of Mars’ She rules the Red Planet in this Soviet-made 1924 silent-era sci-fi fable directed by Yakov Protazanov. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 11 a.m. Sunday, March 17. $9-$12. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘Grand Hotel’ with ‘Anna Karenina’ The film series “Then Came Garbo…” celebrating Swedish film icon Greta Garbo continues with the star-studded 1932 melodrama followed by 1935 adaptation of novelist Tolstoy’s tragic romance. UCLA Film & Television Archive, UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles’ A widow with a young son has a side hustle as a stay-at-home sex worker in Chantal Akerman’s measured 1975 drama; Delphine Seyrig stars. In French with English subtitles. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 17. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
‘Short Cuts’ Los Angeles is ready for its close-up in Robert Altman’s acclaimed 1993 ensemble drama based on the writings of Raymond Carver. With Julianne Moore, Andie MacDowell, Jack Lemmon, Robert Downey Jr., et al. Presented in 35mm. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Sunday, March 17. $12; advance purchase required. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ An aspiring singer with a young son works as a waitress in a diner in Arizona in Martin Scorsese’s moving 1974 drama. Kris Kristofferson also stars. American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 7 p.m. Monday, March 18. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Wonder Woman’ Filmmaker Patty Jenkins will be on hand for a screening of her 2017 action thriller starring Gal Gadot as the titular Amazonian superhero. With Chris Pine and Robin Wright. Fine Arts Theatre, 8556 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17. $13, $15. fineartstheatrebh.com
‘Play It As It Lays’ with ‘Puzzle of a Downfall Child’ A double bill pairs Frank Perry’s 1972 adaptation of the Joan Didion novel about a troubled actress (Tuesday Weld) with Jerry Schatzberg’s rarely screened 1970 drama about a troubled fashion model (Faye Dunaaway). Presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and 9:40 p.m. $13; advance purchase recommended. thenewbev.com
‘Woman in the Dunes’ A visiting entomologist begins a passionate affair with a local widow in Hiroshi Teshigahara’s potent 1964 drama based on the Kobo Abe novel. With Eiji Okada and Kyoko Kishida. In Japanese 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; Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino; Claremont 5, 450 W. 2nd St., Claremont; Monica Film Center, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica. 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19. $12.50. laemmle.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 drama. Kyle MacLachlan also stars. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, David Geffen Theater, Ted Mann Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20. $5-$10. academymuseum.org