Art Deco Centennial Celebration! Art Deco Onscreen!

The “Modern Style” as Art Deco was originally known, rapidly found its way to the movie screen after debuting on the world stage at the 1925 Exposition of Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris. By the 1930s “Modernism” had become a symbol of a contemporary and luxurious lifestyle and the use of it readily spanned genres.

In our partnership with UCLA Film & Television Archive we explore Art Deco Art Direction in a Marx Brothers comedy (MONKEY BUSINESS, 1931), a pre-code horror film (THE BLACK CAT, 1934) and an early representation of the style in a 1924 French sci fi/drama (L’INHUMAINE) that was lauded for its modern design at the 1925 Paris Exposition. Marcel L’Herbier, the director of L’INHUMAINE sought to draw the various applied and fine arts together to create a visual feast of modern art. Paul Poiret designed the costumes, Fernand Légercreated the laboratory set, René Lalique supplied artwork for the interiors and architect Robert Mallet-Stevens designed the sets. All of L’Herbier’s collaborators figured prominently at the 1925 Paris Exposition as they were important artistic contributors of their era. L’Herbier also cast other artistic luminaries of the period in a 2,000 person mob scene. Reportedly Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, Erik Satie, Man Ray and Ezra Pound are in the crowd. The film premiered at the opulent Madeleine Theater in Paris in November 1924, six months before the Exposition.

SCHEDULE:

Friday, August 22 at 7:30 PM - Double Feature

MONKEY BUSINESS (1931) followed by THE BLACK CAT (1934)

Saturday, August 23 at 7:30 PM

L’INHUMAINE (1924)

Speakers to be announced.

We are pleased to partner with the UCLA Film & Television Archive on this special series highlighting the Art Deco influence in cinema. We hope to be able to present more Art Deco in the Movies programming and are deeply grateful that UCLA Film & Television Archive took us on for this inaugural series.

Series programmed by Margot Gerber, Art Deco Society of Los Angeles and Senior Public Programmer Paul Malcolm. UCLA notes written by Paul Malcolm. Special thanks to Margot Gerber, Art Deco Society of Los Angeles.

Special thanks to our community partner: UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.

TICKETS:

Tickets to all programs are FREE! The box office opens one hour before showtime. The theater doors open approximately 30 minutes before showtime. No reservations are accepted in advance. You must appear in person on the day of the event to claim your ticket. ADSLA is not handling the ticketing in any form for these movie screenings.

Admission to all public programs is free unless otherwise noted. No advance reservations. Your seat will be assigned to you when you pick up your ticket at the box office. Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis.

LOCATION:

These screenings are at the Billy Wilder Theatre inside the Hammer Museum in Westwood. The Museum has a paid parking lot in the building. As this is a new construction facility it complies with ADA regulations.

Lulu restaurant and bar is onsite for a pre-movie dinner or cocktails.

Special Note:

We advertised our intention to present a dazzling opening night at a historic movie theater, but unfortunately we were unable to find a venue for the imagined event. In the end, price and venue attributes and restrictions were an insurmountable obstacle. We hope to reprise this concept at a future date!