Sally Field to hold court at Aero; ‘Auntie Mame’ at the Egyptian

Two-time Oscar winner Sally Field (“Norma Rae,” “Places in the Heart’), currently starring as Mary Todd Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” will be chatting about her long career Sunday at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre.

“Ed Wood” screenwriter Larry Karaszewski will be leading the discussion with Field, who won the New York Film Critics Circle supporting actress award last week. The evening will also feature clips from her film and TV work.

Rosalind Russell was the toast of Broadway in 1956 as the irrepresible “Auntie Mame.” And two years later, she starred in the vivacious film version, for which she received her final lead actress Oscar nomination. The Cinematheque and Outfest presents their annual screening of the classic Thursday evening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. “Auntie Mame” also kicks off the Cinematheque’s “Holiday Spirit on the Big Screen” festival.

Oscar-winning actor Christian Bale had his first starring role in Spielberg’s 1987 World War II epic, “Empire of the Sun,” which screens Thursday at the Aero.

The Cinematheque’s “LA EigaFest: New Films From Japan,” co-presented by the Japan Film Festival, commences Friday evening at the Egyptian with 2012’s “Kenshin,” a live-action film based on the bestselling manga. Director Keishi Ohtomo will appear in person. The screening is sold out. Set for Saturday are 2012’s “Helter Skelter” and “Thermae Romae.”

Rounding out the fest are 2012’s animated “Wolf Children” and “The Floating Castle.”

The Cinematheque’s Aero shines the “Spotlight on French Animation” Saturday and Sunday. Screening Saturday afternoon is a family adventure, 2012’s “Zarafa,” with 2011’s “The Rabbi’s Cat” and “The Painting” on tap for Sunday evening.

The Cinematheque, the Larry Edmunds Bookshop and the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles team up for the screening Saturday afternoon at the Egyptian of 1944’s “Hollywood Canteen.” The film features some of Warner Bros. biggest stars of the day. Lisa Mitchell and Bruce Torrence, will present a slide show and sign their book, “The Hollywood Canteen: Where the Greatest Generation Danced With the Most Beautiful Girls in the World.

UCLA Film & Television Archive’s “That Signature Style: The Films of Mitchell Leisen” continues Friday evening at the Billy Wilder Theater with the poignant 1940 “Remember the Night,” penned by Preston Sturges and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray.

The archive’s free Sunday matinee at the Wilder is the delightful 1934 Victor Herbert operetta, “Babes in Toyland,” starring Laurel and Hardy. www.cinema.ucla.edu

The New Bevelry Cinema kicks off the weekend with one of Preston Sturges’ landmark comedies, 1941’s “Sullivan’s Travels,” with Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake. The film screens Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, along with the Coen brothers’ Depression era comedy from 2000, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” starring George Clooney and John Goodman.

Joe Mantegna, schedule permitting, is set to attend the 25th anniversary screening Saturday evening of David Mamet’s feature directorial debut, “House of Games,” which also stars the playwright/director’s first wife, Lindsay Crouse.

The New Beverly’s Grindhouse Film Festival presents its annual holiday show Tuesday evening with the double bill of 1974’s “Black Christmas,” with Olivia Hussey, and 1987’s “Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2.” www.newbevcinema.com

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s “2012: A Kubrick Odyssey” concludes Saturday at the Leo S. Bing Theater with the visionary filmmaker’s final film, 1999’s “Eyes Wide Shut,” starring then husband and wife Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The film was released after Kubrick’s March 7, 1999, death. https://www.lacma.org

Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre presents the 30th anniversary screening of Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s “The Dark Crystal” on Monday evening. www.cinefamily.org

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