Around Town: Steven Spielberg and a rare 'Trip to the Moon'

The American Cinematheque is celebrating the early films of Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg this week. The Aero Theatre is featuring two of his sci-fi classics: 1982's blockbuster "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" -- this is the 2002 extended cut re-release not the original -- and his first foray into the sci-fi genre, 1977's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." And on Wednesday, the Egyptian presents the 40th anniversary screening of "Duel," the ABC TV movie that put Spielberg on the map as a filmmaker. Dennis Weaver stars in this lively thriller as a businessman driving on a stretch of deserted highway who suddenly finds himself being menaced by an unseen truck driver. The film did so well in the ratings it also had a brief theatrical release. Screening along with "Duel" is the automotive thriller "Vanishing Point," which is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. http://www.americancinematheque.com

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" also is this week's flick at the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest on Saturday evening at the Northridge City Little League. http://www.outdoorcinemafoodfest.com

One of the sensations of this year's Cannes Film Festival was the re-premiere of George Melies' seminal 1902 fantasy film, "A Trip to the Moon," which was featured in its newly restored, hand-colored version. The film will be screening Tuesday at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theatre, along with several other silent goodies, including a restored "A Trip Down Market Street," a 1906 film shot in San Francisco just days before the famous earthquake hit. Tom Burton, head of the preservation department at Technicolor in L.A. who was in charge of the restoration of "Trip," and historian Serge Bromberg of Lobster Films, will be discussing the films. http://www.oscars.org

The Aero Theatre presents Joel and Ethan Coen's 1987 comedy "Raising Arizona" on Thursday evening. Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter play a married couple with baby fever who can't conceive and so decide to kidnap a tyke. http://www.americancinematheque.com

The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre offers numerous screenings of the 2010 documentary "Gainsbourg and His  Girls" on Thursday and Friday. Screening Friday evening before the documentary is Maurice Pialat's "L'Enfance Nue," his 1968 drama about a damaged foster child. On tap for Saturday is a screening of the 2011 film, "A  Horrible Way to Die," directed by Adam Wingard. A cast and crew Q&A follows the screening. Following "Die" is the 1987 oddity, "The Garbage Pail Kids"; stars MacKenzie Astin and Arturo Gil will appear in person, schedule permitting. On Sunday, Kel Mitchell will be on hand for a Q&A after the screening of his 1997 comedy "Good Burger," directed by Brian Robbins. Cinefamily believes that every movie is interesting for at least five minutes. So audiences on Labor Day will see the first five minutes of 15 unknown movies and then vote on which one they want to see in its entirety. On Tuesday, animation historian Jerry Beck presents educational and unusual cartoons, including the 1959 Oscar-nominated "Donald in Mathmagic Land." Rounding out the week on Wednesday are the 1924 silent comedy "Changing Husbands," starring one of John Gilbert's many wives, Leatrice Joy, as well two shorts with Oliver Hardy. http://www.cinefamily.org

Jesse Lerner's found footage collage, "Atomic Sublime," screens Thursday at the 7 Dudley Cinema at Beyond Baroque. Lerner will be appearing in person. http://www.laughtears.com

The Echo Park Film Center presents its quarterly "Open Screen" on Thursday evening in which filmmakers can show their latest work. The only caveat is that the film can't be over 10 minutes. http://www.echoparkfilmcenter.org

Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery presents two films for Labor Day weekend: Tim Burton's 1990 film "Edward Scissorhands," which marked his first collaboration with Johnny Depp, screens Saturday evening, and Rob Reiner's feature directorial debut, the 1984 mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap," is on tap for Sunday evening. http://www.cinespia.org

The New Beverly's Saturday midnight screening is the original black-and-white 1982 thriller "The Forbidden Zone," directed by Richard Elfman. http://www.newbevcinema.com  

Broadway director Joshua Logan made his feature directorial debut with 1955's Oscar-nominated best picture "Picnic," based on the play by William Inge. Screening Tuesday afternoon at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the romance set in Kansas stars William Holden and Kim Novak. http://www.lacma.org

Skirball kicks off its free Tuesday matinee series of Alfred Hitchcock classics this month with 1946's uber-romantic spy thriller, "Notorious," with Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and a scene-stealing Claude Rains. http://www.skirball.org

Auteur Henry Jaglom will be on hand at the Aero Theatre on Wednesday evening for a screening of his 1990 indie "Eating: A Very Serious Comedy About Women and Food," which features Mary Crosby, Frances Bergen and Nelly Alard. http://www.americancinematheque.com

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-- Susan King

Photo: Steven Spielberg. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times