Screening Room: War films, including ‘The Dirty Dozen’ and ‘The Big Red One’ at the Egyptian Theatre

The American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre is commemorating Memorial Day with a quartet of terrific war films.

Friday’s offerings are a pulsating double bill from director Robert Aldrich — 1967’s adventure “The Dirty Dozen”, in which tough-nosed Lee Marvin whips a group of misfit criminals into fighting shape to take on a suicide mission during World War II, and his 1955 masterpiece, “Attack”, set during the Battle of the Bulge and featuring a never-better performance from Eddie Albert as a cowardly commander. Jack Palance and Marvin are also in this gritty action-drama.

FOR THE RECORD:
Screening Room: The Screening Room column in Thursday’s Calendar section said that the Echo Park Film Center would be presenting “Experimental Acquisitions: An Animation Celebration” on Friday. The program will screen next Friday, June 4. —

Director Sam Fuller saw heavy fighting in the European theater during WWII and that experience fueled his graphic, gutsy war flicks, including 1980’s “The Big Red One,” which screens Saturday. The Egyptian is offering the reconstructed version of this underrated drama starring Marvin and Mark Hamill. Also on tap is Fuller’s seminal 1951 Korean War film, “The Steel Helmet.” https://www.egyptiantheatre.com

Ready for a laugh?

The Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre celebrates the holiday with four comedies. The fun starts Thursday evening with a Chevy Chase double feature — 1983’s ” National Lampoon’s Vacation” and the enjoyable 1985 hit “Fletch”, in which he plays an L.A. reporter.

And it’s a “Bad News” Saturday at the Aero with 1976’s classic “The Bad News Bears,” starring the always wonderful Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal, as well as the so-so 1977 sequel, “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training.” https://www.aerotheatre.com

Student works

The Echo Park Film Center gets highly animated Friday with “Experimental Acquisitions: An Animation Celebration,” a screening that features the final projects from the students of the organization’s Adult Animation Workshop as well as animated shorts from several local animators. Nancy Jean Tucker hosts the free event. https://www.echoparkfilmcenter.org

Classics at the cemetery

Cinespia’s summer screening series at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery presents the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock classic “North By Northwest” on Saturday night and the 1984 Prince musical “Purple Rain” on Sunday night. https://www.cinespia.org

susan.king@latimes.com

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