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ABOVE AND BEYOND, Documentary About the Volunteer Fighter Pilots from Abroad Who Helped Save Israel in ’48, Opens February 6

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In 1948, a group of World War II pilots, mostly from the United States, volunteered to fight for Israel in its War of Independence.  As members of “Machal”– volunteers from abroad – this ragtag band of brothers turned the tide of the war, preventing the possible annihilation of Israel at the very moment of its birth.  ABOVE AND BEYOND is their story, told for the first time and we are pleased to open the film Friday, February 6 at the Town Center in Encino and the next day at the Royal in West L.A. ABOVE AND BEYOND producer Nancy Spielberg will participate in Q&A’s after the 10:30 AM screening at the Royal and after the 7:50 PM show at the Town Center on Sunday, February 8.

ABOVE AND BEYOND recounts the harrowing missions of the men who helped repel five Arab armies. The film follows them from the United States – where they met and trained in secret and struggled to stay two steps ahead of the FBI – to Panama, Rome and even behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia, where they flew versions of the very Nazi planes they had tried to shoot down in World War II.

Set against the backdrop of an emerging nation still reeling from the horrors of the Holocaust, ABOVE AND BEYOND uncovers the motivations of these volunteers – Jews and non-Jews, some Zionists, many others not.  It recounts the personal stories of the young pilots, whose experiences in Israel were life altering. And ultimately, the film taps into universal themes of courage, commitment and sacrifice.  At a time when a fledgling nation was under attack, a tiny band of airmen answered the call for help. They risked their citizenship, their futures and even their lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNMJGaptDds&feature=youtu.be
Volunteer pilots, 1948.

Ride with Greg Laemmle and Win a 2015 Movie Pass

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It’s time for our 3rd Annual Ride with Greg Laemmle Climate Ride Contest!  Don’t miss your chance to participate in this life-altering event.  Last year our team was 14 strong and we’re expecting to surpass that number for 2015.  Join us and become part of our amazing group!

What’s more, tell us why you want to ride with Greg and you could win an Unlimited Laemmle Movie Pass for the remainder of 2015, free registration for Climate Ride California, and a $2500 contribution toward your Climate Ride fundraising goal from the Laemmle Charitable Foundation.  See the second and third prize packages, eligibility requirements, and all contest details over on the contest entry page.

An outside panel of judges will select the winners based on the quality of their entry statement so take the time to craft something that’ll really knock their cycling socks off! But don’t wait too long, the deadline for entry is Monday, February 16!

Climate Ride California 2015 is a fully-supported, five-day group ride covering approx. 300 miles of stellar Northern California scenery starting with the awe-inspiring Redwood State Park,  down miles of spectacular coastline, through California wine growing country, and culminating with a jaunt over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the City By the Bay.  Bike fitness is recommended, but the ride caters to all levels of ability.

ENTER HERE

Win Tickets to FOREVER FLAMENCO at the Ford

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Laemmle has several pairs of tickets to give away to the astounding FOREVER FLAMENCO — a special one-night only celebration of music, song, and dance at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. The event takes place Saturday, August 9 at 8:30pm.

ENTER-TO-WIN here!

The dancers, musicians and singers of FOREVER FLAMENCO have been delighting Fountain Theatre audiences for over two decades with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. Now Forever Flamenco returns to the outdoor stage at the FORD THEATRES with this passionate expression of Spanish culture. A roster of internationally renowned flamenco artists will pay tribute to Los Angeles flamenco pioneer ROBERTO AMARAI in what promises to be a sizzling performance.

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Acclaim for Forever Flamenco:

The Fountain’s Forever Flamenco series has been called “the city’s preeminent flamenco series” by the Los Angeles Times and “L.A.’s most significant venue for flamenco” by the LA Weekly.

Working Author designates it “the rarest of treats… for both connoisseur and novice alike, ‘Forever Flamenco’ offers the opportunity to luxuriate in the incendiary passions of flamenco.”

