One of the original "get a whole bunch of tough guy character actors together and make a team ouf of 'em" pictures, The Dirty Dozen features such heavyweights as Lee Marvin, Jim Brown, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes, Donald Sutherland and George Kennedy. The plot? A U.S. Army Major is given the job of training twelve convicted murderers to mount an attack against high ranking Nazi officers. Films like these are the cinematic teat at which Tarnatino was weaned. As an example of the late '60s ensemble action picture, The Dirty Dozen has no equal. Long Beach School for Adults, 3701 E. Willow St., Long Beach, (562) 997-8000. Fri., 7 p.m. $1 materials fee.
also showing:
All About Eve.A portrait of backstage backstabbing and manipulation, All About Eveis a classic Bette Davis film, filled with sharp dialogue and entertaining performances. Pierside Surf City 6, 300 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, (949) 640-2370. Tues., 7:30 p.m. $7.
Chasing the Dream.This documentary is a candid portrait of Huntington Beach High School surfers trying to obtain the impossible—a career in professional surfing. Huntington Beach Library Theatre, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 375-0696. Wed., 7 & 9 p.m.
Estamira.This film tells the story of a 63-year-old woman who suffers from schizophrenia. This documentary follows her life during four years of continuous medication, revealing her transformation and the effects of the drugs on her. This film is being screened as part of UCI's Latin American Film Festival. UC Irvine, Humanities Instructional Building 100, Campus & Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-7418; www.filmandvideocenter.com. Sat., 7 p.m. $3-$5.
Kiltro.Marko Zaror, a Chilean native who has trained extensively in karate and tae kwan do, plays a violent street gangster whose life is forever changed when a powerful martial artist looking for vengeance kills his mother and kidnaps the woman he loves. This film is being screened as part of UCI's Latin American Film Festival. UC Irvine, Humanities Instructional Building 100, Campus & Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-7418; www.filmandvideocenter.com. Fri., 7 p.m. $3-$5.
My Name is Nobody.Veterean gunfighter Jack Beauregard wants to leave the west quietly, but his admirer Nobody has other ideas. A rollicking look at Western legends, it's filled with delightful action sequences, many of which are accomplished with comic trick photography, and are otherwise purposely ridiculous. Featuring Henry Fonda and Terrence Hill. Orange Coast College, Fine Arts Building, Room 119, 2701 Fairview Rd., Costa Mesa, (714) 432-5599. Fri., 6:30 p.m. $5-$6.
Los Pajarracos. The curious tale of a failed Lucha Libre masked wrestler, Miguel "Cachondo" Sanabria, a womanizer who, after impregnating the daughter of a drug-dealing politician, finds himself involved in a dangerous adventure. This film is being screened as part of UCI's Latin American Film Festival. Directors Hector Hernandez and Horacio Rivera will be present to discuss the film after the screening. UC Irvine, Humanities Instructional Building 100, Campus & Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-7418; www.filmandvideocenter.com. Thurs., May 3. 7 p.m. $3-$5.
The Return of Navajo Boy. In 1997, filmmaker Jeff Spitz resurrected an old 1950s film called Navajo Boyand was able to track down the original subjects, the Cly family, to show it to them. Family martirach Elsie Mae Cly Begay saw on the film the face of her infant brother who had been adopted by white missionaries and never heard from again. The vintage movie prompts Elsie to tell her family's story for the first time, from their work with filmmakers and tourists, to the injuries and effects of uranium mining on their health and culture. University Student Union, Beach Auditorium, Cal State Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach. Fri., 7 p.m.
Rocky Horror Picture Show.Some do Pilates, some do "The Time Warp." It's okay, boys, put on some makeup and look fabulous—a lot of girls are into ambiguous sexuality. Well, at least they were in Santa Cruz. Royal Theater Aboard theQueen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, (562) 684-4411; www.qmxroyal.com. Sat., midnight. $8.
Shower.This Chinese film begins with the exploration of the clash of a successful businessman who lives in a distant city and returns home termporarily into the fold of the closed world of his father's bathhouse. The experiences of this businessman who is caught between two worlds provide a delightful and comedic portrayal of everyday life that is both observant and sentimental. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 567-3679; www.bowers.org. Thurs., May 10, 7:30 p.m. $8-$10. For reservations to the pre-film dinner, call Tangata Restaurant at (714) 550-0906. The dinner costs $30.
Mail your press releases (and a videotape or disc, if available) to Special Screenings, OC Weekly, 1666 N. Main St., Ste. 500, Santa Ana, CA 92701-7417. Or send e-mail to tchild@ocweekly.com. All materials must be received at least two weeks before the screening.
