SoCal classic movies, May 1-8: Star Wars Day, ‘Blazing Saddles,’ ‘American Graffiti’ and more
SoCal classic movies, May 1-8: Star Wars Day, ‘Blazing Saddles,’ ‘American Graffiti’ 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!
‘Blazing Saddles’ Comedy legend Mel Brooks spoofs frontier-era history, race relations and the entire Western genre in this rude and riotous 1974 romp starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn and Brooks himself; presented by “See It in 16mm.” The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. $12. thefridacinema.org
Also at the Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, May 2-3. $9-$13.50. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
SEE Fest (South and Eastern European Film Festival) Go Continental with this sprawling city-wide showcase that includes full-length features, shorts, documentaries, etc. plus panel discussions, poetry readings and more. Various venues and showtimes, May 1 thru 8. $8-$25; some free events. seefilmla.org
VC Film Fest/Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival This multi-venue showcase returns with feature films, documentaries, shorts, etc., plus panel discussions and more. Japanese American Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., and Aratani Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. and other area venues. Various showtimes, May 1 thru 10. $15, $20.; some free events; tickets available online only. vcmedia.org
‘Funny Girl’ Hello, gorgeous! Barbra Streisand made her feature film debut and took home an Oscar to boot with William Wyler’s 1968 big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about the life and times of legendary comedienne Fanny Brice; with Omar Sharif; presented in 4K digital. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ The man from Galilee has his date with destiny in Norman Jewison’s groovy 1973 adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera; with Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson and Yvonne Elliman. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Classe tous risques’ A French mobster who’d been hiding out in Italy returns to Paris with a few scores to settle in Claude Sautet’s influential 1960 gangster flick. With Lino Ventura, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Sandra Milo. In French and Italian with English subtitles. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 1, 4:10 and 7 p.m. Friday-Thursday, May 3-8. $7-$16. laemmle.com
Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival Get more yucks for your bucks in a new edition of this annual showcase. LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, 128 Artsakh Ave., Glendale. Various showtimes, May 3-5. Passes: $30, $50. hollywoodcomedyshortsfilmfest.com
‘Return of the Jedi’ Luke, Leia, Han (Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford) and company save the day as the original “Star Wars” trilogy concludes with this 1983 adventure directed by Richard Marquand. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 1 and 7:25 p.m. Friday, 4 and 10 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday, 2:30 and 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 3-6. $8.75, $12. thefridacinema.org
‘Female Trouble’ To err is human, to commit crimes is Divine as the legendary drag icon does just that in John Waters’ typically trashy 1974 indie comedy. Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 11 p.m. Friday, May 3. $10. (310) 473-8530. landmarktheatres.com
‘May the 4th Celebration: Across the Galaxy’ The Academy Museum celebrates Star Wars Day with this family-friendly outing — costumes encouraged — that includes arts & crafts workshops, gallery tours, screenings of “Return of the Jedi” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and more. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Closed Tuesdays. 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4. $15-$25; ages 17 and younger, free; screenings, $5; some activities free, others extra. (323) 930-3000. academymuseum.org
‘American Graffiti’ A long time ago … the 1960s … in a galaxy far, far away … Modesto … teens make the most of the last night of summer in George Lucas’ nostalgic 1973 comedy. With Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams and Charles Martin Smith. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Dune’ Return with us now to Arrakis in David Lynch’s dark and menacing 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel. With Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis, Brad Dourif, José Ferrer, Patrick Stewart and Sting. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 9:30 p.m. Satuday, May 4. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘The Searchers’ John Wayne is a man on a mission to rescue his niece who was abducted by a band of Comanche in a newly struck 70mm print of John Ford’s epic 1956 western. With Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
‘Traffic in Souls’ Retroformat Silent Films screens George Loane Tucker’s groundbreaking 1913 melodrama about newly arrived immigrant women forced into prostitution in New York City; presented with an original live score by Cliff Retallick. Woman’s Club of Hollywood, 1749 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $12-$18. retroformat.org
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ Everybody is kung fu fighting in Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning 2000 martial arts fable. With Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi. Presented in 35mm. In Mandarin with English subtitles. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, David Geffen Theater, Ted Mann Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘The Lords of Flatbush’ A long time ago … the 1950s … in a galaxy far, far away … Brooklyn … four young hoodlums just can’t seem to stay out of trouble in 50th anniversary screenings, with special guests, of Stephen F. Verona and Martin Davidson’s 1974 coming-of-age tale starring Sylvester Stallone, Henry Winkler and Perry King. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5. $13; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘One-Armed Boxer’ with ‘Master of the Flying Guillotine’ Everybody is also kung fu fighting in this double bill of 1970s martial arts classics written, directed by and starring Jimmy Wang Yu. Presented in 35mm with English subtitles. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and 9:35 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, May 6-7. $13; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Drive’ “The Fall Guy’s” Ryan Gosling also played a stuntman — who moonlights as a getaway driver — in Nicolas Winding Refn’s atmospheric, L.A.-set 2011 crime drama. Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston and Carey Mulligan also star. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org