Dance writer DEBRA LEVINE says, “performances feature superb gypsy guitarists and singers. Do you enjoy seeing the body in spellbinding motion? Great artistic individuality? Live music? Then go,” and Stage and Cinema’s TONY FRANKEL writes, “Thrilling, sexy and sensuous.”

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Visit Forever Flamenco  on the web for tickets and more info.

Greg Laemmle to Host the Opening Night of LAST REMAINING SEATS featuring “The Lady Eve” (1941)

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It’s nearly time for Last Remaining Seats, the always-compelling series of film classics presented by the L.A. CONSERVANCY in our city’s grand, vintage movie palaces. The program opens this year on June 11, 2014, 8pm with the iconic comedy THE LADY EVE (1941, Preston Sturges) at the downtown LOS ANGELES THEATRE. What’s more, the evening will be hosted by our own GREG LAEMMLE who will be in conversation with PRESTON STURGES JR. and TOM STURGES, sons of the legendary director. It promises to be a captivating evening and we invite you to join in our support of the L.A. Conservancy by attending. If you haven’t been to the lavish LOS ANGELES THEATRE on Broadway, you are sure to be astonished.

Tickets for this event and other screenings are available through the L.A. CONSERVANCY who produces the series as a way to highlight the treasure trove of beautiful and historically significant theaters that remain in our city. In addition to the Los Angeles Theatre, this year’s line up includes the PALACE THEATRE (The Great Madcap), ORPHEUM THEATRE (Citizen Kane, Footlight Parade), the THEATRE AT ACE HOTEL (Back to the Future), and the DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION (West Side Story).

Tickets are pre-sold to Conservancy members, but are now also available to the general public. Seating is limited, however, so you must act quickly. We’ve already learned that one of the screenings has been sold out.  GO HERE for more program and ticketing info.

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Program notes from the Conservancy:

The Los Angeles Conservancy has assembled an esteemed slate of special guests for its twenty-eighth season of Last Remaining Seats. This annual series presents classic films as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in a beautiful historic theatre, surrounded by fellow fans. Each event in the series is full of extras, including live entertainment, special guests, cartoons, and more. What began in 1987 as a way to draw attention to Los Angeles’ historic theatres is now a summer tradition, drawing thousands of people from the region, the nation, and outside the U.S.

While subject to change, the special guests and live entertainment for 2014 are outlined below.

The season kicks off June 11 with a screening of The Lady Eve at the Los Angeles Theatre. Evening host for opening night is Greg Laemmle, president of Laemmle Theatres. Laemmle will interview Preston Sturges, Jr. and Tom Sturges, sons of Preston Sturges, who wrote and directed the acclaimed 1941 comedy.

On June 14, West Side Story at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will feature one of the film’s stars, George Chakiris, in conversation with dance critic Debra Levine. Chakiris won an Academy Award® for his performance as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, in this classic 1961 musical.

Guests at 1933’s Footlight Parade at the Orpheum Theatre on June 18 will enjoy two live performances. Robert Salisbury will perform on the theatre’s 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer organ, followed by Maxwell DeMille Presents “The Lullaby of Broadway:” A Tribute to the 1930s Movie Music of Harry Warren and Al Dubin, with Dean Mora and his Orchestra.

Renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin will host the sold-old evening screening of Back to the Future at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on June 21. Maltin will interview cast members Lea Thompson, Claudia Wells, and Don Fullilove. A DeLorean Time Machine will make a special appearance at both the matinee and evening screenings.

Co-presented with the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles, the screening of Luis Buñuel’s El gran calavera (The Great Madcap) on June 25 will be hosted by Oscar Arce, director of the Luis Buñuel Film Institute. Arce will appear on stage before the film with special guest Pablo Ferro, award-winning film title designer.

The season ends June 28 with two screenings of Citizen Kane at the Orpheum Theatre. Both screenings will be preceded by a live performance by Tony Wilson on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The matinee will be hosted by author and film historian Alan K. Rode, with the evening screening hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, weekend daytime host of Turner Classic Movies and the grandson of the film’s co-writer with Orson Welles, Herman J. Mankiewicz.

