<<< December 2006 >>>

THE THREE STOOGES' 72^nd ANNIVOISARY! Sony Repertory, 118 min. A socko-boff collection of seven of their greatest to keep you "nyuking" into the holidays! "Men In Black" (1934, Raymond McCarey) brought them their only Oscar nomination and gave the world "Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard!" "Violent Is The Word For Curly" (1938, Charley Chase) features their beloved song, "Swingin' The Alphabet" ("B-A-Bay, B-E-Bee..."). "You Nazty Spy!" (1940, Jules White) anticipates Chaplin's THE GREAT DICTATOR, introducing us to Moe Hailstone, supreme dictator of Moronica. Perhaps their most critically-acclaimed short, it was the personal favorite of both Moe and White. "Brideless Groom" (1947, Edward Bernds) crams Buster Keaton's SEVEN CHANCES down to two reels as Shemp must marry immediately to earn his inheritance. A favorite of Quentin Tarantino, who excerpted it in PULP FICTION. "An Ache In Every Stake" (1941, Del Lord) is a gag-crammed masterpiece in which they play icemen recruited to cook a last-minute birthday dinner for Vernon Dent. "Micro-Phonies" (1945, Edward Bernds) puts Curly in drag as a substitute for wannabe opera singer Christine McIntyre. And the quintessential "In The Sweet Pie and Pie" (1941, Jules White) concludes with one of the screen's all-time colossal pie-fights; there's also a bunk-bed gag later swiped for THE GREAT ESCAPE. Spread out, knuckleheads! Join the Cinematheque today, and receive a 'goody bag' plus free admission to tonight's show! Shop our sidewalk boutique (proceeds benefit the Cinematheque!) featuring signed movie posters and JAMS Jewelry, unique, one of a kind,  hand made jewelry of semi precious stones.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, 2006, Sony Pictures, 116 min. Dir. Gabriel Muccino. Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a bright and talented, but marginally employed salesman. Struggling to make ends meet, Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, he and his son endure many hardships, including living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a better life for the two of them. Discussion following the screening with director Gabriel Muccino.

MISS POTTER, 2006, Weinstein Company, 93 min. Dir. Chris Noonan. Beatrix Potter has delighted generations with her beloved children’s tales, having created the world of Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, Jeremy Fisher and their friends. Renee Zellweger stars as Beatrix Potter, a sheltered but talented young woman who falls in love with her publisher, Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor) once they begin to work together. This is the story of a woman whose life was marked by incredible professional success and unimaginable personal grief - a woman who survived to become one of the world’s most successful children’s writers of all time. Co-starring Emily Watson. Discussion following with director Chris Noonan and actress and Emily Watson. Rene Zellweger will not be able to attend as was previously announced. First from 6:30pm to 7:45 pm please join us for a British Tea and Sandwich Reception across the street at Every Picture Tells a Story along with Chris Nonan and Emily Watson.

Sunday, December 17 - 6:30 PM
In-Person Tribute to Guillermo del Toro!
CRONOS (LA INVENCIÓN DE CRONOS), 1993, Lions Gate, 94 min. Dir. Guillermo del Toro(PAN’S LABYRINTH; HELLBOY; BLADE II). Starring Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman. This absorbing Gothic tale was the winner of nine top Mexican Academy Awards, as well as the Critics’ Week Prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. The story reveals the secrets of an invention that has the power to grant eternal life, but gives its user a tremendous thirst for human blood. "Del Toro, a skilled craftsman, obviously takes great pleasure in guiding viewers through a melange of cinematic styles: the film tips its hat to a number of Mexican film genres, from vampire horror to thrillers to wrestling films." -- Screen International

THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE, 2001, Sony Classics, 106 min. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, director Guillermo Del Toro’s third feature (and first in his native Spanish) follows ten-year-old refugee Carlos (Fernando Tielve), the newest resident of a war-wracked orphanage. His amenities include bullies, an unexploded bomb in the courtyard and the ghost of a slain child. Co-written by Del Toro, THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE is a remarkably poignant yet subtle ghost story. Featuring longtime Del Toro collaborator Guillermo Navarro’s exquisite cinematography. Also with Federico Luppi and Eduardo Noriega. Discussion in between films with director Guillermo del Toro. A pair of tickets to the Invitation Only Premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s PAN’S LABYRINTH at the Egyptian Theatre on Monday, December 18 will be raffled off at the screening.

In 70 mm! LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, 1962, Columbia, 216 min. The beautiful, near-godlike Peter O’Toole stars as the tortured, Man Who Would Not Be King in director David Lean’s absolute masterpiece – as close to perfect as a film can get. Featuring one of the finest casts in any motion picture: Omar Sharif (in his first major English-speaking role), Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Claude Rains and Alec Guinness as Prince Feisal. D.P. Freddie Young’s 70 mm. photography is rightly considered to be a work of genius, matched by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson’s screenplay, Maurice Jarre’s stirring score and John Box’s production design. Winner of 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. "When you’re in the desert, you look into infinity … It makes you feel terribly small, and also in a strange way, quite big." – David Lean.