One incident, but four accounts

By Susan King

Oct. 8, 2009 12 AM PT

It’s a tough call for classic film lovers on Friday -- Kurosawa or Welles?

The beautifully restored print of Akira Kurosawa’s landmark 1950 drama “Rashomon” visits the Nuart Theatre for a one-week engagement beginning Friday. Toshiro Mifune, Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyo star in this groundbreaking examination of human nature that revolves around four people’s differing accounts of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife. www.landmark theatres.com

Effects pioneer

Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is featuring a newly struck print of Orson Welles’ 1941 masterwork “Citizen Kane” on Friday at the Linwood Dunn Theater. Academy governor Craig Barron hosts the event that celebrates the achievements of visual effects pioneer Dunn, for whom the theater is named. The Oscar-winning Dunn was responsible for the optical effects in “Kane.” Special guests include his daughter, Nancy Dunn, and visual effects artists Jonathan Erland, Michael Fink and Bill Taylor. www.oscars.org.

Fright night

The New Beverly Cinema presents its annual all-night horror show and fundraiser for the revival theater Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. Among the films being screened in the 12-hour marathon are 1981’s “The Burning” and “The House by the Cemetery” and 2002’s “Dog Soldiers.” www.newcinema.com

Traveling festival

The Ann Arbor Film Festival, which holds the distinction of being the original and longest-running indie festival in the U.S., began touring the country in 1964. The L.A. Filmforum presents the latest tour at the Echo Park Film Center on Sunday. The experimental, animation and documentary films hail from around the globe. www.lafilmforum/word press.com

Herzog presentation

The award-winning German filmmaker Werner Herzog will appear Sunday at the Aero Theatre for the American Cinematheque’s screening of his 1982 epic “Fitzcarraldo,” starring Klaus Kinski, and will sign copies of his new book, “Conquest of the Useless: Reflections From the Making of ‘Fitzcarraldo,’ ” before the screening nearby at Every Picture Tells a Story. www.american cinematheque.com

All in 3-D

REDCAT presents the West Coast premiere Monday of the live 3-D show, “Ken Jacobs: Toward the Depths of the Even Greater Depression: A Nervous Magic Lantern Performance.” www.redcat.org.

Classic lessons

Skirball Cultural Center’s latest Tuesday matinee free screening series explores “Hollywood and American Ideas of Race.” Scheduled for this week is 1934’s “Imitation of Life” with Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers. www.skirball .org

susan.king@latimes.com

THIS WEEKEND

“Bliss” A family condemns its 17-year-old daughter to death as part of an ancient moral code.

“Couples Retreat” Four couples from the Midwest on a tropical getaway must participate in therapy as part of the vacation package.

“The Damned United” Brian Clough’s doomed 44-day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football, Leeds United, in 1974.

“An Education” A 16-year-old becomes smitten with an older man who introduces her to the glittering world of 1960s London.

“Free Style” Against the odds, a young man is determined to win a spot on the motocross racing team.

“Good Hair” Chris Rock explores the way hairstyles affect the black community.

Also:

“Believe”

“The Horse Boy”

“Peter and Vandy”