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Friday, June 28

Helen Mirren reclaims the crown in a live broadcast of Peter Morgan's new play, The Audience, on Saturday. Mirren and Morgan previously collaborated on award-winning film The Queen, proving they've got the goods in capturing the essence of Queen Elizabeth II. The play reimagines the real-life, private meetings between the queen and her prime ministers (totaling 12 over a span of 60 years). You can see this West End production, presented by National Theatre Live, at UCLA's James Bridges Theater at 8 p.m. (also Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.; other showings at the Downtown Independent and Landmark). More info at ntlive.org.

Saturday, June 29

It's a bird! It's a plane! While Zack Snyder's Man of Steel may be getting mixed reviews, nothing is wrong with the 1940s Superman animated cartoons. Animation historian Jerry Beck will host a celebration of these 17 shorts in honor of the man in the red cape (and underpants) for his 75th birthday at the Egyptian Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

From the golden age of Arnold Schwarzenegger's action-hero days comes 1993's Last Action Hero, with Schwarzenegger starring as LAPD detective Jack Slater in the film within the film. Young Danny turns to the Jack Slater series after his father's death and magically enters the fictional world, accidentally opening a portal that allows the movie bad guys to wreak some real-life havoc. Catch this 20th-anniversary screening at midnight at the New Beverly.

Monday, July 1

Animator Richard Williams probably is best known for his Oscar-winning film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. But the project most near and dear to his heart was The Thief and the Cobbler, on which Williams worked for nearly 30 years. Starting in 1964, this film was to be his masterpiece. But financing and scheduling issues arose, leading the film to be released without Williams' involvement and in a version that was different from what he intended. Over the years, with many failed attempts at restoration, it has earned a reputation as one of the best films never made. In the documentary Persistence of Vision, director Kevin Schreck seeks to tell the true story of this behind-the-scenes drama, using rare footage of Williams' work and interviews with those who helped on the project. Cinefamily screens the documentary at 7:45 p.m. on Monday and again at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

See also:

*More L.A. Weekly Film Coverage

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