Wednesday, December 1 – 7:30 PM

An Evening With Kim Basinger

With her Academy Award-winning performance in L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, Kim Basinger firmly established herself as one of the most compelling and accomplished actresses in modern American cinema. She began her feature film career in the early 1980’s, and quickly earned recognition in dramas such as THE NATURAL, FOOL FOR LOVE and NADINE, along with Tim Burton’s blockbuster BATMAN. She’s recently worked with filmmakers from Robert Altman (PRET-A-PORTER) to her L.A. CONFIDENTIAL director, Curtis Hanson, in the blistering 8 MILE. Please join us for a special tribute to Ms. Basinger, featuring her latest film:

THE DOOR IN THE FLOOR, 2004, Focus Features, 111 min. Adapted from John Irving’s novel, "A Widow For One Year", director Tod Williams supplies a frank, riveting character study of Long Island couple, Marion (Kim Basinger) and Ted (Jeff Bridges) as they go through the agonizing aftermath of the death of their two sons. Dysfunction mushrooms in tragedy’s wake as both characters deal with their despondency in different ways and try desperately to find a path back to "normalcy". With Mimi Rogers, Jon Foster. "Extraordinary in every way, from the pitch-perfect performances to the delicate handling of explosive subject matter…" –Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.

Friday, December 3 – 7:30 PM

A Night with Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon started her career in show business very early. After modeling, TV commercial roles, and winning her first State Talent Show award at 10, she starred at 15 as Dani Trant in Robert Mulligan’s MAN ON THE MOON (1991). After taking time off to study English Literature at Stanford University, she returned with James Foley’s FEAR (1996), and Matthew Bright’s FREEWAY (1996), a film that was a transgressive cult phenomenon and put her on the map as a performer to watch. Real stardom came in the late 1990’s with critically acclaimed pictures such as PLEASANTVILLE (1998), CRUEL INTENTIONS (1999) and ELECTION (1999) and finally superstar status with her role in the box-office hit LEGALLY BLONDE (2001) which earned her a Golden Globe Nomination. She’s continued her success with SWEET HOME ALABAMA, LEGALLY BLONDE II, and her latest VANITY FAIR.

VANITY FAIR, 2004, Focus Features, 137 min. One of America’s most popular stars, Reese Witherspoon, unites with acclaimed director Mira Nair to bring to the screen author William Makepeace Thackeray’s classic character, Rebecca (Becky) Sharp. The daughter of a starving English artist and a French chorus girl, Becky is orphaned at a young age. Even as a child, she yearns for a more glamorous life than her birthright promises. As she leaves Miss Pinkerton’s Academy at Chiswick, Becky resolves to conquer English society by any means possible. She deploys all of her wit, guile, and sexuality as she makes her way up into high society during the first quarter of the 19^th century.

ELECTION, 1999, Paramount, 103 min. Reese Witherspoon gives one of her finest comic performances in director Alexander Payne’s (SIDEWAYS, ABOUT SCHMIDT) savage satire of high school politics. Tracy Enid Flick (Witherspoon) always runs unopposed for class president, and this year looks no different -- until unhappily married teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) decides everyone will benefit from a little democratic competition. Discussion in between films with actress Reese Witherspoon.

11:30 AM FOREVER HOLLYWOOD

Saturday, December 4 – 5:00 PM

Memorial Tribute to Janet Leigh

Bright, beautiful, equally adept at lighthearted comedy or darkly disturbing drama, actress Janet Leigh graced the American screen for over five decades. Although best known for her "trilogy" of unnerving B&W masterpieces – TOUCH OF EVIL, PSYCHO and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE – Leigh gave dazzling performances in a number of other genres, including westerns and musical comedy. A frequent guest at the American Cinematheque, Leigh was always generous in sharing her memories of a brilliant career. Please join us in remembering this true American star, with three of her finest performances.

THE NAKED SPUR, 1953, MGM (Warner Classics), 91 min. Dir. Anthony Mann. Desperate bounty hunter, James Stewart, pairs up with "morally unstable" cavalry officer Ralph Meeker (KISS ME DEADLY) as they track down killer Robert Ryan and his hot-tempered girlfriend Janet Leigh. A raw, strange, double-dealing piece of business, the film was (God bless ‘em) recently entered into the National Registry of Greatest American Films by the Library of Congress. One of the best of director Mann’s classic James Stewart westerns, featuring a terrific, unpredictable performance from Leigh. Introduction to screening by Janet Leigh’s daughter, Kelly Curtis. Discussion following the screening with Kelly Curtis, Betty Garrett, Margaret O'Brien, Tommy Rall. Moderator: Miles Krueger.

