Altman, Pacino and Hope and Crosby among weekend highlights

By Susan King

March 14, 2013 12 AM PT

An early film by Robert Atman, a sneak preview of Al Pacino as Phil Spector and a Bob Hope and Bing Crosby “Road” picture double bill are among the highlights this weekend.

The UCLA Film & Television Archive’s Festival of Preservation offers a rare screening of Altman’s 1969 drama “That Cold Day in the Park” Saturday evening at the Billy Wilder Theater. Sandy Dennis and Michael Burns star in this film, which was dismissed by both critics and audiences when released. The follow year, Altman hit big with “MASH.” UCLA Film & Television Archive

Film Independent at LACMA presents a sneak preview of the new HBO film “Phil Spector” on Thursday evening. The drama, which focuses on the record producer’s murder trial, stars Pacino and was written and directed by David Mamet, who will participate in a Q&A; session. The screening is full, but there will be a standby line. L.A. County Museum of Art

Hope and Crosby starred in several popular “Road” comedies during the 1940s and ‘50s and two of their best -- 1942’s “Road to Morocco” and 1946’s “Road to Utopia” -- screen late Sunday afternoon at the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre.

Two very different road pictures are screening Thursday evening at the Egyptian: David Lynch’s offbeat 1990 “Wild at Heart” with Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern and Steven Spielberg’s first feature, 1974’s “The Sugarland Express.”

Stuntman/director Hal Needham, who received an honorary Oscar last year, will be on hand to sign copies of his autobiography and discuss his career between screenings of his 1977 hit “Smokey and the Bandit” and the 1981 blockbuster “Cannonball Run” on Friday evening at the Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre.

The monthly “Retro Format Films on 8mm” at the Cinematheque’s intimate Spielberg Theatre at the Egyptian offers a rare chance Saturday evening to see the comedy shorts of silent clown Al Christie.

The Aero celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday afternoon with the charming 1959 Disney Irish fantasy “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” with a young Sean Connery, followed in the evening with John Ford’s valentine to Ireland-1952’s “The Quiet Man.” American Cinematheque

The New Beverly Cinema presents two films starring the Talking Heads genius David Byrne on Thursday evening: Jonathan Demme’s acclaimed 1984 concert film “Stop Making Sense” and the offbeat 1986 “True Stories,” which Byrne wrote, directed and stars in. New Beverly Cinema

The L.A. Indie Film Festival, Thursday through March 24 at the Let Live Theatre in Hollywood, features 70 films from 13 countries. Among the films featured are the L.A. premiere of “My Name is Faith,” the West Coast premiere of the documentary “Beauty and the Breast” and a thriller, “The Employer,” starring Malcolm McDowell. L.A. Indie Film Festival

The Farhang Foundation’s 5th annual Nowruz (Iranian new year celebration) at LACMA this weekend includes the 2013 Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival and awards ceremony Saturday evening at the Leo S. Bing Theater. There will be a screening of the top six entries and awards presented to the three finalists. On Sunday, the six films will also run on a loop in LACMA’s Brown Auditorium.

Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre features the 30th anniversary celebration of Peter Yates’ fantasy adventure “Krull” at midnight Friday. Star Ken Marshall will appear in person. Cinefamily

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