SoCal classic movies, March 6-13: ‘Labyrinth,’ ‘Close Encounters,’ ‘Uncle Boonmee,’ ‘Airplane!’ 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!
‘Labyrinth’ Girl babysits infant step-brother, step-brother gets spirited away by goblins, girl tries to get step-brother back in this creature-filled 1986 fantasy tale written by Monty Python’s Terry Jones, directed by Muppets creator Jim Henson and starring Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie. Fathom Events, various local theaters (see website). 7 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6; 4, 4:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10. $18, $20. fathomevents.com
‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ They look just like your friends and neighbors but they’ve been replaced — by pod people! — in this 1956 sci-fi chiller starring Kevin McCarthy and directed by Don Siegel. Presented in 16mm. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7. $12. thefridacinema.org
‘Romeo is Bleeding’ Gary Oldman plays a corrupt NYC cop whose personal and professional lives are going off the rails in Peter Medak’s gritty 1994 crime drama. With Lena Olin, Juliette Lewis, Roy Scheider and Annabella Sciorra. American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Cat People’ with ‘The Spiral Staircase’ A double bill pairs Jacques Tourneur’s atmospheric 1942 supernatural thriller starring Simone Simon with Robert Siodmak’s gripping 1946 terror tale starring Dorothy McGuire. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7 and 8:45 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 8-9. $10; double features, $13; advance purchase recommended. thenewbev.com
‘Cléo from 5 to 7’ with ‘Vagabond’ This double bill pairs influential French filmmaker Agnès Varda’s real-time 1962 drama about a singer (Corinne Marchand) wandering Paris while waiting on some medical results with Varda’s 1985 fable about a drifter (Sandrine Bonnaire) who comes to a most unfortunate end. With English subtitles. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 7 p.m. Friday, March 8. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Daughters of the Dust’ The struggles and triumphs of three generations of Gullah women and their familes living on an island off the coast of South Carolina are illuminated in a restored version of Julie Dash’s evocative and groundbreaking 1991 period drama. In English and Gullah with English subtitles. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7 p.m. Friday, March 8. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘La région centrale’ No actors, no dialogue, no problem! UCLA Film & Television Archive’s “Time: It’s of the Essence” series continues with avant-garde filmmaker Michael Snow’s three-hour-long 1971 experimental film consisting of naught but a series of images of the Canadian wilderness recorded by a camera controlled by a computer program. Presented in 16mm. Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Airplane!’ The airborne disaster flicks of the 1970s come in for a spoofing in co-directors David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker’s gleeful 1980 romp starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges and First Officer Roger Murdock. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 9. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ Richard Dreyfuss is a lineman for the county and he drives the main road and — what the heck is that?! A UFO?! — in Steven Spielberg’s effects-laden 1977 sci-fi drama. With Melinda Dillion, Teri Garr and François Truffaut. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
‘Dreams’ The new film series “From Canvas to Screen” gets underway with master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s visually ravishing 1990 collection of fantastical vignettes. With Martin Scorsese as Vincent van Gogh. In Japanese with English subtitles. Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Closed Tuesdays-Wednesdays. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9. $15, $20; member, students, active-duty military and ages 18 and younger are free. (626) 449-6840. nortonsimon.org
‘Grizzly Man’ with ‘Gates of Heaven’ The film series “Animalia” continues with Werner Herzog’s gripping 2005 documentary, about a lover of all things ursine who comes to a most unfortunate end, with Errol Morris’ insightful 1978 doc about a cemetery for everyday people’s dearly departed pets. Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Red-Headed Woman’ “The t is silent” as Jean Harlow attempts to sleep her way into high society in this scandalous pre-Code comedy from 1932. Film historian Karie Bible hosts the screening. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives’ A man in failing health repairs to the countryside where he is reunited with his deceased wife and long-lost son in Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s acclaimed, hallucinatory 2010 fable. With Thanapat Saisaymar. In Thai with English subtitles. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 11. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Pink Flamingos’ There’s no accounting for taste in filth-meister John Waters’ still-shocking 1972 cult comedy starring the legendary drag artist Divine as a low-life criminal who’ll stop at nothing to retain her title as “The Filthiest Person Alive.” Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org