Saturday, December 4 – 7:15 PM

BYE, BYE BIRDIE, 1963, Columbia, 112 min. Dir. George Sidney. A famous, Elvis-like rock star is drafted and, as a public relations stunt, decides to give a public farewell kiss to the small town girl chosen as his most zealous fan. Adapted from the original Broadway hit, this hellzapoppin musical comedy stars Dick Van Dyke as a stressed-out press agent, Janet Leigh as his longsuffering girlfriend, Ann-Margret as the ultimate in sweet, sexy teenagers and Paul Lynde (!) as her justifiably anxious dad.

MY SISTER EILEEN, 1955, Columbia, 108 min. Dir. Richard Quine. Incredibly entertaining musical comedy about two Ohio girls (Janet Leigh, Betty Garrett) heading to the Big Apple and finding all manner of hijinks at their eccentric Greenwich Village apartment building. Jack Lemmon co-stars and Bob Fosse dances in this, the first movie he choreographed on his own. Introduction to MY SISTER EILEEN by actress Betty Garrett between films.

11:30 AM FOREVER HOLLYWOOD

Sunday, December 5 – 5:00 PM

Count Yorga Double Feature – Actor Robert Quarry In Person!

DVD Giveaway!!

In the early 1970’s, when the world had gone psychedelic but monsters had gone Gothic-stuffy with imported Hammer horrors, Count Yorga was hip. Current. Cool. With his elegant wit and calm disdain for the clumsy mortals trying to stake his undead heart, there had never been a vampire quite like Yorga, so memorably portrayed by horror icon Robert Quarry. Now Yorga and Quarry are back with a rare double feature tribute, hosted by writer/director/Yorga acolytes Frank Darabont (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) and Tim Sullivan (2001 MANIACS).

New 35mm print! COUNT YORGA VAMPIRE, 1970, MGM/UA, 90 min, Dir. Bob Kelljan. Originally conceived as a nudie film entitled "The Loves of Count Iorga", COUNT YORGA was revamped as a serious fright fest and went on to become AIP’s highest grossing film at the time. One of the first films to feature a vampire in a modern context, COUNT YORGA still packs a wallop with its unbridled thrills and ferocious performance by Robert Quarry in the title role. With Michael Murphy, Roger Perry, Donna Anders.

RETURN OF COUNT YORGA, 1971, MGM/UA, 97 min, Dir. Bob Kelljan. You can’t keep a good ghoul down! Yorga (Robert Quarry) is back to terrorize Mariette Hartley and a small orphanage where he sets up shop to control his vampire brides. Much noted for its supernatural take on Charles Manson and his "family", RETURN is that rare sequel: just as good as the first! Also starring Roger Perry, George Macready. Discussion in between films with actor Robert Quarry and Yorga acolytes Frank Darabont and Tim Sullivan. Forrest J. Ackerman, Bruce Campbell and the stars of 2001 Maniacs to attend the tribute as well. Robert Quarry will sign autographs following the screening.

Tuesday, December 7 – 7:30 PM

L.A. Premiere! ANDROMEDIA, 1998, Pathfinder Pictures, 109 min. Director Takashi Miike’s action-packed, sci-fi teen tragicomedy focuses on a young girl, Mai (Hiroko Shimabukuro, singer for J-Pop girl group, Speed)) who dies in a traffic accident but is reincarnated on a data chip when her computer whiz dad (Tsunehiko Watase) can’t let go of her memory. Soon goofy, virtual-reality overlord Soccer (played by noted cinematographer Christopher Doyle, of Wong Kar Wai fame) dispatches his screw-loose hitman to steal scientist Watase’s secret at any cost. But Mai’s boyfriend rescues her laptop incarnation and the chase is on, with Mai’s girlfriends (fellow Speed band members Eriko, Hitoe & Takako) lending a hand against the bad guy pursuers. A sweet, bizarre, full-of-CGI-nuttiness epic – and unmistakably Miike!

Wednesday, December 8 – 7:00 & 9:15 PM [Spielberg Theatre]

"WOMEN IN SHORTS" Our sixth-annual program of recent short films that feature female protagonists and themes. There are several Los Angeles premieres in this exciting program of hard to see, award-winning shorts from some of the most talented new directors. Don't miss the Q & A to follow with several of the filmmakers.

