The American Cinematheque at the Aero and Egyptian Theatres
presents a two-week retrospective of the work of director Otto Preminger,
January 17 through 31, featuring several rarely seen films not yet available on
DVD.
Preminger, who died an octogenarian in 1986, was a
controversial, polarizing figure throughout his life —
first truly independent producer/director. He was famous as a flamboyant,
outspoken personality (arguably no filmmaker other than Alfred Hitchcock had a
more recognizable public persona) and a self-promoter whose frequent on-set
tantrums were widely reported upon. Preminger also achieved fame on screen (via
Stalag 17), and as Mr. Freeze opposite
Adam West on television’s Batman.
One of the great masters of American film, Preminger worked
in a remarkable variety of forms, and it’s this diversity that is honored here:
musicals (Porgy and Bess), film noir
(Laura, Angel Face, The Thirteenth
Letter, Bunny Lake Is Missing),
romantic comedy (The Moon Is Blue), courtroom
drama (Anatomy of a Murder), political
exposé (Advise and Consent) and otherwise
epic drama (Exodus, Hurry Sundown).
tempestuous, many actors did some of their finest work under Preminger’s
direction, and in-person guests for this retrospective include Carol Lynley (Bunny Lake Is Missing), John Phillip Law
and Robert Hooks (Hurry Sundown), Don
Murray (Advise and Consent) and Eva
Marie Saint (Exodus). Author Foster
Hirsch will also be selling and signing his new biography, Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King, on most nights of the
series.
The Aero Theatre
is located at
in
Egyptian Theatre is located at
Hollywood Boulevard
between
and
in
Tickets for both venues are available through Fandango, but for 24-hour recorded information on tickets,
directions and each site’s upcoming schedule, phone (323) 466-FILM, or visit the Cinematheque’s eponymous
Web site by clicking here.