| Special One Night Events &
Limited Engagements, Sneak Previews in August:
http://www.myspace.com/americancinematheque
Saturday, August 1 – 7:30 PM
70 mm! BARAKA,
1992, Magidson Films, 96 min. If you have never seen BARAKA, one of the
Cinematheque’s favorite movies, this is another chance to experience one of the most
visually awesome films ever made. Inspired by the Sufi word that means "breath of
life," BARAKA is a mind-expanding, spiritual journey around the globe (shot in 24
countries on 5 continents), from director/cinematographer Ron Fricke (who
photographed the earlier KOYAANISQATSI) and producer Mark Magidson (the Imax film
CHRONOS). Filmed entirely without dialogue in a stunning cascade of crystalline,
time-lapse 70 mm. images, BARAKA is quite simply breathtaking. "Smashingly edited,
superbly scored … speaks volumes about the planet without uttering a single
word." – Suzan Ayscough, Variety Trailer
Sunday, August 2 – 7:30 PM
Live Commentary! THE MONSTER SQUAD, 1987, LionsGate, 82 min. Dir. Fred
Dekker. Young kids form a club that is devoted to monsters, but soon get more than they
bargained for when Count Dracula adjourns to Earth, accompanied by Frankenstein's Monster,
the Wolfman, the Mummy and the Gill-man. The uglies are in search of a powerful amulet
that will grant them power to rule the world. Our heroes - the Monster Squad are the only
ones daring to stand in their way. With Andre Gower, Robby Kiger, Stephen Macht, Tom
Noonan (as Frankenstein’s monster), Duncan Regehr (as Dracula). Trailer Director Fred Dekker will comment on the making of THE MONSTER SQUAD
while it is screening. Other guests to be announced.
Wednesday, August 12- 7:30 PM
Kevin Thomas’ Favorites:
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN,
1972, Warner Bros., 120 min. "A whimsical, highly sophisticated mock heroic western
starring Paul Newman in the title role as the tough hombre who brought law and
order to Vinegaroon, in the badlands of Texas and became a part of the folklore of the Old
West. John Milius has written a rousing American epic, in which he reveals the
downside of rugged individualism in the American character, and has had the good fortune
to have had it directed by John Huston, who relishes telling a terrific story for
its own sake and letting the symbols and meanings fall where they may. This glorious and
unjustly neglected 1972 film is nonetheless as happily intent upon being fun as it is in
being significant The star-studded cast includes Ava Gardner as Lily Langtry, the
legendary English actress worshipped by Bean." Kevin Thomas. Film
Critic Kevin Thomas will introduce the screening.
Thursday, August 20 – 7:30 PM
Biker Double Feature:
THE WILD ONE, 1954, Sony Repertory, 79 min. Dir. Laslo
Benedek. Marlon Brando roars into pop culture as one of the first antihero
outsiders in American cinema. His biker gang turns a small burg upside-down when they
drunkenly brawl with Lee Marvin's rival wild bunch, only to have the tables turned
when vigilante rule takes over. Based on an actual incident in a Southern California town
in 1947. Trailer
THE WILD ANGELS, 1966, MGM Repertory, 93 min. Dir. Roger
Corman. Hot-tempered biker Peter Fonda has no respect for straight society and
goes about proving it. Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd and
Michael J. Pollard join him on his journey of perpetual rebellion. See amazing
gone-forever, time-capsule Southern Califonia locations, including great sequences shot in
Venice. With the incredibly catchy instrumental theme by Davie Allen and the Arrows. Trailer
Sunday, August 23 – 7:30 PM
Back To School Double Feature:
REVENGE OF THE NERDS, 1984, 20th
Century Fox, 90 min. Dir. Jeff Kanew. This cult classic stars Robert Carradine
and Anthony Edwards as Louis and Gilbert, two nerdy yet lovable college freshmen.
They are miserable – not only are they taunted mercilessly by the jocks of Alpha
Beta, but Louis has a hopeless crush on Betty (Julia Montgomery), the
girlfriend of the quarterback. Deciding finally to fight back, they join up with
Poindexter (Timothy Busfield) and Booger (Curtis Armstrong) and form their
own fraternity. Soon, hilarious out-and-out warfare begins – but can they really win?
The cast also includes James Cromwell and John Goodman. The Rubinoos
("I Think We're Alone Now" - 1987) performed the theme song for the film. Trailer
BACK TO SCHOOL, 1986, MGM Repertory, 96 min. Dir. Alan
Metter. Rodney Dangerfield can’t get no respect as the father of a young
man (Keith Gordon) who has decided that he doesn’t want to go to college after
all. Determined to show him the importance of education, Dangerfield decides to enroll at
the university as well. Instantly popular due to his wild parties, he soon has to figure
out if he’s sending his son the right message after all. There are lots of laughs, of
course, as well as a cameo by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and a soundtrack by former
Oingo Boingo frontman Danny Elfman. The band The Rubinoos will appear in person to perform the REVENGE
OF THE NERDS theme song and other
pop hits!
Wednesday, August 26 – 7:30 PM
THE GRADUATE, 1967, 105 min. Dir. Mike Nichols. "Mrs.
Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me…aren’t you?" In this iconic
1960s classic, Dustin Hoffman stars as Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate
in search of a little direction in his life. He soon finds himself having an affair with
the wife of his father’s partner, Mrs. Robinson (the fabulous Anne Bancroft).