L.A. Premiere! Lisa Leone’s "Exactly" (10 min). Rosie Perez and Sarita Choudhury star in this cautionary tale about acting before you think about the consequences. L.A. Premiere! Jean Strauss’ "Triumvirate" (13 min). Powerful, tear-inducing documentary about the filmmaker’s search for her birth mother and the amazing discovery beyond that quest. Genevieve Anderson’s "Ola’s Box of Clovers" (10 min). In this moving tale told with rod-manipulated puppets, the filmmaker learns of her grandmother’s unfulfilled dreams. Terri Edda Miller’s "Dysenchanted" (8 min). Let us peek in on the group therapy session for such female storybook icons as Snow White, Cinderella and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Sikander Goldau’s "Fragile" (20 min). Hauntingly beautiful mini-masterpiece about a woman looking back at her life. L.A. Premiere! Andrea Arnold’s "Wasp" (23 min.) Astoundingly tense and harrowing multi-award winning short about a young single mother with four kids. After seeing this short, Lars Von Trier gave Arnold one million euros for her first feature film. Jean Strauss ("Triumvirate"), Genevieve Anderson ("Ola’s Box of Clovers") and Terri Edda Miller ("Dysenchanted") will join us for a post-screening discussion after the 7:00pm program.

Thursday, December 9 – 7:30 PM

World Premiere!! (THIS IS KNOWN AS) THE BLUES SCALE, 2004, We Got Power Films, 40 min. David Markey, director of 1991: THE YEAR PUNK BROKE, presents a film of rare, never-before-seen outtakes from that groundbreaking chronicle of the fabled Sonic Youth/Nirvana tour. A cinematic postscript that is just as entertaining and stimulating as its movie parent, with Sonic Youth singer/guitarist and all-round-rabble- rouser Thurston Moore proving a devilishly funny ringmaster to the circus of backstage antics. Featuring more performance footage of Sonic Youth and Nirvana as well as pungent commentary by Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo, Dave Grohl, et. al.

DESPERATE TEENAGE LOVEDOLLS, 1984, We Got Power Films, 50 min. Following somewhere on the trail blazed by John Waters and George Kuchar, director David Markey conjures an endearing homage to Russ Meyer’s BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS with this story of three teenage runaways (Hilary Rubens, Jennifer Schwartz and Janet Housden) who form "the hottest all-girl band of all time"- !! But rival all-girl gang The She Devils and their leader, Tania Hearst (Tracy Lea), have it in for our heroes, as do annoying mothers and psych-ward doctors. A super-charged, home-made, originally-shot-on-Super-8 tribute to rock band films, "an epic film of true teenage brattiness…"(Craig Lee, L.A. Weekly.) Music by Red Kross, Nip Drivers, The Bags and more! "A legendary underground classic." (Patrick Goldstein, L.A. Times.)

LOVEDOLLS SUPERSTAR - FULLY REALIZED, 2004 (orig. 1986), We Got Power Films, 82 min. David Markey revitalized his 1986 sequel to the original LOVEDOLLS film in this newly mixed and transferred version, bringing the outrageously transgressive Lovedolls back to life for more encounters with fanatical cults, brain-damaged followers, jealous rivals and homicidally obsessive fans. With Janet Housden, Jennifer Schwartz, Kim Pilkington, Tracy Lea, Steve & Jeff McDonald. With cameos by Vicki Peterson (The Bangles), Jello Biafra (The Dead Kennedys) and Sky Saxon (The Seeds). Music by Red Kross, Sonic Youth, Meat Puppets, The Dead Kennedys and more! "Any rock film that mixes references to Billy Jack, Charles Manson and Jim Jones is all right with me." – Psychotronic Video Guide. Discussion following first film with director David Markey.

Special Engagement December 10 – 16 [Spielberg Theatre]

INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS, 2004, Eden Rock Media, 94 min. A hilariously offbeat comedy/pseudo-documentary about an expedition that goes awry. Led by renowned director Werner Herzog (FITZCARRALDO, AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD), a group of filmmakers set out to debunk the myth of the Loch Ness monster and havoc ensues. Premiere Magazine's Mark Salisbury calls the film: "rip-roaringly funny, glorious and wonderfully inventive! A gem!" Influenced by the films of Christopher Guest, and such improvisational and naturalistic TV series as "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "The Office," director Zak Penn pokes fun at Hollywood with subversive delight while remaining one of its most successful insiders. Discussion following the 7:30 PM screening on 12/10 with director Zak Penn, legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, producer Thomas Augsberger, cinematographer Gaby Beristain (schedules permitting).

