Bogie Fest rolls on as we revisit one of the most beloved films of all time: Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca!

The story unfolds in the titular Moroccan city, a haven for refugees seeking passage to the Americas. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), the jaded owner of a popular nightclub, unexpectedly reunites with his former lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), who arrives with her husband, resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). As Rick grapples with lingering feelings for Ilsa, he must decide whether to help the couple escape the clutches of the Nazis, risking his own safety in the process.

With its unforgettable performances and a rich blend of romance and moral dilemmas, Casablanca earned three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and remains one of the most celebrated films in cinematic history. Bogart’s role as Rick continues to be the go-to for fans of hard-shelled man with a soft heart. 

The passion, the violence, the birth of America’s Gilded Age.

Flickrhappy is back at The Frida Cinema, bringing with them a restoration of Milos Forman’s 1981 rarely-screened epic Ragtime!

America at the dawn of the 20th century bursts to life in this sweeping, ambitious adaptation of E. L. Doctorow’s celebrated novel. Set in a nation electrified by upheaval, Ragtime weaves together the lives of dreamers and revolutionaries as their stories collide in a rapidly changing New York. A proud Black pianist seeks justice after an act of racist cruelty. A glamorous chorus girl becomes the center of a national scandal. Historical figures – including magician Harry Houdini, activist Emma Goldman, and tycoon J. P. Morgan – drift through a world where wealth and poverty sit side by side, and where the promise of America feels both intoxicating and fragile.

Featuring a remarkable ensemble cast,including screen legend James Cagney in his final film performance, Ragtime is a powerful tapestry of music and hope.

This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Flickrhappy is allowing Frida Cinema members to use their regular discounts to this event! 

The Frida Cinema is proud to present a special 75th Anniversary screening of The Day the Earth Stood Still, one of the most important science fiction films ever made whose message has only grown more urgent with time! Plus, get there early and see the iconic 8-Foot-Tall Gort Robot live-on-stage!

Starring Michael Rennie in his unforgettable performance as Klaatu, this 20th Century Fox landmark follows an alien emissary who arrives on Earth with a message that could save humanity…or doom it! At his side the towering Gort Robot whose silent presence became a legend of science fiction design. Directed by Academy Award winner Robert Wise (West Side Story, The Sound Of Music, The Haunting, Star Trek: The Motion Feature) The Day the Earth Stood Still rejected spectacle in favor of moral urgency during a time of high-anxiety, making it evergreen filmmaking at its finest. 

Bernard Herrmann’s revolutionary score, featuring eerie theremins and groundbreaking electronic instrumentation, forever changed the sound of Science Fiction cinema. Lauded worldwide and praised by critics for its intelligence and restraint, the film was selected by the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.

Arnold Leibovit, a personal friend of Robert Wise, will host the evening and present two more of George Pal’s Academy Award-winning Puppetoons he’s restored: “A Hatful of Dreams” featuring a DC Comics use of Superman and “The Gay Knighties” with a mischievous Ogre. 

Also: please join us for Bonus pre-screening of The Puppetoon Movie – A Legacy Revisited, at 5:00PM, a behind-the-scenes look into the making of The Puppetoon Movie with Joe Dante (Gremlins),  Floyd Norman(Walt Disney animator – Sleeping Beauty,  The Jungle Book),  Peter Lord (Aardman Animations – Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit),  Dennis Muren (Star Wars, Jurassic Park),  Phil Tippett (Starship Troopers), Mick Garris (Critters 2), Bob Kurtz (Animation Director), Marc Caballero & Seamus Walsh (Screen Novelties Directors), Art Clokey (Gumby Creator), Dallas McKennon (Actor), Jerry Beck (animation historian) and others. Produced & Directed by Arnold Leibovit with archival narration by Paul Frees. This showing will coincide with the new restoraton Blu-ray release of The Puppetoon Movie.

4:00PM Doors Open 
5:00PM A Puppetoon Movie: A Legacy Revisited documentary (introduction by Arnold Leibovit)
7:00PM Two Puppetoons shorts + The Day The Earth Stood Still (introduction by Arnold Leibovit)

Tickets are $20 to this event. Frida Cinema comp passes and member discounts do not apply. 

Discover the true story of one of America’s brightest stars…that faded too soon.

Celebrate the life and legacy of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez with a special birthday weekend presentation of the biographical drama Selena from 1997.

Starring Jennifer Lopez in her breakthrough role, the film traces Selena’s rise from performing at family gatherings in Texas to becoming the “Queen of Tejano Music.” Guided by her devoted family, she navigates fame, love, and ambition while breaking barriers and bringing her music to a wider audience.

A heartfelt tribute to a beloved icon, Selena captures the enduring spirit of an artist whose impact continues to resonate far beyond her years.

High. How are you? Gregg Araki’s Smiley Face is finally coming to The Frida Cinema as part of our 4/20 weekend festivities!

Jane, a struggling but perpetually stoned actress, has a busy day ahead. She has several important tasks on her list, including buying more marijuana. Even though she already has a good start on the day’s planned drug use, she eats her roommate’s pot-laced cupcakes and embarks on a series of misadventures all over Los Angeles.

Smiley Face has grown over time from a modest, under-seen stoner comedy into a cult favorite, especially among fans of offbeat indie cinema and Gregg Araki’s work. At the center of the whole affair is Anna Faris, whose performance is now widely considered one of the great modern comedic turns, and for good reason.