<<< March 6 - 11, 2009 >>>

http://www.myspace.com/americancinematheque

This is an Aero Theatre Exclusive!

As writer, director, actor and producer, Carl Reiner stands alongside Mel Brooks and Woody Allen as one of the titans of late 20th century American comedy. After honing his ability on stage to make audiences laugh, Reiner broke into television as an actor on "Your Show of Shows" in the early 1950s. Inspired by co-workers including Neil Simon and Mel Brooks, Reiner began contributing writing ideas to the program, an experience that led to his autobiographical scripts for "The Dick Van Dyke Show." After creating that award-winning series, Reiner turned to the cinema and helmed an abundance of comedy masterpieces including WHERE’S POPPA, OH GOD! and a quartet of gems in collaboration with Steve Martin (THE JERK, DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID, THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS, ALL OF ME). What characterizes these films as well as the underrated THE ONE AND ONLY, THAT OLD FEELING and other Reiner classics is an irresistible combination of outrageousness and heart. He combines unrestrained physical slapstick with sharp verbal wit and biting satire with affection for his eccentric characters. He continues to delight audiences today with his television appearances and work on the big screen in Steven Soderbergh’s OCEANS movies. Join us at the Aero for a selection of Mr. Reiner’s best, with an in-person appearance for THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS and DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID.

Friday, March 6 - 7:30 PM

Director Carl Reiner In-Person! Double Feature:

THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS, 1983, Warner Bros., 93 min. Dir. Carl Reiner. Brain surgeon Steve Martin is saddled with a horrible wife (Kathleen Turner), until he comes up with the perfect solution: transplanting the brain of a sweet, romantic woman into his nasty spouse’s gorgeous body. Outrageous gags and typically witty Reiner-Martin wordplay ensue in one of the funniest films of the 1980s. More

DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID, 1982, Universal, 88 min. Dir. Carl Reiner. Steve Martin is a private eye who manages to interact with Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck, and Alan Ladd thanks to gorgeous black-and-white cinematography (courtesy of RAGING BULL director of photography Michael Chapman) and some extremely creative editing. This merging of classic 1940s film noir clips and new footage directed by Reiner is a movie buff’s dream, and a hilarious comedy regardless of how familiar one is with the classics being referenced. Discussion following with director Carl Reiner. More

Saturday, March 7- 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

THE JERK, 1979, Universal, 94 min. Dir. Carl Reiner. "The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!" Before AIRPLANE, Jim Carrey, the Farrelly Brothers and Judd Apatow, there was THE JERK. Steve Martin and Carl Reiner team up for one of the most original and influential comedies ever made. Martin, in his screen debut, plays the lovable idiot Navin R. Johnson, a young sharecropper who leaves his poor black family behind to see the world and be somebody. The talented Bernadette Peters sings, dances, throws knives and plays the trumpet while M. Emmet Walsh shoots and curses his way into film history. "Stay away from the cans!"  Trailer

ALL OF ME, 1984, Universal, 94 min. Dir. Carl Reiner. Ailing heiress Lily Tomlin arranges to have her soul transferred into the body of Victoria Tennant, but the procedure goes wrong and she ends up inhabiting the right side of Steve Martin instead. As the man and woman battle each other within the same body, Reiner mines huge laughs from the spectacle of Martin displaying his substantial gifts for physical comedy. The impeccably timed script is by future FIELD OF DREAMS auteur Phil Alden Robinson. Trailer

**Daylight Savings Starts March 8!!

Sunday, March 8 - 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

WHERE'S POPPA?, 1970, MGM Repertory, 82 min. Dir. Carl Reiner. Gordon (George Segal) is a devoted son who has promised never to abandon his smothering mother (Ruth Gordon at her craziest). When he meets the perfect girl, he becomes determined to get rid of his impossible mom in one way or another, and the result is an outrageously dark and subversive comedy. Reiner satirizes everything from Jewish mother stereotypes to urban racial tensions in this cult classic. More

THE ONE AND ONLY, 1978, Paramount, 97 min. Dir. Carl Reiner. Struggling egomaniacal actor Henry Winkler turns to wrestling in an effort to generate publicity, and finds that the insanity of the sport is the perfect outlet for his hammy style. Unfortunately, he soon finds his new career wreaking havoc on his personal life (especially his marriage to Kim Darby). As usual, Reiner assembles a stellar supporting cast to back Winkler and Darby, with terrific comic turns from Gene Saks, Polly Holliday, and Herve Villechaize as an amorous wrestler. More

Wednesday, March 11 – 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

ENTER LAUGHING, 1967, Sony Repertory, 112 min. Carl Reiner's first feature is an astonishingly assured debut, with a visual polish (thanks largely to veteran cinematographer Joseph Biroc) and a deep sense of personal expression (it was based on Reiner's autobiographical novel of the same name). Reni Santoni plays a young Jewish man who dreams of becoming a comedian during the Depression. Needless to say, his parents think that working in the family drugstore is a safer bet. Even in this early film, Reiner shows his skill at casting secondary roles, with a supporting cast that includes Shelley Winters, Elaine May, Jose Ferrer, Jack Gilford, Janet Margolin and Michael J. Pollard. More

THE COMIC, 1969, Sony Repertory, 94 min. Dir. Carl Reiner. Dick Van Dyke plays an aging silent film clown who has seen better days, but whose ego prohibits him from accepting the truth about his life and career. An impeccable fidelity to the art of silent movies (seen in films-within-the film), combined with a rich, dark performance by Van Dyke, make this one of Reiner's most affecting and original efforts. With Mickey Rooney. More Discussion following with director Carl Reiner.