Friday, December 10th - 7: 30 pm* &  9:45 PM

Sunday, December 12 - 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM

Thursday, December 16 - 7:30 PM

Friday, December 10 – 7:30 PM

Remembering Russ Meyer

Kitten Natividad In Person!

Watching the films of the late, great Russ Meyer brings to mind what might have happened if the likes of Sam Fuller, Frank Tashlin, Erskine Caldwell, R. Crumb and Henry Miller had put their libidos (and brains) together to create a Parallel Universe inhabited by luscious, loving angels and cat-scratching vixens, bitter old drunks and borderline psychotics. A combat photographer during WWII (he landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day), Meyer brought a surefire directness and ferocious sense of humor to his films, from the stark, savage FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL!, to the Day-Glo weirdness of BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. Few filmmakers looked as long and hard at the kinky games people play as Meyer did – or had as much fun watching. A frequent guest at the American Cinematheque over the past several years, Meyer was a treasured part of the Los Angeles film scene and an inspiration to many younger filmmakers and musicians. He will be sorely missed. Please join us in celebrating his unhinged genius with two of his finest films:

FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL!, 1966, RM Films, 83 min. Dir. Russ Meyer. The ultimate Meyer paean to big breasts, aggressive females and ultra-violence. A trio of hard-drinking, car-racing do-anything-for-kicks strippers led by the robustly exotic Tura Satana terrorize everyone in sight including poor waif Susan Bernard and twisted rich cripple Stuart Lancaster. The voluptuous villainesses are finally consumed by greed, lust and hate in an orgy of bloodthirsty self-destruction. Achingly funny and exhilarating from start-to-slambang finish in one of the true masterpieces of 1960’s pop cinema. With an amazing score by unsung greats Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter. Also starring Lori Williams, Haji.

Official Russ Meyer Website.

Saturday, December 11 – 7:00 PM

A Night with Mark Ruffalo

Actor Mark Ruffalo has been active in film and theatre since 1993, but success in the public eye finally arrived when he met mentor/filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan. Reprising the part of Terry Prescott from Lonergan’s play This Is Our Youth in the feature film version YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (2000). finally highlighted his talent to the ticket-buying audience. Since acclaimed as one of the most gifted young actors of his generation, Ruffalo is still devoted to theatre and independent movie projects, something born out by his last film, the Kaufman/Gondry production, ETERNAL SUNSHINE AND THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004), where he starred opposite Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a scientific assistant trying to cope with a bizarre memory-eraser machine. Director John Currans’ WE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE, Ruffalo’s latest, followed at the close of 2004. We are proud to present a one-night tribute to this young, promising artist.

WE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE, 2004, Warner Independent, 101 min. Dir. John Curran. Adapted from two short stories by Andre Dubus, a brilliant study of friendship amongst married couples and how infidelity upsets its delicate balance, causing long-suppressed emotion and hurtful truths to emerge. Mark Ruffalo is excellent as a frustrated young man trying to reinvent himself by ignoring his past, but soon realizing life is much more complex than he had ever imagined. With stunning support from Laura Dern as his wife Terry, Naomi Watts as Edith and Peter Krause as Hank.

YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, 2000, Paramount Classics, 111 min. Nominee and winner of countless critical accolades (amonst them the LA Film Critics Association New Generation Award to Mark Ruffalo), this beautifully realized meditation on sibling love-and-rivalry was written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan. Reserved, responsible Samantha (superb Laura Linney) experiences mixed feelings when her ne’erdowell younger brother Terry (Mark Ruffalo) wanders back into her life. With Matthew Broderick. Discussion between films with actor Mark Ruffalo.

Sunday, December 12 – 7:00 PM

EPREUVES D'ARTISTES (WORDS IN PROGRESS), 2004, 52 min. The American Cinematheque is proud to present the most intimate and revealing documentary yet on the world’s largest film festival, the Festival du Cannes – directed by Gilles Jacob, head of the Festival for many years. EPREUVES D’ARTISTES is an invitation to see and hear great filmmakers meet each other, admire each other, answer each other and share common ideas, witnessed by a director who feels great affection for them. Jean-Luc Godard (to whom the film is dedicated) reflects on contemporary art, Martin Scorsese quotes Welles and Ozu, Francis Ford Coppola does not see time passing – although Time has not forgotten him – Abbas Kiarostami is found in good company, next to Fellini, as is Tarkovsky, next to Bresson. Director Jacob is also president of the Cannes Film Fest and all the more apt to reveal the backstage secrets and unknown truths of the most famous celebration of world cinema.