Salutes to director, funny guy

A cineaste who began his career as a reporter profiling such Hollywood icons as Howard Hawks, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock, Peter Bogdanovich became a writer-director in his own right in the late 1960s. Bogdanovich will be discussing his craft this weekend at the American Cinematheque’s tribute to the filmmaker at the Egyptian Theatre.

Tonight, Bogdanovich presents the director’s cuts of his 1971 triumph “The Last Picture Show,” as well as his 1981 romantic comedy “They All Laughed” with Audrey Hepburn, John Ritter, Ben Gazzara and Dorothy Stratten -- the Playboy Playmate the filmmaker fell in love with who was subsequently murdered by her husband. On Friday, he’ll also present the director’s cuts of his 1976 valentine to the early days of Hollywood, “Nickelodeon,” and the 1985 drama “Mask.” The festival concludes Saturday with two of his best comedies, 1973’s “Paper Moon,” for which 10-year-old Tatum O’Neal won a supporting actress Oscar, and 1972’s screwball farce, “What’s Up, Doc?” with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal.

Don Knotts is best known for his multi-Emmy-Award-winning role as the high-strung Deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show.” After he left the series in the mid-1960s, Knotts made several comedies for Universal. The Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre pays homage to Knotts on Sunday with a double bill of 1969’s “The Love God?,” in which Knotts plays a Hugh Hefner-esque playboy, and the 1966 hit “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken.” Screenwriter Larry Karaszewski (“Ed Wood”) hosts the tribute, which also features a discussion with comedian Dana Gould and Knotts’ daughter, Karen. www.americancinematheque.com

Happy 30th

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Woody Allen’s classic comedy “Manhattan” and Carroll Ballard’s beloved “The Black Stallion” with screenings tonight and Friday, respectively, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater of newly struck prints from the Academy Film Archive. www.oscars.org.

Munchkin Land

Jerry Maren, who played one of the Munchkins in “The Wizard of Oz,” is the special guest Saturday at the third-annual Made in Culver City program. The event features a free screening of the 1939 classic that was made at MGM in Culver City. The screening takes place at City Hall Courtyard. www.culvercity.org.

--

susan.king@latimes.com