Harold Lloyd filmed his silent comedies when your grandpa was in diapers, but while his films are certainly of their time, even the most jaded of modern audiences are won over by Lloyd's brash, exuberant charm. When one of his comic action sequences is in full flight you are very much in the moment—in fact, you're probably short of breath both from laughing yourself hoarse and from the suspense of wondering how the heck Lloyd will get himself out of this latest mess. The Freshman is a campus comedy featuring one memorable sequence filmed during an actual, 1924 UC Berkley/Stanford football game. It's widely regarded as Lloyd's best picture and was second only to Chaplin's The Gold Rush on the list of the most successful comedies of the silent era. The Internet Movie Database credits Lloyd with 208 films, but few of them are screened much now and even fewer are available for sale or rent. So this screening would be a grand thing even if it did not include hors d'oeuvres, authentic 1920s' entertainment by The Rhythm Rascals (and with a name like that, you know they're swell) and live musical accompaniment for the film. All proceeds go toward sorely needed research for Parkinson's disease, so you can spend the evening giggling and feel good about yourself for doing it. The Parkinson's N Movement Foundation presents The Freshman at Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea, (714) 990-7722. www.curtistheatre.com. Sat., 8 p.m. Advanced tickets, $60; $65 at the door; students $50.
“Best of the Best” from Banff Mountain Film Festival. The three-hour program features short films and featurettes from around the globe, all of them relating to mountain climbing, mountain sports or other aspects of mountain culture. The evening's featured film will be Alone Across Australia, chronicling adventurer Jon Muir's 2,500-kilometer 128-day odyssey to cross Australia on foot from the south coast to the north coast. Orange Coast College, Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview Rd., Costa Mesa, (714) 432-5599, Ext. 21058. Tues., 7 p.m. Advance tickets, $9; advance tickets for OCC students, $5; tickets at the door, $10.
The Battle of Algiers. Newsreel footage and reenactments are combined in this 1965 docudrama about the bloody Algerian war for independence. Filmmaker-in-residence Carl Franklin hosts as part of Chapman University's Entertainment Arts Forum. Chapman University, Argyros Forum 208, One University Dr., Orange, (714) 744-7694. Tues., 7 p.m. Free.
Bonnie and Clyde. Powerful, ultraviolent crime tale based on the true exploits of a dim-witted sociopathic bank robber and his only slightly smarter but just as vicious moll. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway turn in unforgettable star turns, with game support from the likes of Gene Hackman, Michael J. Pollard and a brief but memorable turn from a young Gene Wilder in his screen debut. It's the latest entry in Chapman University's History of Film series. Chapman University, Argyros Forum 208, One University Dr., Orange, (714) 744-7694. Wed., 4 p.m. Free.
Dust to Glory. The creators of Step Into Liquid return with a new documentary chronicling the dusty, dangerous Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race. This is the film's OC premiere, with proceeds benefiting the upcoming Newport Beach Film Festival. Regency Lido Theater, 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach. (949) 673-8350. Tues., 8 p.m. $10.
Easy Rider. Hugely influential road picture about skuzzy hippie bikers riding around doing skuzzy hippie biker things. Today it's chiefly of interest as a historical curio, one of those movies with acid trips that go on forever and guys with walrus mustaches getting wasted and pontificating on the Meaning of America. This is the kind of picture guaranteed to make you think that punk should have come along 10 years earlier, although it does offer early glimpses of two talents who would go on to better things: Jack Nicholson, who became a star following his supporting role in this picture, and Tony Basil of “Hey Mickey” fame. Basil looked 30 in the '60s, she looked 30 in the '80s, she looks 30 now; the woman is a vampire. Bay Theatre, 340 Main St., Seal Beach, (562) 431-9988. Fri., 10 p.m., Sun., 6 p.m.; Mon., 8 p.m. $6-$8.
The Passion of The Christ. Chapman University presents Mel Gibson's Christian snuff picture. Man, Jesus sure does get beat up a lot. Composer John Debney appears as part of the University's Industry Insider series. Chapman University, Argyros Forum 208, One University Dr., Orange, (714) 744-7694. Thurs., Mar. 31, 4 p.m. Free.
Pillow Talk. Doris Day and Rock Hudson star in this fizzy romantic comedy about two people who must share a phone line even though they dislike each other. Could the constant barbs they trade really be masking their true feelings? Tony Randall co-stars. Long Beach School for Adults Auditorium, 3701 E. Willow St., Long Beach, (562) 997-8000, ext. 7198. Fri., 7 p.m. $1.
Psycho. Chapman University presents this Alfred Hitchcock horror masterpiece. Anthony Perkins stars as hapless maniac Norman Bates, with Janet Leigh as the doomed blonde who unwisely attempts to draw him out of his shell one long, dark night. If you've never seen it, I've just completely spoiled the plot for you, but jeez, how the heck have you gone this long without seeing this movie? And no, that Gus Van Sant atrocity doesn't count. Chapman University, Argyros Forum 208, One University Dr., Orange, (714) 744-7694. Mon., 7 p.m. Free.
Shock. The always-wonderful Vincent Price stars in this 1946 chiller. An unhappily married shrink (Price) kills his wife, but the lady next door witnesses the crime. The neighbor is so traumatized she goes into shock . . . so her well-meaning husband puts her under the care of Price. Doh! The screening features discussion with locally based film authority, Dr. Arthur Taussig. Orange Coast College, Fine Arts Building, Room 116, 2701 Fairview Rd., Costa Mesa, (714) 432-5599. Fri., 6:30 p.m. $5-$6.
Sweet Sweetback's Baad Assss Song. Melvin Van Peebles' 1971 hit about Sweetback (Peebles himself, who also wrote, directed, produced and edited), a black man who goes on the run after attacking two nefarious white cops. Peebles' son, Mario Van Peebles, would later grow up to direct Baad Assss, a bittersweet biopic about Melvin's sometimes fearsome personality and his struggles as a low-budget, controversial filmmaker. Chapman University, Argyros Forum 208, One University Dr., Orange, (714) 744-7694. Thurs., Mar. 17, 4 p.m. Free.
Trainspotting. These Edwards South Coast Village revival shows typically feature cheery little movies starring Matthew Broderick or Billy Crystal. Well, Danny Boyle's grungy, profane tale of drug-addicted punks is what we might call a bit of a departure. See this thing and forever afterwards hearing Iggy Pop's “Lust for Life” in those ocean cruise ads will seem even more wrong. Edwards South Coast Village, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 540-1970. Wed., 9 p.m. $6-$9.
Ugetsu. Chapman University's Survey of World Cinema presents director Kenji Mizoguchi's 1953 film, with clips from various from Asian and Asian-influenced films, ranging from Kurosawa's Yojimbo to Tarantino's Kill Bill. There's even some Godzilla! This is certainly the most dizzyingly eclectic week we've had in Special Screenings for a long while. Norman Bates, Jesus Christ, Bonnie and Clyde, Vincent Price, Sweetback and Doris Day; go see 'em all, along with this show, then spend next weekend recovering in a catatonic haze. Chapman University, Argyros Forum 208, One University Dr., Orange, (714) 744-7694. Tues., 4 p.m. Free.
—Greg Stacy
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