Los Angeles: Film
Feature films are often released in LA months (or years) before they play anywhere else in the world. Short seasons of foreign-language films are screened at the eight Laemmle Theaters. If you're after a golden-age atmosphere , head for one of the historic downtown movie palaces along Broadway, where the delirious furnishings may hold your attention longer than the all-action double bills. You can catch mainstream new releases in one of the many mall-based multiplexes, like the Beverly Center Cineplex, 8500 Beverly Blvd, West LA (tel 310/652-7760), AMC Century 14, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Century City (tel 310/553-8900) or the Universal City 18, at Universal Studios' CityWalk, San Fernando Valley (tel 818/508-0588).Bing Theater at the LA County Art Museum, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Mid-Wilshire tel 323/857-6010. Afternoon screenings of many neglected Hollywood classics. Matinees cost just $2, evening shows $8.
Chinese Theatre 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood tel 323/464-8186. Landmark cinema with stylish decor, giant screen and six-track stereo sound - absolutely the best place to see a big-budget flick; on opening weekends draws a cheering crowd.
Egyptian Theater 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood tel 323/466-FILM. Renovated showcase for classic and foreign films, in the middle of Hollywood, offering a wild design and frequent film festivals with an eclectic selection.
El Capitan Theater 6834 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood tel 323/467-7674. Another legendary Hollywood venue, restored to full glory and recently renovated for a second time. Expect to see plenty of animated and live-action Disney fare.
New Beverly Cinema 7165 Beverly Blvd, Mid-Wilshire tel 323/938-4038. Imaginative double bills for cult, art and classic films.
Nuart Theater 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, West LA tel 310/478-6379. Rare classics, foreign films and documentaries. Often the December screening room of choice for Oscar hopefuls, so be prepared for a lengthy line outside.
Orpheum 842 S Broadway, downtown tel 213/239-0939. The grandest of the remaining downtown movie palaces open to the public. The action-oriented fare may be insipid, but the French Renaissance and Baroque decor is not.
Rialto 1023 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena tel 626/799-9567. Aging Moorish and pre-Columbian revival palace, famed as the spot where Tim Robbins tracks down and kills a screenwriter in The Player .
Silent Movie 611 N Fairfax Ave, West LA tel 323/655-2510. As its name suggests, showings of silent Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Ramon Navarro thrillers and so on. Every show is accompanied by an organist.
Copyright Rough Guides Ltd as trustee for its authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. The Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd.
Copyright © 2006 United States.biz
