For those looking for some post-holiday escape, the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre presents Rediscovered
Italian Classics, screening January 4-6. This all-too-short weekend showcases rare prints of some of
the most difficult-to-see Italian cinema classics — films that were
virtually ignored during their initial American releases. The line-up includes
a new 35mm print of Bernardo Bertolucci’s taboo-smashing Luna, starring Jill
Clayburgh, Fred Gwynne and Roberto Benigni; Luchino
Visconti’s The Leopard, starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale and Alain
Delon; and Valerio Zurlini’s Black Jesus, screening in an IB Technicolor print. Also screening is Michelangelo Antonioni’s
feature from 1982, Identification of a Woman, which was not exhibited widely in
America until the mid-1990s. Both Identification of a Woman and Luna are not
available on DVD.

The
historic Egyptian Theatre is located at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, between Highland and Las
Palmas, in Hollywood. Tickets are available through Fandango, but for 24-hour recorded
information on directions, show times and the theater’s upcoming schedule,
phone (323) 466-FILM, or visit
the Cinematheque’s eponymous Web site by clicking here.