SoCal classic movies, May 15-22: ‘North by Northwest,’ ‘Pulp Fiction,’ the Three Stooges 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!
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Peter O’Toole is our man in the sand in David Lean’s Oscar-winning 1962 historical epic. With Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn. Presented in 70mm. Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. 7 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, thru May 16. $12.50, $15. vistatheaterhollywood.com
‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ A pre-revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara and his best friend undertake an epic road trip around South America in 20th anniversary screenings of Walter Salles’ Oscar-winning 2004 bio-drama. In Spanish and Quechua 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., ClaremontLaemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino. 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. 12. laemmle.com
‘No Country for Old Men’ Quién es más macho: Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem or Tommy Lee Jones? Find out in the Coen brothers’ Oscar-winning 2007 adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel about a hunter, a hitman and a small town sheriff in 1980s Texas. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Jaws’ It’s Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw versus a man-eating great white shark — advantage, shark — in Steven Spielberg’s still terrifying 1975 summer blockbuster based on the Peter Benchley novel. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 4 and 7 p.m. Friday, May 17. $9-$13.50. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ Frodo is a hard hobbit to break in the thrilling 2002 middle installment of Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy trilogy. With Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis, et al. Cinespia at Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N Spring St., downtown L.A. 7:45 p.m. Friday, May 17. $20, $22. cinespia.org
‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ A black-clad Henry Fonda plays the heavy in Sergio Leone’s epic 1968 spaghetti western. With Charles Bronson, Jason Robards and Claudia Cardinale. Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. 2 and 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, May 17-22. $12.50, $15. vistatheaterhollywood.com
‘Return to Reason: Four Films by Man Ray’ Recently restored 1920s-era experimental films created by the trailblazing American painter and photographer. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 5 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 17. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
The 37th Annual Avalon Silent Film Showcase This mini-fest kicks off with the suspenseful 1929 Hitchcock thriller “Blackmail” followed the next night by Harold Lloyd’s stunt-filled 1923 comedy “Safety Last.” Catalina Museum for Art & History’s Ackerman Family Amphitheater, 217 Metropole Ave., Avalon, Catalina Island. 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 17-18. $20, $25. catalinamuseum.org
‘The Violent Years’ with ‘Teenage Crime Wave’ See It on 16mm presents a one-night-only double bill of 1950s-era exploitation films about good girls gone bad and bad girls gone worse. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 10 p.m. Friday, May 17. $9-$13.50. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ with ‘See It Now: A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’ George Clooney’s 2005 historical drama starring David Strathairn as crusading journalist Edward R. Murrow is paired with a pivotal episode of Murrow’s 1950s-era newsmagazine, complete with the original commercials. UCLA Film & Television Archive, UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday’ Director and star Jacques Tati’s beloved Gallic bumbler made his first appearance in this gag-filled 1953 romp. In French with English subtitles. Present 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19. $10; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Pulp Fiction’ A 30th anniversary event screening of Quentin Tarantino’s Palme d’Or-winning 1994 crime tale starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman also includes food trucks and a live band. Presented in 35mm. Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. Doors, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18; band, 6:45 p.m.; screening, 8 p.m. $22-$32. streetfoodcinema.com
‘Sex, Lies and Videotape’ The camera doesn’t lie but the camcorder just might in Steven Soderbergh’s Palme d’Or-winning 1989 romantic drama starring James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher and Laura San Giacomo. Alamo Drafthouse, 700 W. 7th St., downtown L.A. 4:05 p.m. Saturday, 11:15 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, 11:10 a.m. Monday, 9:15 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 18-22. $18. drafthouse.com
‘Scarface’ Say hello to Al Pacino as the titular Miami drug kingpin in Brian De Palma’s graphically violent 1983 crime epic. With Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘The Spirit of the Beehive’ A young girl with a thing for the classic horror film “Frankenstein” comes of age in fascist Spain in Víctor Erice’s revered 1973 drama. In Spanish with English subtitles. Presented in 35mm. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Ted Mann Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Texas Guinan Double Feature’ “The Silent Treatment” film series continues with two classic western melodramas starring the trailblazing Irish American actress and producer. Presented with live musical accompaniment by Andrew Simpson. Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. Closed Mondays. 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Included with museum admission ($6-$14); reservations recommended. (323) 667-2000. theautry.org
‘The Three Stooges Festival’ Get more nyuck, nyuck, nyucks for your bucks in this celebration of the legendary slapstick trio. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Double Indemnity’ Fred MacMurray is warm for Barbara Stanwyck’s form in Billy Wilder’s essential 1944 film noir. Edward G. Robinson co-stars. Presented in 35mm. Includes a pre-screening talk and book signing by authors Alain Silver and James Ursini. UCLA Film & Television Archive, UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 18. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘North by Northwest’ Cary Grant has a plane to catch — or rather, to escape from — and other obstacles to overcome in 65th anniversary screenings of Alfred Hitchcock’s monumental 1959 espionage thriller. James Mason and Eva Marie Saint co-star. Fathom Events, various local theaters (see website). 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 & 22. $18, $20. fathomevents.com
‘Masters of the Universe’ Dolph Lundgren is the muscle-bound hero He-Man and Frank Langella the skull-faced villain Skeletor in this 1987 fantasy tale based on the cartoon series based on the line of children’s toys. Presented in 35mm. Includes a Q&A with production designer William Stout. American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 7 p.m. Monday, May 20. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Pulp Fiction’ The house that Quentin Tarantino rebuilt — a.k.a. the New Bev — also screens the filmmaker’s aforementioned 1994 crime drama. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 2 and 7 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21-26. $10, $13; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Dead Poets Society’ English teacher Robin Williams inspires his students and ruffles a few feathers on the faculty at an elite all-boys boarding school in 1950s Vermont in Peter Weir’s 1989 drama. With Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles and Robert Sean Leonard. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22. $16. laemmle.com
‘Miller’s Crossing’ A salute to the Coen brothers continues with the duo’s noirish 1990 crime fable set during Prohibition. Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, John Turturro, Jon Polito and Marcia Gay Harden star. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 22. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘The War of the Worlds’ The Martians are coming! The Martians are coming ... in a new 4K restoration of this effects-laden 1953 adaptation H.G. Wells’ sci-fi thriller; program also includes a selection of producer George Pal’s classic “Puppetoons” plus special guests. Regency Westwood Village Theater, 961 Broxton Ave., Westwood. 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22. $9-$30. sci-fi.biz