SoCal classic movies, Oct. 30-Nov. 6: ‘The Burmese Harp,’ ‘Young Frankenstein,’ a Giant Robot film series 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.
‘Halloween’ Jamie Lee Curtis is the final girl in John Carpenter’s knife-twisting 1978 thriller, the apex of the slasher genre. With Donald Pleasance and P.J. Soles. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 8:15 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Friday, 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30-Nov. 2. $13. thefridacinema.org
‘The Masque of the Red Death’ A demented Italian nobleman (horror icon Vincent Price) and his hangers-on are gonna party like its 1399 in Roger Corman’s flamboyant 1964 B-movie adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe terror tale. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. $16. laemmle.com
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ in 4D The Pumpkin King steps onto Santa’s turf in Tim Burton’s tune-filled 1993 stop-motion animated tale. El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 9:30 a.m., noon, 2:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Oct. 30-31. $20. (800) 347-6396. elcapitantheatre.com
‘Suspiria’ Something sinister lurks in the halls of a prestigious European ballet academy in an event screening of Italian horror-meister Dario Argento’s beguiling 1977 terror tale. With Jessica Harper and Joan Bennett. Cinespia at the Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. Doors, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31; screening, 9 p.m. $38, $71. cinespia.org
‘Young Frankenstein’ Gene Wilder is the mad doctor, Peter Boyle the mad doctor’s monster, and Marty Feldman and the dearly departed Teri Garr are the mad doctor’s trusty assistants in Mel Brooks’ hilarious 1974 send-up of classic Universal horror movies. The Ford, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd E., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. $22-$34. streetfoodcinema.com
‘The Burmese Harp’ New 4K restoration of Kon Ichikawa’s evocative 1956 adaptation of the Michio Takeyama novel about battle-weary Japanese soldiers at loose ends in Burma during WWII. The Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 1:10, 4:10 and 7:10 p.m. Friday-next Thursday, Nov. 1-7. $7-$16. laemmle.com
‘Cabaret’ What good is sitting alone in your room? Go see Liza Minnelli in Bob Fosse’s Oscar-winning 1972 adaptation of the Kander & Ebb musical about the denizens of a decadent nightclub in pre-WWII Berlin. With Michael York. Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Conan the Barbarian’ Arnold Schwarzenegger is pulp novelist Robert E. Howard’s muscle-bound marauder in John Milius’ kick-ass 1982 sword-and-sandal tale. Max Von Sydow and the late, great James Earl Jones also star. Presented in 35mm. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
‘A Film Series for You: Celebrating Giant Robot’s 30th Anniversary’ The little fanzine that could — and did — shine a light on Asian pop culture and the Asian American experience is fondly remembered in this curated selection of films presented by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Various dates and times, Nov. 1 thru 17. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Starship Troopers’ They’re fighting big bugs on far-off planets so we don’t have to fight them here in Paul Verhoeven’s satirical 1997 sci-fi/action thriller based on the Robert A. Heinlein novel. With Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Michael Ironside and Neil Patrick Harris. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 9:40 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 $10-$13. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Batman: The Movie’ Adam West is the campiest Caped Crusader of them all in this 1966 big-screen adaptation of the hit TV series. Presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 2-3. $11.25; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Blue Velvet’ Dennis Hopper’s the bad guy, Isabella Rossellini’s the femme fatale, Laura Dern’s the girl next door and Kyle MacLachlan is just trying to figure out what the heck is going on in David Lynch’s nightmarish 1986 neo-noir fable. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘John Wick’ Keanu Reeves goes ballistic as a relentless former hitman out for vengeance in this 2014 franchise starter. Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne and Lance Reddick also star. Fathom Events, various theaters (see website). 5 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 4 and 7 p.m. next Wednesday, Nov. 3 and 6. $18 and up. fathomevents.com
‘The Maltese Falcon’ Humphrey Bogart is mystery writer Dashiell Hammett’s hard-boiled gumshoe Sam Spade in John Huston’s classic 1941 film noir about assorted disreputable characters desperately seeking the mother of all MacGuffins. With Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3. $10, $12. oldtownmusichall.org