The dog days of summer are once more upon us, and what better way to beat the heat than a darkened, air-conditioned theatre featuring movies that are macabre and malevolent, murderous and mysterious!! What do you get when you put together a Paul Verhoeven double feature (ROBOCOP, STARSHIP TROOPERS), an Arnold double bill (CONAN THE BARBARIAN, CONAN THE DESTROYER), a British horror evening (THE INNOCENTS, CURSE OF THE DEMON), Steven Spielberg (CLOSE ENOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND), the original KING KONG and an In-Person Tribute to actor John Saxon (ENTER THE DRAGON, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), not to mention other classic sci-fi? Why you get the American Cinematheque’s 2006 Annual Festival of Fantasy, Horror & Science-Fiction. Please join us for two weeks worth of great shudders and thrills!

Thursday, August 3 - 7:30 PM
John Saxon In Person Double Feature!
ENTER THE DRAGON, 1973, Warner Bros., 97 min. Dir. Robert Clouse. Widely hailed as the legendary Bruce Lee’s finest film, ENTER THE DRAGON also helped break down the doors of American mainstream culture for the martial arts genre. Spectacular non-stop kung fu action as Lee and co-stars John Saxon, Jim Kelly, Bolo Yeung and Robert Wall compete in a deadly martial arts tournament on the island fortress of drug overlord Han (the deliciously evil Kien Shih). With memorable dialogue – "Boards don’t hit back!" – by screenwriter Michael Allin, and a killer score by Lalo Schifrin (TV’s "Mission Impossible").

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, 1984, New Line Cinema, 92 min. Wes Craven created one of his most famous movie milestones with this supremely entertaining horror opus, melding influences from Polanski to Bunuel to Argento to achieve a bizarrely subversive box office hit. NIGHTMARE… went on to become a certifiable goldmine of a franchise and ushered in surrealism to the masses. Dead child killer/dream demon Freddie Krueger (Robert Englund) proves a formidable homicidal anti-hero but finds a more than worthy opponent in feisty, brainy teen Heather Langenkamp. With Johnny Depp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakely. Discussion in between films with actor John Saxon.

Friday, August 4 - 7:30 PM

Double Feature:
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, 1977, Sony Repertory, 132 min. We are not alone. Reuniting with Richard Dreyfuss (JAWS), director Steven Spielberg’s 70's blockbuster which became a cultural phenomenon is a well-crafted, awe-inspiring story of first contact. Featuring Francois Truffaut, Terri Garr, mashed potatoes and the most famous five-note song in history by composer John Williams.

THX 1138,1971, Warner Bros., 88 min. Director George Lucas’ first (and most adult) picture outdoes 1984 and Brave New World in painting a bleak, dehumanized future where every person is given pills to quiet emotions, eliminate sex drive, increase work production and prevent the questioning of authority. This excellent film’s comparatively cool reception at the box office inspired Lucas to henceforth aim more for escapist fare on a grand scale (i.e. the STAR WARS films). With Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence.

Saturday, August 5 - 7:30 PM

Paul Verhoeven Double Feature:
ROBOCOP, 1987, MGM Repertory, 102 min. Peter Weller stars as a murdered Detroit police officer who is brought back to life as an unstoppable cyborg cop in director Paul Verhoeven’s action-packed satire of the future of corporate America. Nearly twenty years after its release, the film still packs an enormous punch with its savage violence and ferociously dark sense of humor. Several brutal scenes had to be trimmed to reportedly keep the film from garnering an X-rating for violence. With a terrific supporting cast including Nancy Allen, Kurtwood Smith, Ronny Cox and a brilliantly amoral Miguel Ferrer as the head honcho behind the RoboCop program.

STARSHIP TROOPERS, 1997, Sony Repertory, 129 min. Dir. Paul Verhoeven. This underrated sci-fi masterpiece based on the book by author Robert A. Heinlein is a dark political satire about an overly-militarized world, disguised as a violent space opera. Campy, melodramatic rock-jawed heroes (Casper Van Dien, Parick Muldoon), Archie and Jughead-type characters (Neil Patrick Harris, Jake Busey) and sexually aggressive amazons (Dina Myer, Denise Richards) cavort in the fascist future fighting intelligent, insectoid monsters! In the age of public relations-designed, political catch-all slogans like "The Axis Of Evil", the film seems more prescient than ever. Great performances by Clancy Brown and Michael Ironside. "Would you like to know more?"

Sunday, August 6 - 7:30 PM
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, 1953, Paramount, 85 min. Dir. Byron Haskin. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson battle invading Martian war machines in this still amazingly visceral, comic book-style feast of apocalyptic images - one of the defining science-fiction films of the past 50 years, seen here in a beautiful new 35 mm. print courtesy of Paramount Pictures! Produced by George Pal, based on the classic novel by H.G. Wells. Discussion following with actress Ann Robinson and other guests.

Wednesday, August 9 - 7:30 PM

British Horror Double Feature:

THE INNOCENTS, 1961, 20^th Century Fox, 100 min. Director Jack Clayton also directed British New Wave gems ROOM AT THE TOP and THE PUMPKIN EATER, but his most famous film remains this goose-pimply, shuddery adaptation of Henry James classic ghost story, Turn Of The Screw. Deborah Kerr is a repressed governess who is convinced that the ghosts of the last governess and the woman’s equally dead, cruel lover, Quint (Peter Wyngarde) haunt the mansion and grounds of her innocent young charges (Martin Stephens, Pamela Franklin). Reality, superstition and warped psychology collide in this riveting, brilliantly photographed jewel of a film (lensed by future horror director, Freddie Francis).

