See a Double Feature of a Screen Legend
Before Liz Taylor there was Claudette Colbert, and you can see her interpretation of the pharaoh fatale in Cecil B. DeMille’s Cleopatra at 7:30 p.m. The 35mm palatial intrigue doesn’t end there, however, as Colbert’s Empress Poppaea goes toe to toe with Charles Laughton’s Nero in The Sign of the Cross immediately after. This double feature of antiquity marks the beginning of UCLA’s “The Greatest Showman” retrospective, which is ongoing throughout January and February. Mark A. Vieira, co-author of Cecil B. DeMille: The Art of the Hollywood Epic, will appear in person to sign copies of the book starting at 6:30. Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Wstwd.; Fri., Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m.; $10. (310) 206-8013, cinema.ucla.edu. —Michael Nordine

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See Harmony Korine's Art Show Opening
Making an aesthetic analogy between Harmony Korine’s dynamic and unsettling films and novels (Kids, Gummo, Spring Breakers) and his low-rent abstract expressionist paintings would be a simplistic way to go — except he himself makes this connection. Korine speaks adoringly about the allure of marginalized subjects and materials, and certainly the emotional power of a sexy subculture is central across his career. In his large-scale, mixed-media paintings, he embraces the muscular chaos of classical expressionism but re-creates its messy radiance with random crap such as house paint, electrical tape, squeegees and scraps of bubble wrap, plus pure chutzpah. Gagosian Gallery, 456 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills; Sat., Jan. 10, 6-8 p.m.; free. Exhibition continues Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., through Feb. 14. (310) 271-9400, gagosian.com. —Shana Nys Dambrot

Learn About the California Dream
While most people in California might settle for a shorter commute or fewer street hassles, headier minds at Zócalo Public Square present “What Is the California Dream Now?” Instead of poring over California’s past glories and raising the spirit of Huell Howser, well-traveled author Joe Mathews (California Crackup) will explore the unheralded commonality of the Californians in the audience and envision the future legacy of the Golden State. Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, dwntwn.; Tue., Jan. 13, 7 p.m.; free. (424) 229-9493, zocalopublicsquare.org /event/?postId=57113. —David Cotner

Learn How to Heal With Technology
It’s hard to imagine anything that instills a sense of personal power as much as having a missing limb restored. And Mick Ebeling know about that. The inventor of the EyeWriter — a device for the paralyzed by which eye movements are translated into words — discusses his new book, Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn’t Be Done (Atria Books). Ebeling also heads Project Daniel, which prints 3-D prosthetic limbs for young South Sudanese victims of war. Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Thu., Jan. 15, 7 p.m.; free, book is $25. (626) 449-5320, vromansbookstore.com. —David Cotner

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