MUSEO filmmaker Manuel Alcalá will participate in a Q&A after the 7 PM show on Friday 9/28 at the Monica Film Center.
by Lamb L.
MUSEO filmmaker Manuel Alcalá will participate in a Q&A after the 7 PM show on Friday 9/28 at the Monica Film Center.
by Lamb L.
Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a 40th anniversary screening of the film that launched the comic book movie craze, the original SUPERMAN, directed by Richard Donner and starring new screen personality Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel.
Comics had inspired TV series and Saturday afternoon serials, but there had not been a big-budget attempt to capture the spirit of these fan favorites until Donner, working for producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind, gambled a huge budget on a screen version of DC Comics’ favorite superhero. As this character is so popular amongst comic book fans, it was only right that a budget was found to bring fans closer to their favorite superhero. Recently, it was actually found that Superman is the favorite of the most amount of states still. This means that people are still enjoying this character’s journey to the big screen. Whether in comic books or on TV, Superman has a special place in a lot of people’s hearts. This is why the movie’s success spawned three sequels and also led to the first big-screen incarnation of another DC hero, Batman, a decade later (in the version directed by Tim Burton).
To write the screenplay, the Salkinds hired a bevy of successful writers-best-selling author Mario Puzo, acclaimed screenwriters Robert Benton, David and Leslie Newman, though the final version was reportedly crafted by Tom Mankiewicz, credited as “creative consultant.”
The film takes an epic approach to the tale of Superman, beginning with a prologue on the planet Krypton, then following Clark Kent’s childhood and adolescence in Smallville, Kansas, before he takes on his grown-up identity as the “mild-mannered reporter” at The Daily Planet in the city of Metropolis.
The all-star cast included Oscar winners Marlon Brando as Superman’s father, Jor-El, and Gene Hackman as arch-villain Lex Luthor, along with Susannah York, Glenn Ford, Ned Beatty, Valerie Perrine, Jack O’Halloran, Maria Schell, Terence Stamp, Jeff East, Jackie Cooper as Daily Planet editor Perry White, Marc McClure as cub reporter Jimmy Olsen, and Margot Kidder as Superman’s love interest, Lois Lane.
After many big-name actors turned down the title role, the filmmakers decided to take a chance on a brand new actor, Christopher Reeve, who had only a couple of TV appearances and one other feature film to his credit. Their gamble paid off and turned the brash, witty young actor into a superstar.
The creators of the original comic book, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, praised the casting. As Shuster said, “Chris Reeve has just the right touch of humor.” Oscar-winning cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth (Becket, Cabaret) had one of his last credits on the movie, and multiple Oscar-winning composer John Williams wrote the stirring score. The movie won a special Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
In addition to scoring an enormous box office success, the movie received mainly favorable reviews. Variety called Superman “a wonderful, chuckling, preposterously exciting fantasy.” Making an apt comparison, The New York Daily News’ Kathleen Carroll, declared, “It is this year’s answer to Star Wars, a movie that is pure escape and good, clean, unadulterated fun.” Roger Ebert wrote, “Superman is a pure delight… Reeve is perfectly cast in the role.”
Several of the supporting cast members will participate in our Q&A after the screening, including Jack O’Halloran (the 1976 King Kong, The Flintstones), Marc McClure (Back to the Future, Apollo 13), and Valerie Perrine (Oscar nominee for Lenny).
SUPERMAN screens Tuesday, October 9 at 7:30pm at the Ahrya Fine Arts in Beverly Hills. Click here for tickets.
Format: 4K DCP
by Lamb L.
STRANGE NATURE actors Lisa Sheridan, David Mattey, Jonah Beres and producer Beth Meadows will participate in a Q&A following the 7:10 PM show Thursday 9/27 at the Glendale.
by Lamb L.
HILLBILLY Q&A with filmmakers after the 7:45 PM show on Friday 9/28 at the Glendale.
by Lamb L.
TEA WITH THE DAMES will be introduced by Margie Haber who is known as one of Hollywood’s top acting coaches on Saturday 9/29 at the Royal after the 1:00 PM show. Margie began her career as an actor before becoming a coach. As part of the Margie Haber Studio, Margie has helped hundreds of actors find success in the industry for over 40 years.
by Lamb L.
BISBEE ’17 filmmaker Margaret Brown will host a Q&A with Robert Greene after the Friday 7:10 PM show at the Santa Monica Film Center.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etwjMcdvxx8
by Lamb L.
3 YEARS IN PAKISTAN: THE ERIC AUDÉ STORY filmmaker Jamielyn Lippman and subject Erik Audé will participate in Q&A’s after the 7:10 PM show on Friday 9/28, Wednesday 10/03 and Thursday 10/04 at the NoHo 7. Friday’s Q&A will be moderated by Christy Lemire (Ebert Presents at the Movies and What the Flick?).
by Lamb L.
THE SONG OF SWAY LAKE Q&A’s for selected shows at the Music Hall with filmmaker, cast and crew.
Friday 9/21
2:20 pm – Q&A with Director Ari Gold
7:20 pm – Q&A with Director Ari Gold; Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold; Actress Anna Shields
9:55 pm – Intro with Director Ari Gold; Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold; Actress Anna Shields
Saturday 9/22
2:20 pm – Q&A with Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold
7:20 pm – Q&A with Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold
9:55 pm – Intro with Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold
Sunday 9/23
2:20 pm – Q&A with Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold
7:20 pm – Q&A with Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold, Actress Anna Shields
9:55 pm – Intro with Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold, Actress Anna Shields
Thursday 9/27
7:20 pm – Q&A with Director Ari Gold; Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold
9:55 pm – Intro with Director Ari Gold; Composer, Songwriter, and Co-Producer Ethan Gold