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The official blog of Laemmle Theatres

Happy Earth Day from Laemmle Theatres!

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

Wednesday, April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Although much has been accomplished in the years since, it’s important to step back and remember all the serious environmental issues that we will still need to address after this pandemic passes. So to honor Earth Day, Laemmle Virtual Cinema is bringing you films from around the globe that remind us to show respect to our planet, and find ways to connect with the natural word.

Eating Up Easter examines the history of exploitation and social collapse on Easter Island, while offering hopeful lessons for the future. Away, crafted singlehandedly by 25 year old filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis, is an animated feast for the eyes, and an awe-inspiring portrait of nature. The Women’s Adventure Film Tour is a compilation of short films celebrating women who connect with the outdoors in their pursuit of athletic mastery. And finally, we want to remind you that Fantastic Fungi is still available for viewing via the Laemmle Virtual Cinema program.

Even if you’re holed up indoors, find a way to celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday. Mother Earth (and Laemmle Theatres) will thank you.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for APRIL 20 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

            

Young Love (and Old Men) on Laemmle Virtual Cinema

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

One month since we shut down. Another month (at least) to go. We know you’re aching to come see a movie in our theatres again, and we hope one of these Laemmle Virtual Cinema offerings will keep your hopes alive for now.

The Booksellers and Beyond The Visible: Hilma af Klint are documentaries that were supposed to open theatrically, and should appeal to fans of our Culture Vulture series. Straight Up is a delightful and well-reviewed American indie that we were able to show just before the closure, and which deserves another opportunity to connect with audiences. And finally, we have a pair of documentaries on one of the great minds of the 20th century, Ram Dass: Dying to Know, and Becoming Nobody. He left us in December of last year but his teachings are eternal and can help guide us through these difficult times.

Please support us by buying a ticket to watch one of these movies, or any of the two dozen films we’ve previously added to the program. The revenue is meaningful, but the contribution to the community of arthouse cinema is equally important. And you’ll be helping to preserve one of the things you love most about Los Angeles.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for APRIL 17 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

               

Javier Barden, and a Trio of Classics

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

I don’t know about you, but I’m loving these April showers. It’s a nice excuse to stay home and watch a movie (not that we need an excuse), and today we’ve got some more good films to help get you through the rainy weekend.

Sally Potter’s Orlando is one of my all-time favorites, and she returns here with The Roads Not Taken, starring Elle Fanning and the always fabulous Javier Bardem. Tarantino fans may enjoy Clover, an action packed crime story starring Mark Webber and Jon Abrahams, alongside Chazz Palminteri and Ron Perlman. We’re also proud to feature a trio of repertory films: Istvan Szabo’s monumental drama Mephisto, Bruno Barreto’s sexy and beguiling comedy Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands starring a breakout Sonia Braga, and Luchino Visconti’s sumptuous period piece L’Innocente (which played for a week in February before things got crazy).

All previously promoted films continue to be available for rental. And for those who still have questions about the program, click here to learn more. Thank you as always for the support.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for APRIL 10 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

                

LA YEAR RONA

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

I’ve been commenting to the press that I do expect to see some really interesting filmmaking emerge from this period. DIY stuff that people shoot at home. Multi-character films where the actors never interact (a’la DENISE CALLS UP). And who knows what else. They even shot me for the Laemmle documentary using Zoom.

For now, I’d like to share a DIY video made by our TC5 manager, Jimmy McCormick, who wanted to share with the theatre’s regulars a short film he made about life under quarantine. Jimmy asked if we could share, and I see no reason not to do so.

LA YEAR RONA

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

Don’t Pass-Over These Movies!

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

Every Passover, the Jewish community asks the question, “Why is this night different from all other nights.” This year, that’s a loaded question. We’re sharing virtual Seder dinner on Zoom, and ordering Gefilte fish on Amazon. So to embrace this new observance, we’ve partnered with our friends at Menemsha Films to offer up a few films worthy of Passover viewing.

Streits: Matzo and the American Dream is a terrific documentary about the challenges of running a multi-generational family business in response to the pressures of modernity, something I personally can relate to quite well. Set during a Passover seder in Mexico City, Nora’s Will is a perfect film for the holiday, and also happens to be the winner of the Ariel Award for the Best Mexican film of 2010. Romanian filmmaker Radu Mihaileanu is a favorite of the Laemmle family, and his drama Live and Become echoes biblical stories of exodus and redemption. And lastly, Matej Minac’s touching documentary Nicky’s Family. I dare you not to be touched by the story of Nicholas Winton, a hero who almost single handedly organized the rescue of over 600 children before the outbreak of WWII.

