Around Los Angeles: Member Discounts at the American Cinematheque
Egyptian Theater
6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028
Thursday, October 26 – 7:30 Double Feature!
Information on how to receive the discount will be sent to members of ASIFA via email
MOTHRA (1961) Sony Repertory, 101 min. Dir. Ishiro Honda. In director Ishiro Honda’s mix of giant-monster mayhem, enchanting music and Cold War tensions, a ruthless promoter from the superpower nation of Rolisica (a hybrid of the Japanese terms for “Russia” and “America”) kidnaps beautiful twin singing fairies from Infant Island in the South Pacific. When the girls are forced to perform onstage in Tokyo, their melodies awaken the monster-god Mothra, who swims forth from the faraway island to their rescue. Starring Frankie Sakai, Kyoko Kagawa, Jerry Ito and The Peanuts. Dubbed in English.
BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (1959) Sony Repertory, 90 min. Dir. Ishiro Honda. With the space race in full swing, Honda and SFX artist Eiji Tsuburaya collaborated on this alien-invasion extravaganza. Envisioning Japan as an aerospace leader and the country’s return to world affairs, the film shows Tokyo leading an international coalition of nations against hostile spacemen from the planet Natal. The invaders pack a powerful arsenal that includes nimble flying saucers and a giant mothership with an anti-gravity beam that sucks skyscrapers off the ground! Heroic astronaut Katsumiya (Ryo Ikebe) and his crew are ready for battle on the moon, and in the skies over Tokyo. Introduction by authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski, who will sign their book Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, From Godzilla to Kurosawa in the lobby at 6:30 PM.
Friday, October 27 – 7:30 PM Double Feature!
GODZILLA: THE JAPANESE ORIGINAL (1954) Janus Films, 96 min. Dir. Ishiro Honda. In the first of countless kaiju (“strange creature”) films from Japan, a nuclear explosion rouses a reptilian monster from the depths of the ocean. As Godzilla crushes Tokyo underfoot, the only weapon that could stop him may be too powerful to use. Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi and Akihiko Hirata star in this seminal sci-fi film, which was later recut with new scenes starring Raymond Burr and released as GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS! in America. In Japanese with English subtitles.
THE H-MAN (1958) Sony Repertory, 79 min. Dir. Ishiro Honda. A sexy, exotic dancer slinks across the stage while a bebop combo wails. Square-jawed gangsters with slick hair and flashy vines smoke and drink doted on by giggling bar hostesses. Just another night at Cabaret Homura until an even more dangerous villain appears. Ishiro Honda’s genre-blending sci-fi thriller is a mix of detectives, hoods, radioactive goblins and atomic paranoia. Starring genre regulars Kenji Sahara as an idealistic scientist, Hisaya Ito as an evil drug lord and Yumi Shirakawa as a beleaguered cabaret beauty. Introduction by authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski, who will sign their book Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, From Godzilla to Kurosawa in the lobby at 6:30 PM.
UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Hammer Museum present CORALINE (2009)
Lovingly crafted by stop motion director, Henry Selick, Coraline is the tale of an adventurous 11-year-old who finds a door in her new house that leads to an alternate version of her life. She’s spoiled by her new mom and dad until her visit becomes dangerous and she must use her wits and bravery to get back home and save her real family. Based on Neil Gaiman’s novel. 100 min. Recommended for ages 9+ Free Admission.