When you were a kid, you were probably mostly aware of early cinematic icons like W.C. Fields and Mae West through seeing them caricatured in old Bugs Bunny cartoons. If you were lucky, you eventually encountered Fields and West in one of their own movies. If you did, you almost certainly became a fan. But nowadays their witty and often surprisingly bawdy movies are harder and harder to come by, and future generations will probably be even more puzzled than you were when Bugs gets dolled up in drag and purrs “Come up and see me sometime” in Elmer Fudd's ear. So let us give thanks to the good folks at the Long Beach School for Adults for this Fields/West double bill. 1935's Man on the Flying Trapeze is a particular treat, since this classic Fields comedy is all but impossible to see otherwise. 1934's Belle of the Nineties, meanwhile, was West's first film following the implementation of the repressive Hayes code, and while she's not at her full potency, she's still scandalously fun. Short subjects, cartoons and other goodies are also on the bill. Long Beach School for Adults Auditorium, 3701 E. Willow St., Long Beach, (562) 997-8000, ext. 7198. Fri., 7 p.m. $1 materials fee.
ALSO SHOWING:
The Children's Hour. William Wyler's 1961 drama about two teachers who face prejudice when a student accuses them of being lesbians. Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine star. UCI Film and Video Center, Humanities Instruction Bldg., Room 100, Campus N W. Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-7418; www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc. Thurs., Jan. 26, 7 p.m. Free.
GoodFellas. Martin Scorsese's classic, 1990 film version of Henry Hill's true tales of mob life. Unforgettable and intense, and Joe Pesci is a twitchy little bastard for the ages. Edwards Rancho Santa Margarita, 30632 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 888-3358. Thurs., Jan. 26, 9 p.m. $6.
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One. William Greaves's 1968 documentary/drama hybrid uses a variety of different viewpoints to chronicle a series of screen tests in New York's Central Park and the chaos behind the scenes. A breakthrough in experimental cinema, or just another tedious, self-indulgent '60s “happening”? You decide. Introduction by Ed Dimenberg, UCI professor of Film and Media Studies. UCI Film and Video Center, Humanities Instruction Bldg., Room 100, Campus N W. Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-7418; www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc. Thurs., Feb. 2, 7 p.m. Free.
Mail your press releases (and a videotape, if available) to Special Screenings, OC Weekly, 1666 N. Main St., Ste. 500, Santa Ana, CA 92701-7417. Or send e-mail to gr*******@ea*******.net. All materials must be received at least two weeks before the screening.
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