Details and tickets are available at laconservancy.org.

Tickets cost $16 for L.A. Conservancy members and $20 for the general public.

Help for the Holidays + Flicks Candy

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As a gesture of thanks to the community that has sustained us for seventy-five years, Laemmle Theatres is pleased to announce HELP FOR THE HOLIDAYS.  We have matched each of our theatres with a specific local charitable organization.  The funds raised from the sale of Flicks candy at each theatre during this holiday season will be passed on to the following worthy organizations:

Every time someone purchases a Flicks Candy for $2.50, Laemmle Theatres will donate $1.00 to charity. We also have special combinations:

1) small popcorn, small fountain drink + Flicks for $8.25 ($1 Off for Patron & $2 going to charity)

2) medium popcorn, medium fountain drink + Flicks for $9.00 ($1.50 Off for Patron & $2.50 going to charity)

3) large popcorn, large fountain drink + Flicks for $9.75 ($2 off for Patron & $3 going to Charity)

Claremont – HOUSE OF RUTH

Monica – OCEAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER

NoHo – L.A. FAMILY HOUSING

Playhouse – UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES

Music Hall and Royal – WESTSIDE FOOD BANK

Town Center – SOVA

We don’t normally sell Flicks, but it is a delicious, old-timey candy first introduced in 1904. Try it! We’ll only be selling it through the holidays.

For more information about our charitable activities, visit http://laemmlefoundation.org/

 

STAFF PICK – “Blood Brother”

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Blood Brother is a breathtaking film packed with humanity.  It chronicles the life of ROCKY BRAAT, a young American who, on a trip to India, finds himself volunteering at a group home for kids with HIV. With Rocky and the irrepressible children, it’s love at first sight and their lives soon become intertwined.

Fortunately for Rocky and film audiences, his good friend STEVE HOOVER just happens to be a gifted filmmaker. Skeptical at first, Hoover is persuaded to travel to India and document Rocky’s exploits.  The result is a powerful and eloquent depiction of the situation at the group home, illuminating Rocky, the plight of the kids, village life in India, and the nature of love, amongst other things.

There’s scarcely a need to go into further detail about Blood Brother.  Yes, it’s well-made, even unexpectedly stylized at certain points.  But more than that it’s a transformative experience.  Brilliantly, it compels us to watch things that are very hard to watch, yet does so with such love and tenderness that we never feel the need to turn our heads.  Buoyed by Rocky’s courage, we feel that we too can look into the heart of suffering and face it with newfound resolve and compassion.

In a Q&A session at the Royal, Hoover related that all ticket revenue from Blood Brother will be donated to a non-profit recently founded to support Rocky’s work. If that’s not enough you can also donate directly HERE.

For Laemmle audiences Blood Brother is yet another example of film transcending entertainment, commerce, and one might argue, even art.  It’s a must see.

– Marc H.

Bob Laemmle recommends QUEEN TO PLAY

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Occasionally — about once or twice a year — Laemmle Theatres owner Bob Laemmle likes to put a personal stamp of approval on one of the many movies we show. Here is his latest:

I would like to offer a recommendation for the French film QUEEN TO PLAY. When I first saw this film two years ago, both my wife and I found it to be a deeply enjoyable film. It has taken two years for the film to finally reach our screens due to the fact that the initial distributor went bankrupt. QUEEN TO PLAY stars Sandrine Bonnaire, who first became a star at age 18 in Agnès Varda’s 1985 film VAGABOND. Her co-star is Kevin Kline in a superb French-speaking performance. It is all that you could hope a French film would offer you. It is as well a heartwarming female-empowerment story. It will not have a large advertising budget so if you see and enjoy this film please pass along your recommendations to your friends.

http://youtu.be/Ek0VgLzZpjU
For more information on QUEEN TO PLAY, visit the film’s page, here.