CAN'T STOP THE MUSICALS! - July 20 - 30, 2006
Co-presented with the American Cinematheque
In the wake of MOULIN ROUGE and CHICAGO, two blockbusters that served to re-ignite audience interest in movie musicals, and following in the path of the series presented at the Egyptian and Aero Theatres the past three years, let's look at an era not normally thought of as rich territory for filmed musicals: the 1970's and 1980's. Guilty pleasures THE APPLE, FLASHDANCE and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR! go up against even rockier TOMMY, HAIR and ROCK 'N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, not to mention modern classics such as ALL THAT JAZZ -- all on the big screen where they were meant to be seen!! Keying on the New York-themed ambience of some of the films, all ticket buyers, get a chance to win a New York goodie package.
Thanks to CTS Travel, Shoreham Hotels, Broadway/LA and The Pasadena Playhouse for their contribution to our Raffle Package! Good luck!
Series compiled by Gwen Deglise and Andrew Crane with the assistance of Grant Moninger.
Special thanks: Paul Ginsburg/UNIVERSAL; Mike Schlesinger and Susanne Jacobsen/SONY REPERTORY; Marilee Womack/WARNER BROS; Germaine Simens/NEW WORLD; Caitlin Robertson/ 20TH CENTURY FOX; Emily Horn/PARAMOUNT PICTURES.
Thursday, July 20 - 7:30 PM - THE APPLE, 1980, Sony Repertory, 90 min. This is your chance to see one of the most mind-melting musicals ever made. Cannon Films mogul Menahem Golan's over the top directorial debut is a camp-lover's delight, set "far in the future" (the year 1994) where almost all the world has become enslaved to the hedonistic disco music of the BIM corporation, supervised by the demonic Mr. Boogaloo. Be prepared for jaw-dropping set design, costumes and musical numbers that jump from sappy soft-rock to '70s disco to glitter rock to cabaret and Broadway. Hold on to your seats and don't be surprised if you feel the urge to don metallic fabrics and strange make-up as you exit the theatre! Dress as your favorite character from the film (Mr. Boogaloo anyone?) and we will have a special goodie bag for the winner (apple included)!
Friday, July 21 - 7:30 PM Beautiful Archival Print! TOMMY, 1975, Sony Repertory, 111 min. Having already brought an outlandish, hellzapoppin quality to such films as THE DEVILS, director Ken Russell was the perfect choice to helm The Who's landmark rock opera TOMMY, transforming it into a stream-of-consciousness catalog of wild performances from the likes of Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Tina Turner, Elton John, Keith Moon, Jack Nicholson and others.
Saturday, July 22 - 7:30 PM - Double feature: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, 1973, Universal, 108 min. Dir. Norman Jewison. Adapted from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark rock-opera, and featuring such standout numbers as "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "What's the Buzz?" and "Jesus Christ, Superstar" performed by an extremely talented cast including Ted Neeley as Christ, Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene and the late Carl Anderson in a standout role as Judas Iscariot.
HAIR, 1979, Sony Repertory, 121 min. Over ten years elapsed between the initial Broadway run of one of the most controversial musicals ever produced, and its cinematic incarnation - and it was worth the wait. Claude (John Savage), a young soldier on his way to Vietnam, meets a gang of hippies headed by Berger (a very winning Treat Williams), who teach him about love and flower-power. Under the skillful direction of Milos Foreman and choreography by Twyla Tharp (the same team behind AMADEUS), every musical number (including "Aquarius", "Let The Sunshine In", "Hair", et. al.) works beautifully. An especially relevant film in today's climate.
Sunday, July 23 - 7:30 PM - PENNIES FROM HEAVEN, 1981, Warners, 108 min. Dir. Herbert Ross. Dennis Potter's beautifully melancholic musical unspools against eyepoppingly amazing production design inspired by painter Edward Hopper, pairing unhappily married Depression-era Arthur (Steve Martin) and sweet, footloose Eileen (Bernadette Peters). The die is cast for bittersweet romance punctuated with astounding Busby Berkeley style dance numbers. The entire cast, including Christopher Walken as Tom the pimp and Jessica Harper as ice queen wife, Joan, shine. Walken's legendary dance prowess is on ample display with his "Let's Misbehave" number, a riveting standout. Interesting note: This was the last MGM musical.
Wednesday, July 26 - 7:30 PM - FLASHDANCE, 1983, Paramount, 105 min. Dir. Adrian Lyne. Fiesty Alex (Jennifer Beals) is a blue-collar worker by day and aspiring dancer by night. She dances in bars, longing for a true career in dance. An 80's movie-candy fairy tale, with a romance subplot between welder/dancer Beals and boss Michael Nouri that is especially sweet. The city of Pittsburgh co-stars. Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey and Irene Cara won the Oscar and the Golden Globe for the title song "Flashdance - What A Feeling".
Saturday, July 29 - 7:30 PM - ROCK 'N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, 1979, New World, 93 min. Dir. Allan Arkush. Rebel party girl and The Ramones' biggest fan, P.J. Soles, converts both fellow high school misfits and conservative students alike to the joys of the black leather quartet's intoxicating brand of punk pop, which leads to open rebellion against the teachers, in particular, dictator principal Miss Togar (Mary Woronov). Perfectly captures a teenager's mindset where food fights and anarchy are equated, and blowing up the school building is the best antidote for a boring Saturday night - ! Discussion following with director Allan Arkush, writers Richard Whitley and Russ Dvonch. .
Sunday, July 30 - 7:30 PM - ALL THAT JAZZ, 1979, 20th Century Fox, 123 min. Intense, compelling musical based on the life of its director, choreographer and screenwriter, Bob Fosse. Roy Scheider stars as an obsessed, womanizing, pill-popping, chain-smoking Broadway choreographer and director who pays the ultimate price for his insane, creative lifestyle. The movie probably has the only musical number set during open-heart surgery, and kudos go to Gwen Verdon as Fosse's loyal ex-wife. Ann Reinking plays his patient mistress.
Tickets can be purchased online: www.fandango.com
Or in person at the Egyptian Theatre Box Office: 6712 Hollywood Blvd.
