Landmark Westwood Theatre

In an October 1968 issue of Box Office Magazine,it was noted that French director Claude LeLouch’s classic,“A Man and A Woman”,had just begun it’s third year playing at this thatre. It originally opened at The Crest,a few blocks away.

They are also embarking on some first-run programming, opening Chris Morris' controversial comedy FOUR LIONS on Friday November 5th, and the Asian/Indian restaurant comedy TODAY’S SPECIAL two weeks later on the 19th.

Very good considering the movie has been out for six weekends and is a move-over for the Regent…

In light of what is happening with the National, the Rialto and other single-screeners, I was a bit disappointed that the Cinematreasures are holding their meeting to discuss theatre preservation etc. at the brand-spanking-new Landmark 12!!! Less than 2 miles away from Westwood Village, the densest grouping of open single screeners in the country. Are they serious? Are they serious about preservation?

I expressed my disappointment here:
http://cinematreasures.org/news/17409_0_1_0_C/

Feel free to express your feelings as well.

BradE41, the zoning only has to do with the theatres in Westwood area. The Landmark 12 complex is in West Los Angeles/Rancho Park. So withever parking/zoning in that area will count there, not at the Regent Theatre. In your post of May 26th 2005, to confirm that Pacific Theatres did book the Regent and Plaza Theatre for Laemmele Theatres.

I think Landmark will keep it running. But I wonder if the zoning will change that The Landmark 12 will count as a Westwood screen and will play day/date with Century City. They may start booking the Disney product in the Landmark 12; Mall theatres are more suited for that type of film.

I worked at the Regent in ‘81/'82, and served Natalie Wood a small popcorn and a coke; I didn’t know who she was until my collegue working the door asked for her autograph. On another occasion Cathy Lee Crosby parked her Rolls out front and asked me to watch it during the film. When Mann took control of the Plaza, I worked there for a while. Those were some good crazy times.

When I lived in that area many years ago, you could park for free at the Federal Building and then take either a 5-minute walk or a shuttle bus ride to the village. Not true anymore?

Landmark is a specialty chain that shows mostly independent and foreign films, yet lately they seem to have running a lot of mainstream Disney/Touchstone fare at the Regent. The Westside Pavillion, which Landmark operates a couple of miles away, still books independent and foreign films on its four screens. It is too bad they can’t book some of these at the Regent. The Westside Pavillion is small with small screens (especially for scope pictures!). The Regent has been wonderfully remodeled with all the motifs of an art house (old foreign fim posters, flyers for festivals, etc.) yet is showing Disney’s latest underdog basketball movie… What Gives? I used to like going to this theatre!

The Regent and the Plaza Westwood were the premiere theatres in the 70’s. They showed exclusive runs of Oscar winners “Network”, “Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Rocky” and was a regular house of Woody Allen flicks like “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan”. This was during the era though when United Artists was the film company that ruled. I hear that Pacific actually booked the theatres for Laemmle but I cannot confirm that. When MANN took over they continued to try to book with small intimate films like “Birdy”, “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”, “Diner”, “The Killing Fields” @ The Regent and Plaza but lost alot of bookings to AMC Century city when it became big.

Landmark Theatres are now running this theatre. Expect major renovations to the concession area and upgrades to the auditorium including new seats. In the booth is a Norelco AAII, the Cadillac of projectors, and a Christie platter. JBL speakers behind the screen and surrounds. More updates to come.