CURSE OF THE DEMON (aka NIGHT OF THE DEMON), 1957, Sony Repertory, 95 min. Jacques Tourneur’s masterful chiller about a mysterious string of deaths caused by a black magician (Nial MacGinnis in a great performance inspired by necromancer Alastair Crowley) is one of the most highly-regarded shockers of the ‘50’s, even in its original 83 minute US release. Although prints of the unedited version have circulated for years, they were from umpteenth-generation dupe material and looked pretty awful; this new restoration vividly brings back all the details of Ted Scaife’s photography and Ken Adam’s sets. Dana Andrews stars, with support from Peggy Cummins (GUN CRAZY) and Maurice Denham.

Friday, August 11 - 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

WESTWORLD, 1973, Warner Bros., 88 min. Dir. Michael Crichton. Bored suburbanites, Richard Benjamin and Jame Brolin, embark on a weekend at a new-fangled amusement park offering a deceptively "real," idealized fantasy experience. It just so happens, they’ve chosen Westworld, where immersion in the cowboy experience of frontier times is the order of the day. Unhappily, they’ve picked a weekend where electronic glitches in the park’s security suddenly make the park’s androids go on the fritz. Once things go haywire, there’s one very aggressive gunslinger robot in particular (a maniacal Yul Brynner) that seems to have it in for the boys. And he pursues them relentlessly as fantasy devolves into a nightmarish reality.

THE OMEGA MAN, 1971, Warner Bros., 98 min. Dir. Boris Sagal. Whiskey-drinking, WOODSTOCK-watching scientist Charlton Heston faces the possible extinction of mankind, while bug-eyed Anthony Zerbe and his legions of soul-brother vampires prowl the night, in this whacked-out adaptation of Richard Matheson’s classic novel I Am Legend. Here, Heston remade himself as an über-cool 1970’s action star, cruising the plague-ridden streets of L.A. in a convertible Mustang.

Saturday, August 12 - 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

CONAN THE BARBARIAN, 1982, Universal, 129 min. Dir. John Milius. Before he was the Terminator, before he was the Governor, he was the Barbarian. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in the film adaptation of the Robert E. Howard novels. Writer/director John Milius’ intelligent and visceral sword and sorcery film features Ron Cobb and William Stoudt’s beautiful production design and an inspiring score by Basil Poledouris. Also stars James Earl Jones and Max Von Sydow.

CONAN THE DESTROYER, 1984, Universal, 103 min. Dir. Richard Fleischer. A kinder, gentler Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) leads Akiro (Mako) and Zula (Grace Jones) on a quest to save a princess. Also stars Wilt Chamberlain (!) and Tracey Walter. Written by Marvel Comics titans Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway, stunningly photographed by the incomparable Jack Cardiff and saturated with a more go-for-broke, gonzo appeal than its slightly more serious predecessor. Actress Sandahl Bergman who played Valeria will appear in person for discussion between films.

Sunday, August 13 – 3:00 PM

Family Matinee:

NEVER ENDING STORY, 1984, Warner Bros., 102 min. Dir. Wolfgang Petersen. One of the only modern children’s films that can be said in the same breath as the Wizard of Oz. A true kid’s classic about courage, friendship and the magic of reading. Filled with giant turtles, rock creatures, and furry blue Luck Dragons it captures kids’ imaginations. With a theme song you will sing for the rest of your life.

BRAZIL, 1985, Universal, 142 min. Director Terry Gilliam’s surreal black comedy combines past and future with anarchic glee, creating a world of pneumatic tubes, giant samurais and lilting South American ballads where harried Everyman Jonathan Pryce tries to escape from a maze of crushing conformity to pursue elusive love Kim Greist. Featuring fellow-Python Michael Palin as upwardly mobile Jack Lint and Robert DeNiro as an outlaw heating engineer. The film holds special pride of place for the L.A. Film Critics Society, who championed the full-length version of the film and Gilliam’s unique vision in the face of studio interference and a radically-shortened cut. (Note: This is the European cut of the film, 10 minutes longer than the U.S. version.) "It’s really about someone who doesn’t take reality seriously enough." - Terry Gilliam.

Thursday, August 17 - 7:30 PM

Lasting Impressions Series with Ed Crasnick!
GALAXY QUEST, 1999, Dreamworks, Dir. Dean Parisot. Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Tony Shaloub and Enrico Colantoni star in this delightfully daft send-up of the STAR TREK films and TV series. The has-been cast of a STAR TREK-like television show, reduced to appearing at fan conventions, are suddenly kidnapped by an alien race who believe their TV show broadcasts were real, and the performers can somehow help them save their planet from total destruction. Discussion following with director Dean Parisot and actor Enrico Colantoni.

Friday, August 18 - 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE, 1961, Canal +, 99 min. Dir. Val Guest. Widely hailed as one of the most gripping science fiction films of the 1960’s, this is a chillingly prescient warning of ecological disaster. The U.S. and Russia set off simultaneous nuclear bombs at opposite poles, resulting in the Earth tottering off its axis to head for the sun. Edward Judd delivers a career-making performance as an embittered, alcoholic journalist who finds last-minute redemption through the love of Janet Munro and the salty advice of fellow reporter Leo McKern. When we screened it a few years ago at the Egyptian Theatre, the entire audience gave a 5-minute standing ovation at the end – come and you’ll see why.