Hollywood Gothique

You are browsing the archives of 2009 May.

The American Cinematheque presents this four-day series of science fiction films set in outer space (or at least, in the case of E.T., featuring an alien from outer space).  The films range from classic to camp to cult; some are elaborate Hollywood extravagnazas, while others are notably threadbare, but all are fun viewing.
Here is the [...]

This double bill of classic Universal horror films screens as part of a tribute to the re-launching of Famous Monsters of Filmland, the world’s first monster movie magainze, which has been in limbo for many years. DRACULA, although dated in technique, remains a classic well worth seeing again, thanks to the performance of Bela Lugosi [...]

Cinespia presents another in their Cemeter Screenings Season 2009 series – which consists of classic and cult films screened in Hollywood Forever cemeter. The original CAT PEOPLE (unlike Paul Schrader’s horrendous 1982 remake) is one of the great, classic, subtle horror films from producer Val Lewton, emphasizing shadowy shudders rather than violent shocks. Directed by Jaques Tourneur, with Smone Simone as the woman who fears she will turn into a panther if her passions are aroused.

The American Film Institute presents David Lynch’s bizarre murder mystery as part of their AFI 100 Series. Written and directed by AFI Conservatory graduate David Lynch, BLUE VELVET begins, iconically, with the discovery of a severed human ear in a field of grass. The protagonist, young Jeffrey Beaumont (played by Kyle McLaughlinMacLachlan), finds this ear [...]

On Friday Night, the Warner Grand debuts the first in a series of “Fright Night” programs, featuring classic and cult movies plus live musical performances. The crypt kicks off with HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (a gimmicky thriller starring Vincent Price as a man who invites guests to his haunted house) and GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE (which [...]

Sara Karloff (daughter of Boris Karloff, who played the Frankenstein Monster) and Bela Lugosi Jr (son of Bela Lugosi, who played Dracula) will be among the guests at this weekend’s Famous Monsters of Filmland Returns series , in which the American Cinematheque celebrates the return of the world’s first monster movie magazine by screening a [...]

Title: Son of Frankenstein & Ghost of Frankenstein
Location: Egyptian Theatre – 6712 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood (323) 466-FILM
Link out: Click here
Description: This double bill of classic Universal horror films screens as part of a tribute to the re-launching of Famous Monsters of Filmsland, the world’s first monster movie magainze, which has been in limbo for [...]

In his first foray on the silver screen, Kermit the Frog heads to Hollywood with the hopes of becoming rich and famous along with his Muppet cohorts Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy. Attempting to thwart Kermit’s plans to make it big is Doc Hopper, an evil frog-leg restaurant magnate. With cameos galore, in the tradition [...]

Friday is a busy day for in-person appearances, with no less than three scheduled. Two are related to old classic and cult films; the other is for a premiere of a new would be cult film: director Don Coscarelli and Angus Scrimm will be appearing in between a double bill of their work; director James Cameron will answer questions in between a double bill of ALIENS and THE ABYSS; and the cast and crew of A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT (from the people who made THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA) will appear in Hollywood for the film’s Los Angeles premiere.

This weekend, a three-day tribute to monster movie makeup men and artists arrives at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Burbank. The guest list and tributes feature a good mix of classic and contemporary – everything from FRANKENSTEIN and THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON to HELLBOY and Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN. Events include a pre-show at 4:00pm on Friday (separate admission); a tribute to makeup artist John Chambers (Planet of the Apes, 1968), a tribute to Jack Pierce (who created the original Frankenstein makeup for Boris Karloff in 1931), a tribute to the Westmore family of makeup artists; plus live music and performances on Saturday night (separate admission).

It’s BACK TO THE FUTURE Triple Bill Mania this weekend, with two – count ‘em, two – theatres offering the complete trilogy from start to finish for your nostalgic viewing pleasure. Up first is the New Beverly Theatre in Los Angeles, which screens the three films on Friday and Saturday, starting at 7:30pm both nights; there is a special $10-charge for tickets. Then on Saturday, the American Cinematheque gets into the act, screening the trilogy at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, starting at 5:00pm.

