El Capitan Theatre To Showcase 10 Classic Films in May

Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre Celebrates its 75th Anniversary in May With Special Presentations of 10 Classic Films
New Print of 'Citizen Kane' and Unveiling of Wall of Fame Exhibit to Kick Off Festivities on May 3rd and 4th

In celebration of its 75th anniversary, Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre will host a series of 10 classic films beginning May 3rd, it was announced, April 23rd by Lylle Breier, senior vice president of worldwide special events for Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. The series will kick off on Thursday, May 3rd, with the debut screening of a new 35mm print (struck from a recently discovered pristine master) of "Citizen Kane," the film which marked the El Capitan's bow as a movie theatre in 1941. The other films in the series are: "Citizen Kane," "Rear Window," "Doctor Zhivago," "Vertigo," "Sunset Blvd.," "Uptown Saturday Night," "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "Gigi," "The Music Man," and "Sabrina." Each of those classic titles had their Hollywood premieres at the El Capitan. To celebrate the landmark theatre's diamond anniversary, each evening performance of these classic films will be preceded by a panel discussion that will include film historians, journalists, crafts people and/or stars who worked on the film. As an added bonus, each presentation will also include a showing of Chuck Workman's Academy Award®-winning 1986 short film, "Precious Images."

Also marking the theatre's milestone anniversary is the debut of "The Wall of Fame," a window display on the theatre's Promenade level which showcases photos of the stars and filmmakers who have attended premiere screenings at the historic El Capitan. Other photo displays will chronicle the restoration of the legendary Hollywood movie palace.

Commenting on the announcement, Breier said, "The El Capitan has been a special venue for 75 years, and we're excited to be showcasing its legacy as a movie palace as we celebrate its diamond anniversary. These 10 films, some rarely seen on the big screen, are all diamonds as well. Add in discussions of the film by its stars, writers, directors, and other crew, and it all adds up to an evening of great entertainment."

The schedule of films is as follows:

MAY 3RD - 4TH: CITIZEN KANE
Showtimes: May 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
May 4th at 5:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m.

Often considered the greatest film ever made, Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" launched the career of the master director and marked the first motion picture ever to play at the El Capitan Theatre sixty years ago. Appropriately, this film returns with a never-before-seen newly struck print to celebrate the El Capitan's 75th anniversary. Noted L.A. Times film critic Kenneth Turan will lead a panel discussion with the film's editor Robert Wise and other guests at the 7:00 p.m. show on May 3rd. Details to be announced.

MAY 5th: REAR WINDOW
Showtimes: 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m.

Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 classic stars James Stewart as a wheelchair-bound man who spies on his neighbors for fun ... until he sees what he thinks could be a murder. Renowned film critic and historian Charles Champlin will moderate the panel (at the 8:00 p.m. show), featuring Jim Katz, (who restored the film to its original splendor), actress Georgine Darcy, who played Stewart's neighbor "Miss Torso" in the film, and Pat Hitchcock, the daughter of the Master of Suspense.

MAY 6th: DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
Showtimes: 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.

David Lean's masterpiece, based on the Boris Pasternak classic novel, is an epic, sweeping drama, the story of a man whose life and family are torn apart twice -- first by World War One, and again by the Russian revolution. At the 8:00 p.m. show, film critic/author/TCM host Robert Osborne will lead a discussion on the making of the film. Lean's 2nd assistant director on the film, Peter Beale, noted director Ronald Neame (who produced and wrote several early Lean films), and the film's art director, Terrence Marsh, are scheduled to participate.

MAY 7th: VERTIGO
Showtimes: 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, is back in the spotlight with this gripping tale of a woman who may or may not be possessed by her 200-year-old ancestor. Distinguished New York Magazine film critic Peter Rainer will be joined by restoration expert Jim Katz and Pat Hitchcock to discuss this cinematic classic at the 8:00 p.m. showing.

MAY 8th: SUNSET BLVD.
Showtimes: 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

In this first-rate film showing Hollywood's darker side, William Holden plays a screenwriter under the spell of a former silent-screen star who's ready for her close-up. Noted Time Magazine film critic/author/documentarian Richard Schickel will moderate a panel that is scheduled to include actresses Nancy Olson (who played the role of Betty Schaefer) and Yvette Vickers (the "giggling girl") at the 8:00 p.m. showing.

MAY 9th: UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT
Showtimes: 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

In this wild comedy directed by Sidney Poitier and starring Poitier, Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte, Flip Wilson, and Richard Pryor, two men chase after a winning lottery ticket, stolen from a wallet in a stick-up. Guest panelists to be announced for the 8:00 p.m. discussion.

MAY 10th: THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Showtimes: 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

When a spy dies in tourist James Stewart's arms he's mistaken for a secret agent by spies, in Alfred Hitchcock's masterful thriller. And Doris Day sings "Que Sera, Sera!" Restoration expert and film historian Scott MacQueen will be on hand at the 8:00 p.m. show to discuss the film along with Pat Hitchcock and other special guests.

MAY 11th: GIGI
Showtimes: 5:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m.

"Thank heaven" for this Academy Award®-winning musical, about love in Paris high society. Maurice Chevalier, Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan and Hermione Gingold star in this charming tale that features a classic song score by Lerner and Loewe. At the 8:00 p.m. show, Miles Krueger, founder and curator of the Institute of the American Musical, will discuss the film with Betty Wand, who was the singing voice double for actress Leslie Caron.

MAY 12th: THE MUSIC MAN
Showtimes: 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m.

There's trouble in River City when a pool hall opens -- or so con man "Professor" Harold Hill would have the good residents believe. He's ready to gyp children out of the money they give him to start a boys' band, but he never expected to fall in love. Musical expert Miles Krueger returns (for the 8:00 p.m. showing), joined in conversation by star Buddy Hackett, Academy Award®-winning choreographer Onna White and her assistant Fred Curt.

MAY 13th: SABRINA
Showtimes: 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.

What better way to spend Mother's Day than at the El Capitan with this sophisticated comedy from director Billy Wilder. Young Sabrina, the daughter of the wealthy Larrabee family's chauffeur, is all grown up and catching the eye of David Larrabee ... but it's David's brother, Linus, who she finds herself falling for. Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden light up the screen in this classic. Guests for the 8:00 p.m. panel to be announced.

Built by real estate developer Charles Toberman in 1926, the El Capitan Theatre was billed as "Hollywood's First Home of Spoken Drama." Beginning with "Charlot's Revue," over 120 live plays were produced at the El Capitan over the next ten years, including "No, No, Nanette," "Anything Goes," and "Ah, Wilderness." In 1941, Orson Welles' Academy Award®-winning "Citizen Kane" made its world premiere at the El Capitan Theatre. After the successful screening of "Citizen Kane," the theatre closed for remodeling. A year later, it was reborn as the Hollywood Paramount, a sleek, new "art moderne" movie house. In 1989, The Walt Disney Company joined forces with Pacific Theatres to begin a two-year museum-quality restoration of the legendary palace, culminating in June 1991, with the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "The Rocketeer." Since then, the El Capitan has served as an exclusive first-run theater for The Walt Disney Studios, hosting live stage shows, world premieres, and other special events that have helped restore showmanship to Hollywood Boulevard.

-- Posted April 24, 2001

Source: Company Press Release