Four children. Four cups of wine. Four promises of redemption. And four terrific films to enjoy at home over the Passover holiday, each available to rent for just $1.99 via Laemmle Virtual Cinema. As always, your viewing of these films provides us with much needed financial support, as we negotiate this period of mandatory closure.

Next year, back at the movies!

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for APRIL 7 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

              

(BYOP) Bring Your Own Popcorn – Laemmle Virtual Cinema

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

Hello Again, and welcome to Day 19 of CoronaClosure. I’m proud that Angelenos seem to be making progress with flattening the curve, and to help with that, we are proud to share with you five new films that you can watch at home as part of the Laemmle Virtual Cinema program.

Saint Frances is a heartwarming film about the personal complications and connections that were so important to our lives before social isolation became the norm. Extra Ordinary is a quirky comedy that had the misfortune of opening on March 6, and although it’s always more fun to enjoy a comedy with other people in a dark theatre, this one should also play for laughs at home. Slay The Dragon is a documentary about the history of gerrymandering and the way in which it is being used to this day (on both sides of the political spectrum) to corrupt our democracy. I’ve always been a big fan of Brian Cox going back to performance as the first Hannibal Lecktor in Michael Mann’s Manhunter, and The Etruscan Smile puts him in a starring role as a Scottish father trying to reconnect with his son and newborn grandson. Finally, we are proud to include French director Bertrand Bonello’s Zombi Child, because sometimes you just need a good zombie film to help you survive a viral epidemic.

Please note that all the films we’ve previously announced via this email are still available for rental. Click here to see the full listing of available titles on the Laemmle website. Again, payment is made directly to the distributor, but a portion of all transactions benefit Laemmle Theatres, and will help keep us alive until we can return to showing movies in our theatres.

All the best,
Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for APRIL 3 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

               

Challenging Times – Laemmle Updates

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Much has happened since we posted notice of our closure on March 16.  To get you up to speed, check out the links below.  They include several messages from Greg Laemmle during the last couple of weeks.

The big headline is that we’ve launched a new video-on-demand service  –  Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema – in conjunction with our distributors.  Since we can’t go out to the movies, this will allow us to watch Laemmle films while we stay in!

This is a particularly challenging time as we fight to preserve our 82-year legacy. You can help keep Laemmle strong.  Here’s how:
1. Watch movies online. To see what’s playing, join our mailing list and bookmark the Laemmle Virtual Cinema page.
2. Purchase a Premiere Card or Gift Card.
3. Keep following this blog and connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

If you need a refund for a cancelled show, please fill out this form.

As always, we are beyond grateful for your commitment and support.

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Recent Messages from Greg Laemmle
(with film listings you can “Watch Now!”)

March 20 – Dear Laemmle Fans (Greg’s response to the crisis)

March 25 – Introducing “Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema”

March 27 – Virtual Cinema 2: Electric Boogaloo

March 30 – Laemmle Virtual Cinema – More Releases

Laemmle Virtual Cinema – More Releases

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

As we enter the third week of CoronaClosure, I again want to thank you for your show of support. You are amazing! If you can, please continue buying Premiere Cards and Gift Cards.

In this email, we are adding four new titles to the LVC program. And Then We Danced is a terrific film from Georgia, perhaps my favorite film that opened in the first part of this year. We are also adding Balloon and The Wild Goose Lake, two well reviewed films that had the misfortune of opening on Friday, March 13, and were not able to play for even a full week in theatres. Finally, we are adding Perfect Nanny, a film that has not opened theatrically in the US, but who’s star, Karin Viard, was nominated for a Cesar Award as Best Actress following the film’s French release in 2019.

These join the films that are already available, which include the Sonia Braga starrer Bacurau, the Oscar-nominated Corpus Cristi, the cult hit Fantastic Fungi, the essential documentary for fans of The Band Once Were Brothers, the critically acclaimed Pause (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), the American Indie comedy Phoenix, Oregon, and the Romanian crime-thriller The Whistlers. Remember, if you watch any of these films via the LVC program, a portion of your payment will support us as we fight to reopen.

We’ll be adding more films on Friday, so stay tuned for another message at the end of this week.

All the best,
Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema
New Releases for MARCH 30 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.