A holiday tradition gets its 34th annual airing at the Grand Illusion this week: Frank Capra's 1946 classic "It's a Wonderful Life," that matchless tale of a regular guy who discovers...
A holiday tradition gets its 34th annual airing at the Grand Illusion this week: Frank Capra’s 1946 classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” that matchless tale of a regular guy who discovers on Christmas Eve that life is indeed worth living and that every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings. Bring a loved one and bask in the happy glow that this movie always brings, no matter how many times you’ve seen it. Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., Seattle; call 206-523-3935 or see www.grandillusioncinema.org for showtimes.
The Northwest Film Forum’s two screens offer a dark/light contrast this week. Jim Van Bebber’s blood-drenched “The Manson Family” (see review on page 20) occupies one theater, for those in the mood for something gritty. Across the hall, moviegoers of a lighter frame of mind can catch Leo McCarey’s enchanting 1937 screwball “The Awful Truth,” featuring one of my favorite lines of dialogue of all time: “I wouldn’t go on living with you if you were dipped in platinum.” Cary Grant and Irene Dunne play a squabbling couple trying to get divorced; watch for a nice supporting turn by the terrier who plays Asta in “The Thin Man.” Both at NWFF through Thursday, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle; call 206-267-5380 or go to www.nwfilmforum.org.
Most Read Entertainment Stories
Also at Northwest Film Forum, “You Better Watch Out” (aka “Christmas Evil”) screens at 9 and 11 tonight and tomorrow, with director Lewis Jackson on hand. The film, a 1980 thriller about a psycho who disguises himself as Santa Claus, has taken on cult status, and John Waters has described it as his favorite holiday film. Tonight’s Q & A session will be videotaped for possible inclusion on a future DVD edition, so bring your questions. Tonight only, Northwest Film Forum members get in free.
And fans of the made-in-Washington film “What the #$*! Do We Know!?, ” aka “What the Bleep Do We Know!?” (still playing, after many months, at the Uptown) can gather at East-West Bookshop on 6500 Roosevelt Way N.E. this Saturday at 2 p.m. for a “Bleep-In.” Filmmaker Betsy Chasse will be on hand to give away tickets, posters and T-shirts, as well to autograph copies of “The Little Book of Bleeps,” which will be available for sale. For more information, see www.whatthebleep.com or call the bookstore at 206-523-3726.
Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com