Last Remaining Seats: Scarface June 27, 2007

Another fantastic season of classic films and live entertainment in the historic theatres of Los Angeles.

Scarface
(United Artists, 1932, 93 minutes, black/white)

Paul Muni thrilled audiences with his riveting performance as the title character in this notorious gangland tale of power, incest, and betrayal. Set in 1920s Chicago, the film’s lurid content sparked a legendary censorship firestorm that ultimately led producer Howard Hughes to pull the film from circulation for decades. Remade in 1981 with Al Pacino in the Muni role, the original remains an iconic standard of the gangster movie genre. Directed by Howard Hawks; co-starring George Raft, Ann Dvorak, Boris Karloff, and Karen Morley.

Print courtesy Universal Pictures.

Special Program: Popular swing band Mora’s Modern Rhythmists performs tunes of the 1930s featuring music by Gus Arnheim. Also on the program is the Hearst Metrotone News from December 24, 1932.

Print courtesy of The UCLA Film and Television Archive.

Alex Theatre (1925)
216 North Brand Blvd., Glendale

The Alex Theatre is a beloved Glendale landmark. Designed by architects Charles R. Selkirk and Arthur G. Lindley, the Alexander Theatre, as it was originally known, features Greek and Egyptian motifs. The auditorium is designed as an “atmospherium” with an open air illusion, creating the feeling of being enclosed in an ancient garden. The distinctive Art Deco neon tower and starburst were added in the 1940s by S. Charles Lee. The Glendale Redevelopment Agency purchased the Alex in 1992, and dedicated $6.2 million to its restoration.

For more information, visit www.alextheatre.org.

Official Website: http://www.laconservancy.org/remaining/2007.php4#scarface