SoCal classic movies, Oct. 2-9: ‘Mean Girls,’ ‘The Last Seduction’, ‘Science Fiction Against the Margins’ 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.
Beyond Fest XXII This annual two-week showcase for new and classic action, horror, sci-fi, fantasy and other genre films continues. Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.; Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. Various days, dates, times and prices, thru Oct. 9. beyondfest.com
‘King Kong’ The big ape runs amok on the islands of Skull and Manhattan as the film series “Hollywoodland: The Origins of the Studios” continues with this essential 1933 creature feature. Presented in 35mm. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3; 2 p.m. next Wednesday-Thursday, Oct. 9-10. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Mean Girls’ So fetch! Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams face off in 20th anniversary screenings of this 2004 teen comedy written by “30 Rock’s” Tina Fey, who also co-stars. With Tim Meadows, Lizzy Caplan, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert. Fathom Events, various theaters (see website). 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3; 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. $18 and up. fathomevents.com
‘Dark City’ Rufus Sewell has no idea what’s going on and you probably won’t either in Alex Proyas’ atmospheric 1998 sci-fi fable co-starring Kiefer Sutherland, William Hurt and Jennifer Connelly. Presented in 35mm. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 9:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Science Fiction Against the Margins’ Running from Oct. 4 thru Dec. 14, this new film series presented by the UCLA Film & Television Archive goes outside the mainstream to showcase alternative features, documentaries, shorts, etc., from the worlds of independent and international cinema dating from the earliest days of filmmaking to the present … and perhaps beyond. UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ Lon “Man of a Thousand Faces” Chaney is Quasimodo — now that name rings a bell — as Retroformat Silent Films screens this heart-rending 1925 adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel set in 15th century Paris. Presented with live musical accompaniment by Cliff Retallick. Woman’s Club of Hollywood, 1749 N. LaBrea Ave., Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. $14, $18. retroformat.org
‘Mad Monster Party?’ Yes, and you’re invited! Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller lend their voices to this tune-filled and kid-friendly 1967 tale from legendary stop-motion animation specialists Rankin/Bass Productions. Presented in 35mm. Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. 10 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 5-6. $11. vistatheaterhollywood.com
‘The Planet of the Apes’ Apes rule and humans drool in this classic 1968 sci-fi drama based on the Pierre Boulle novel and starring Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall. Presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 5-6. $11.25; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘The Time Machine’ Victorian-era inventor Rod Taylor gets ahead of himself in George Pal’s effects-laden 1960 adventure tale based on the H.G. Wells novel. Also on the bill: a trio of recently restored Puppetoons shorts and a panel discussion featuring celebrity guests. Fine Arts Theatre, 8556 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. $13, $15. fineartstheatrebh.com
‘L’Avventura’ A yachting trip around the Mediterranean, a little fun in the sun, what could possible go wrong? Find out in iconoclastic filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni’s controversial 1960 mystery drama; in Italian with English subtitles. Presented in 35mm. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. $10-$13. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Poltergeist’ This house is haunted — haunted, I tells ya! — in director Tobe Hooper’s suburban 1982 supernatural thriller (Rated PG, if you can believe it). Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams and Zelda Rubinstein co-star. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘The Last Seduction’ Femmes don’t come much more fatale than Linda Fiorentino in a special 30th anniversary screening of this 1994 steamy-with-a-capital-S neo-noir thriller directed by John Dahl, who will be on hand for a Q&A. Bill Pullman and Peter Berg also star. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. $13, $16. laemmle.com
Feeling the nostalgia after reading this one!