American Cinematheque showcases overseas fare

THE American Cinematheque is going European -- at least for one week.

The showcase “EuroCinema: New Films From Europe” begins this evening at the Egyptian Theatre with the Los Angeles premiere of John Boorman’s newest film. “The Tiger’s Tail” is an Irish black comedy thriller starring frequent Boorman collaborator Brendan Gleeson as a property owner from humble origins who is now overextended and on the verge of a nervous breakdown until he comes across his doppelganger. Screening Friday at the Aero Theatre are two more L.A. premieres: German director Stefan Krohmer’s “Summer ‘04,” about a husband and wife who take their teenage son and his girlfriend on a holiday, and the 2005 Belgian import “Someone Else’s Happiness,” Fien Troch’s drama about what happens to a small village after a child is killed in a hit-and-run accident.

On tap for Sunday at the Aero is Claire Denis’ “Towards Mathilde,” a 2005 French documentary that follows the creation of a work-in-progress by choreographer Mathilde Monnier.

On a more retro note, the Autry National Center is starting a weekly Thursday-night series in which one can dine alfresco, go on a gallery tour and watch a western starring the squeaky-clean cowboy of yesterday, Gene Autry. Up first is one of his earliest, 1936’s “The Singing Cowboy,” which also happened to be his nickname. Among the 11 songs in the movie are “Rainbow Trail” and “My Old Saddle Pal.”

The UCLA Film and Television Archive’s “A Lady to Talk About: The Films of Barbara Stanwyck” centenary festival continues Sunday at the Billy Wilder Theater with 1948’s “Sorry, Wrong Number,” for which Stanwyck received her fourth and final Academy Award nomination. Based on the popular radio drama that premiered on the “Suspense” series, the thriller finds Stanwyck playing a rich, married invalid alone in her fancy San Francisco apartment who overhears a plot to murder her on the phone. In the second film Sunday night, the 1952 film noir “Clash by Night,” directed by Fritz Lang, Stanwyck is married to Paul Douglas but lusting after Robert Ryan. A young Marilyn Monroe also stars.

And this Monday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Great to Be Nominated” series continues with Philip Kaufman’s adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s “The Right Stuff.”

Though it didn’t take off with audiences back in 1983, the epic about America’s first astronauts has only soared in reputation over the decades. Nominated for eight Academy Awards including best picture, the film won Oscars for film editing, Bill Conti’s score, sound and sound effects editing. Cast members Kathy Baker, Veronica Cartwright and Mary Jo Deschanel, along with producer Irwin Winkler, are scheduled for a panel discussion.

Note: The L.A. Film Race, a competition that drew about two dozen teams that made movies in a 12-hour span last weekend, will screen the results tonight at 7 and 9 p.m. at Writers Boot Camp in Santa Monica. Info: filmracing.com/Cities/losangeles.htm.

weekend@latimes.com

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Screenings

EuroCinema

* “The Tiger’s Tail”: 7:30 p.m. today (Egyptian), 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Aero)

* “Summer ‘04” and “Someone Else’s Happiness”: 7:30 p.m. Friday (Aero)

* “Towards Mathilde”: 5 p.m. Sunday (Aero)

Where: Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica

Info: (323) 466-3456, americancinematheque.com

Gene Autry films

* “The Singing Cowboy”: dinner at 5 p.m. today, film at 7:30

Where: Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, L.A.

Info: (323) 667-2000, Ext. 300; www.autrynationalcenter.org

Stanwyck centennial

* “Sorry, Wrong Number” and “Clash by Night”: 7 p.m. Sunday

Where: Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.

Info: (310) 206-FILM, www.cinema.ucla.edu

‘Great to Be Nominated’

* “The Right Stuff”: 7:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills

Info: (310) 247-3600, oscars.org