Billy Wilder Theater

Kudos to the UCLA Film & Television Archive Program. The Billy Wilder Theater, with pink leather comfortable seats (and two brown ones ala «Billy Wilder’s» seats*), offers a nice size theater and screen. I recently attended a screening of Dingomaro (Iran, 2013), and it was a beautiful documentary.
Located in Westwood Village at the Hammer Museum on the corner of Westwood and Wilshire Boulevards, it offers $ 3 parking after 6pm — remarkable for the area. A nice little courtyard provides «necking» opportunities if you get there early.
Nothing for sale, no concessions, nothing… and you can’t even bring a drink or a bite of food (unless you sneak it in). So, eat before or after (800 degrees, Napa Valley Grille, Palomino) — or beware of the sounds of the belly.
* It’s okay, you can sit in them.

Last night was my first visit to the UCLA Film & Television Archive. The theater itself was fine and the projection was all right. The audience, though, was unbearable (and I spent my formative movie-​going years at Doc Films in Chicago, so I like to think I’ve got a high tolerance for audience barbarism). During the first half of the program, one person fell asleep and snored like a lumberjack until someone woke her up at the intermission. Then, during the second half, an old woman (the spitting image of the witch from The Sword in the Stone, it was uncanny) started loudly unwrapping and chewing candy with her mouth open. I have literally never heard someone make this much noise eating in my entire life. I don’t think I could even replicate the sound if I tried. At one point, I turned around to kindly ask her to shut the fuck up, but even my pleas and the disgusted glares of other patrons seated nearby yielded no results. When I realized there was nothing to be done, I moved to a different part of the theater, only to find myself seated in front of a group of students who carried on a conversation at full volume for the duration of the movie. Anyway, for the sake of my sanity and the safety of my fellow audience members, I’m never going back again.

Worth the drive to get here… busy Westwood! The theater itself in inside the Hammer Museum. Very quaint and modern. Love the neon accents. Seats are a cool red ‘pleather’…wish the rows offered a bit more leg room though. If they’re showing a film that you haven’t seen on the big screen, definitely make a visit. The screen itself is a little like a big square so not as huge as I expected.

Great little theater! Has great screenings with talks with the directors, actors, etc. The outside is really beautiful also with a nice courtyard area. Great intimate space.

The UCLA Film & Television Archive Programs featured at the Billy Wilder Theater offer cool opportunities to watch films no longer playing on a big screen. Currently there is a program called «Universal Pictures: Celebrating 100 Years» and the calendar is full of great films that can be viewed in original print, new restorations and/​or with live Q&A sessions… movies like To Kill a Mockingbird and The Sting. Later this week, they are showing Jaws and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. I can’t wait to experience these classics in theater!
Unfortunately, no concessions are sold or even allowed inside the theater. The seats are fairly comfortable, but there is little leg room. No chatterboxes in this moviegoer crowd though and there is $ 3 parking after 6:00 pm. Tickets are $ 10 and can be purchased online or at the box office prior to showtime.
It’s something you should check out at least once. Maybe even surprise your date with a unique and thoughtful night out ;)

The Billy Wilder Theater (should be Theatre) is a great place to see classic restored films from UCLA and other archives. Projection is great and it’s nice to see a theatre that has curtains to cover the screen. If I may be picky, whoever designed the seating layout should be whipped with a wet noodle. There is poor leg room between the rows. Otherwise the seats themselves are comfy. Also how about fixing the neon wall lighting that is burned out? Parking inside the building is easy and cheap — $ 3.00. Recommended.

This theater is one of the best places to catch a film in Los Angeles. It really represents the gold standard of repertory cinema houses for me. If I’m not mistaken, it’s one of the few projection booths that can screen every form of moving image available — from nitrate to blu-​ray. Mix that with the depth of selection you get when the programming is handled by an award winning, world famous institution like the UCLA Film & Television Archive; and you can quickly understand what a magical place this is. If you haven’t been yet, you gotta check it out. Double bills are two for the price of one!

The addition of the Billy Wilder Theater, inside the Hammer Museum in Westwood, is an asset to LA. For anyone who loves repertory cinema– classic, foreign, art films, etc. – this place is for you.
FIrst, you can see GREAT movies. This weekend, my GF & I are enjoying the second installment in a series of restored Hollywood pre-​code films from the Paramount/​Universal vaults. These are rare early 1930s movies that often have risqué themes, which haven’t been seen in some cases since the thirties! Thank you UCLA archivists and film restorers – you are heroic! Coming up in March, one of my favorite eerie beautiful haunting Val Lewton 1940s horror films «I Walked with a Zombie.» I’m excited to see this on the big screen.
Second, they often have cool guest speakers to introduce and discuss the films, e.g. this month great cinematographer Roger Deakins is presenting the French 1969 classic by JP Melville, An Army of Shadows.
Finally, the space is very comfortable, and I even like the pink and arty neon interior. The seats are comfortable, and they open and close the big pink curtain like you’re supposed to. Also, everyone who goes there loves movies so they don’t talk during the screenings. If that isn’t a reason to love this place, what is?
By the way, the prices are the same as any other movie theater, though they do have discounts. Plus, there is no concession stand, so there’s no popcorn munching during the films.

Bright fuchsia carpets and seats, located in the courtyard level of the Hammer Museum in Westwood. Opened in 2006, films are shown in their original formats. Clean, spacious, mid-​sized theater. Screenings, stage performances, multi-​media lectures, film maker talks, and concerts. With the resources of the UCLA film archive, this theater presents films from around the world, silent classics, independent projects, documentaries, etc.
Currently, a Barbara Stanwick tribute thru June 10^th, double feature. A series of five films, Los Angeles Destroys Itself, starts June 23^rd. The crowd is quiet, older and sophisticated. On the day we were there, one of the child actresses was in the audience. Box office tickets go on sale an hour before showtime. 10 minute intermission between films if double feature. Tickets $ 9, parking $ 3 in the building. Price is the same if you miss the first of a double feature. Academy award winning director Billy Wilder was a resident of Westwood, co-​wrote and directed Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, The Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot.
For their public events calendar, see their website:
ALL HAMMER PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE FREE. Tickets are required, and are available at the Billy Wilder Theater Box Office one hour prior to start time. Limit one ticket per person on a first come, first served basis. Hammer members receive priority seating, subject to availability. Reservations not accepted, RSVPs not required.
Parking is available under the museum for $ 3 after 6:00p.m.