Saturday, June 04, 2011

Classics on the Big Screen in Los Angeles

There are a number of interesting places to see classic films this summer in Los Angeles.

Here are a few highlights:

...The Autry in Griffith Park has an ongoing series, What is a Western?, and my husband and I have tickets to see SHANE (1953) in 35 millimeter on Saturday, June 11th.

What makes it even better is that this will be the first time I've ever seen SHANE; it's one of those classics I've somehow never caught up with.

Upcoming titles at the Autry this summer are ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968) in July and THE GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL (1957) in August. Check the schedule for details, including more titles listed for this fall.

...Continuing the Western theme, in July Robert Mitchum fans can enjoy the series Tracking the Cat: Robert Mitchum in the West at UCLA's Billy Wilder Theater.

The series begins on Friday, July 8th, with two favorite Mitchum films, Raoul Walsh's PURSUED (1947) and BLOOD ON THE MOON (1948), directed by the endlessly versatile Robert Wise.

Marilyn Ann Moss, author of the new Raoul Walsh biography, is scheduled to attend, along with historian Alan K. Rode. (I'm scheduled to be in the Sierras that week, but if our plans change for any reason, I'll be there!)

Other Mitchum Westerns screening at the Wilder Theater in July: THE LUSTY MEN (1952), directed by Nicholas Ray; Fred Zinnemann's THE SUNDOWNERS (1960), which I reviewed in 2007; William Wellman's TRACK OF THE CAT (1954); RIVER OF NO RETURN (1954), directed by Otto Preminger; THE WONDERFUL COUNTRY (1959), directed by Robert Parrish; the "B" movie WEST OF THE PECOS (1945), directed by Edward Killy, teamed with the excellent RACHEL AND THE STRANGER (1948), directed by Norman Foster; and finally Howard Hawks' EL DORADO (1966).

...The Los Angeles Conservancy's series, Last Remaining Seats, takes place at historic theaters.

Most of this month's titles are already sold out, but tickets are still available for CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935) on June 8th at the Million Dollar Theatre. CAPTAIN BLOOD was directed by Michael Curtiz and stars one of Hollywood's great romantic duos, Errol Flynn and Olivia deHavilland, along with Basil Rathbone.

...As always, great things are going on at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. A Hitchcock series will be screening half a dozen films between today and Thursday, June 9th.

June 10th through 12th there's a marvelous weekend of Raoul Walsh films, with Walsh biographer Marilyn Ann Moss attending each screening. Actor Richard Erdman (who I was fortunate to see at CRY DANGER in March) will be attending the double bill of WHITE HEAT (1949) and THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE (1941).

The other films being shown are HIGH SIERRA (1941) teamed with THE ROARING TWENTIES (1939); and THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1924), starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr., with live musical accompaniment.

I hope other Southern Californians will be able to take advantage of some of these wonderful opportunities to see classic films on the big screen this summer!

As a postscript, classic film fans in the Boston area should be sure to check out Raquelle's roundup of classic films showing there this month at her blog Out of the Past.

4 Comments:

Blogger Raquel Stecher said...

Oh wow. So many Mitchum goodies. I've seen The Lusty Men on the big screen but none of the others. Can we switch cities?!

Great list of highlights! Thanks for the shoutout

6:50 PM  
Blogger Tom said...

It's great to hear that the Million Dollar is showing classic movies! Have you ever seen a show there?

8:10 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

You're welcome, Raquelle! I hope I have the chance to see some Mitchum films -- I thought of you when I saw that schedule! Wish I could check out a film in your area! :)

Tom, I've never been to the Million Dollar Theatre but it sure looks interesting -- perhaps I'll have a chance in the future!

Best wishes,
Laura

12:11 AM  
Blogger Vienna said...

Oh you lucky folk in Los Angeles. What a thrill it would be to see some classic films in a cinema setting. Watching them on dvd at home can't capture the atmosphere and the scale of a cinema screen.
I love BLOOD ON THE MOON and have to be careful not to mix it up with Cagney's BLOOD ON THE SUN!

1:18 AM  

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