Hollywood Gothique
LA Cinema Gothique

This Week’s Pics: Haxen, Vertigo, Day the Earth Stood Still

A trio of must-see classic movies are screening around Los Angeles this week: HAXEN at the Hammer Museum, VERTIGO at the Egyptian, and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) at the New Beverly. Unfortunately, the first two are screening at the same time, which leaves you with a Hobson’s Choice; fortunately, the latter is launching a one-week run in a new 35mm print, which will give you every reason to see it and no excuse to miss it.

HAXEN screens in the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum (10899 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90024 – 310.206.8013) on Wednesday, May 15 at 7:30pm. Benjamin Christiansen’s excellent silent docu-drama about the history of belief in witchcraft screens as part of the series “The Witching Hour: Three Screenings Co-curated by Francesca Gabbiani.” This 1922 film is a pretty amazing piece of work, alternative scholarly, scary, and satirical; although definitely an art-house film, it is also one of cinema’s great horror films. There will be a live electronic score performed by Eddie Ruscha. Free Admission. Website: Click here.

VERTIGO screens in the Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood – 323- 466-FILM) on Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30pm. Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller (with overtones of necrophilia, as a private detective years to reconnect with a dead woman) screens as part of the American Cinematheque’s Bigger Than Life 70MM festival. Also screening at the Aero Theatre. Website: Click here

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (pictured at top)begins a one-week on Friday, May 15, with a brand new 35mm print, along with a bonus sci-fi trailer show. The classic 1951 original – about an alien named Klatuu (Michael Rennie) who comes to warn Earth against pursuing nuclear weapons – is one of the great science fiction films ever made, far outshining the drab remake starring Keanu Reeves. DAY screens at 7:30pm on weeknights, with an additional matinee at 3:55 on Saturday and Sunday; the trailer show screens at 9:25pm on weeknights, with a 5:50 afternoon screening on Saturday and Sunday. Location: New Beverly Cinema – 7165 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 938-4038. Website: Click here.