Things get even more complicated when he falls for her daughter (Katherine Ross).
The film darkly and humorously captures both the restlessness and ennui of the era. Be on
the lookout for screenwriter Buck Henry’s hilarious cameo as a hotel desk
clerk. Trailer
Thursday, August 27 – 7:30 PM
Frank Zappa Double Feature:
New 35mm Print! 200 MOTELS, 1971, MGM Repertory, 98 min. Dir. Tony Palmer
& Frank Zappa. "Touring can make you crazy, that's what 200 Motels is
all about."- Frank Zappa. Frank Zappa was a mad scientist constantly pushing the
boundaries of music, film, and video. 200 MOTELS is no exception; Zappa combined The Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra with The Mothers of Invention and filmed the bulk of the soundtrack
live. Zappa's favorite topics -- groupies, mundane Americana and inside jokes -- are the
themes of this film. Musical interludes provide a transcending break, where things like
place, time and plot are forgotten. With Theodore Bikel, Keith Moon and
Ringo Starr as Frank Zappa. Trailer
BABY SNAKES, 1979, Intercontinental Absurdities, 164
min. Dir. Frank Zappa. In 1977, Frank Zappa gave a major concert in New York that
gave full rein to the astonishing range of his talents as a composer, musician,
band-leader, conductor, satirist and ringmaster. Orchestrating the band, the event and the
audience – the concert was a triumphant celebration of the breadth of his uniquely
idiosyncratic vision. Zappa filmed the concert and spent the next two years editing,
polishing and adding sequences to the film including ground-breaking claymation. As usual,
Zappa was far ahead of his time – and the film did not enjoy wide distribution on
release. Trailer
Friday, August 28 – 7:30 PM
40th Anniversary Screening! New 35mm Print! WOODSTOCK (The Director’s Cut), 1970, Warner Bros., 228
min. Dir. Michael Wadleigh. In THE OMEGA MAN, it’s no wonder that Charlton
Heston, sole survivor of the human race, spends his days endlessly watching WOODSTOCK, the
ultimate time capsule of the Love Generation. If any film captured the heady idealism, the
free-form partying, drug-taking and love-making, and above all the great music of the late
1960s, this is it. The Who, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sly & The Family Stone,
Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Joe Cocker, Carlos Santana -- need we say more? We’ll
be screening the much-extended Director’s Cut of the film, featuring many songs and
performers not included in the original release version. Introduction by Hal
Lifson, noted pop culture historian, celebrity publicist and author of the book 1966!
The Coolest Year in Pop Culture History. Hall will sign copies of his new Archie comic about everyone's
favorite Riverdale teens going to Woodstock at Every Picture Tells A Story at 6 PM.
Saturday, August 29 – 7:30 PM
Triple Features, Trilogies and Triple Bills!
Join us for this month's Aero Theatre Triple Bill: 3 classic films for the price of
one. Following the success of our INDIANA JONES, MAD MAX, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and BACK TO
THE FUTURE triple bills, enjoy this month the first 3 JAWS!
JAWS, 1975, Universal, 124 min. Director Steven
Spielberg rocketed to the head of the class with this terrific mixture of suspense, humor
and modern Americana, based on the Peter Benchley best-seller. Roy Scheider is excellent
as a New England sheriff confronting crowds of sunbathers, self-serving local politicians
and -- most importantly -- a monstrous Great White Shark over a July 4th
weekend. With Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss.
JAWS 2, 1978, 116 min., Universal, Dir. Jeannot
Szwarc, Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Roy Scheider,
reprising his role as Martin Brody, the hydrophobic Police Chief of Amity, is joined by
wife Ellen (Lorainne Gary) - four years later a Man-eating Great White shark is again
terrorizing the waters in this second suspenseful maritime outing, scored by John
Williams.
JAWS 3, 1983, 99 min., Universal, Dir. Joe Alves. Michael
Brody (Dennis Quaid, in his first lead role) chief engineer for Sea World is the eldest
son of police chief Brody. When completion of a new exhibit is threatened by the sudden
appearance of a Great White Shark, Michael and his brother (John Putch) attempt to hunt it
down. Joining in the hunt is Lou Gossett Jr. as Calvin Bouchard, the park’s owner.
Originally released as 3D in the theatrical release, screened NOT in 3D. Introduction by Patrick Jankiewicz, author of
Just When You Thought It Was Safe, A JAWS Companion.
Sunday, August 30 – 5:30 PM
Art Director Series - Designing For The Backlot
THE CHASE, 1966, Sony Repertory, 135 min. Dir. Arthur
Penn. Screenplay by Lillian Hellman from the play by Horton Foote, and starring Marlon
Brando, Jane Fonda, James Fox, Robert Duvall and Robert Redford, the film
portrays how the escape of one man from prison, in one night, profoundly affects the
inhabitants of a small southern town. Designed by Richard Day (MY GAL SAL, A STREETCAR
NAMED DESIRE, ON THE WATERFRONT). A panel
discussion will follow with leading production designers who will further discuss the
creation and use of backlots in film including Production Designers Albert Brenner (Beaches, 2010),
William J. Creber (The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Towering Inferno) and Corey Kaplan
(The X-Files, Cold Case) will participate in a panel discussion to be moderated by
Production Designer and ADG President, Tom Walsh. A brief presentation and clip reel will
also be shown to highlight the creation and use of backlots in film. Trailer |