We previously mentioned that the engagement of TERMINATOR SALVATION at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood is being presented in D-Box Motion (a motion-simulation process). Now comes word that a replica of the new T-600 robot is on display in the theatre’s forecourt. Stop by and snap a picture of the latest Terminator!
GRAUMAN’S CHINESE THEATRE
6925 Hollywood [...]

Pat Boone will appear in person to answer questions after a screening of the 1959 version of JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. Boone co-starred with James Mason in this fairly elaborate film adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel, filled with great underground photography of beautiful caverns, enhanced with some spectacular special effects.

The fourth TERMINATOR film is now playing at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The story  finally takes us into the future to witiness John Connor’s fight against Skynet. The plot involves an encounter between Connor (Christian Bale) and Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), who may be a man rescued from the past – or someone sent [...]

I can’t imagine that a better double bill will play anywhere in Los Angeles this year, as the New Beverly offers two of the most ambitious and original movies released in 2008 – a horror film and a sci-fi film. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is easily the best horror film from last year. TIMECRIMES [...]

Location: Nuart Theatre – 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, West Los Angeles
Link out: Click here
Description: The original Japanese-language version of Hayao Miyazaki’s film screens at midnight, with English subs. Like all Miyazaki, it is visually beautiful, but the plotting is a little vague at times (something the English dub tried to clear up). Still, the charm [...]

Friday features personal appearances by two horror directors from the 1970s and ’80s: Tobe Hooper and Joe Dante. Hooper is appearing as part of the Steve Allen Theatre’s Master of Horror series. Datne is appearing as part of a 25th anniversary tribute to GREMLINS.
Event: Masters of Horror Series
Tobe Hooper appears between screenings of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE [...]

Universal Studios has just put out a press release announcing that in 2010 King Kong will return as an attraction on their famous theme park tour. A life-sized mechanical Kong (viewed from the shoulders up) had part of the tour since the 1980s, but it was destroyed in the fire that gutted the studios a [...]

The Warner Grand presents a “Fright Night” double bill, two horror films plus live performance by Coffin Draggers & Miss Bonnie Delight and a raffle after the first intermission where you could win a dead body! HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL is a gimmicky thriller starring Vincent Price as a man who invites guests to his [...]

The 1994 direct-to-video collaboration between Jim Wynorski and Fred Olen Ray screens on the bottom half of a double bill with EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE: THE MOVIE, a collection of found footage and bizarre clips. The Cinefamily are presenting this as “quite possibly the first theatrical screening” of DINOSAUR ISLAND; however, I have to mention that [...]

Variety reports that PONYO, the new animated film from Hayao Miyazai will be the closing night feature for this year’s L.A. Film Festival. The screening will be on June 28 at 6:30pm in the Mann Village Theatre.
From Variety:
Hayao Miyazaki’s “Ponyo,” inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” features the voices of Cate [...]

On May 30 and 31, the American Cinematheque will be screening a quartet of classic Universal horror movies, and you could win a free pair of tickets to see them. Come see Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man and various sundry and sordid mad scientists and hunch-backed assistants – all in glorious black-and-white! Thrill to the chill of sparking laboratory equipment, shadowy corridors, fog-bound forests, and fiery destruction! Not only will these classic movie monsters be marching across the screen, there will also be special in-person guests!

Hollywood Gothique is giving away TWO PAIRS OF TICKETS, one for each double bill. If you would like to enter the contest for a chance to win, click through and read the contest instructions!

 Takasha Miike’s 2004 take-off on superhero movies is about a mild-manner man who dresses as a hero based on an old show he watched as a child. Things get rough, however, when he must confront a real alien invasion. Midnight. Read a review of the film at Cinefantastique Online.
Location: Silent Movie Theatre – 611 N. [...]