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Event
Empowerment: Edith + Etta / Edith Head Film Festival
The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Performing Arts Divisions (PERF) EMPOWERMENT project returns for its third year. As a celebration of California women who shift culture, EMPOWERMENT is a six day festival-style week of performances, social action, creative workshops, and documentary screenings. In 2025, EMPOWERMENT will honor the work of Academy Award winner Edith Head and Grammy Award winner Etta James. Both American born and rooted professionally in Los Angeles, Edith Head is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential costume designers in the film industry while Etta James is an American singer songwriter famous for her deep and earthy voice bridging the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll is considered to be one of the greatest voices of her century.
One of the many events in this year's EMPOWERMENT project include a film festival of just a few of the over one thousand films she is credited, All About Eve, The Emperor Waltz, and To Catch a Thief, all known for their iconic costumes designed by Edith Head :
TUESDAY APRIL 29, 2025, 8:00 P.M.
All About Eve (1950)
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill
Length: 138 minutes
Description: All About Eve is a sharp drama about the ruthless world of Broadway theatre. The film centers on Margo Channing (Bette Davis), an aging actress, and her ambitious young fan, Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter), who seeks to take over Margos role and career. The movie explores themes of ambition, rivalry, and betrayal within the theatre world. Edith Head's costumes play a key role in defining the personalities of these women, with Margos glamorous, sophisticated wardrobe contrasting sharply with Eve's calculated, sometimes naïve fashion choices as she rises to fame.
Costume Highlights: Edith Heads designs for Bette Davis in this film were legendary, especially the dramatic evening gowns that reflected Margos complex characterelegant but with a hint of vulnerability.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 30, 2025, 8:00 P.M.
The Emperor Waltz (1948)
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: Bing Crosby, Joan Fontaine
Length: 100 minutes
Description: The Emperor Waltz is a light-hearted comedy about a humble American man, played by Bing Crosby, who travels to Austria and becomes entangled with royalty, romance, and mistaken identities. Joan Fontaine plays a princess, and the film has a whimsical tone with a backdrop of the beautiful European countryside and lavish courtly life. Edith Heads costumes in The Emperor Waltz helped to accentuate the playful, opulent atmosphere of the story. Fontaine's elegant gowns added to her portrayal of a princess, while Crosbys attire highlighted his contrast as a common man in a royal setting.
Costume Highlights: Edith Heads designs for Joan Fontaine emphasized the high-society nature of her character, with exquisite ball gowns and royal attire that showcased the film's lighthearted yet romantic theme.
FRIDAY MAY 2, 2025, 9:00 P.M.
To Catch a Thief (1955)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly
Length: 106 minutes
Description: To Catch a Thief is a classic Hitchcockian blend of romance, suspense, and glamour. Cary Grant stars as a retired cat burglar who is accused of a new series of jewel thefts on the French Riviera. Grace Kelly plays the wealthy, beautiful woman who may be more involved in the case than she seems. The movie is set against the stunning backdrop of the French coastline, and Edith Heads costumes were pivotal in emphasizing the glamour of both the characters and the setting.
Costume Highlights: Grace Kellys wardrobe in To Catch a Thief is one of the most iconic of all time. From the sleek, elegant evening gowns to the more casual, chic outfits she wears during her time on the Riviera, Edith Head's designs perfectly matched Kellys sophisticated, yet alluring persona. The luxurious costumes are a perfect match for the film's stylish tension.
These films, showcasing Edith Heads timeless contributions to costume design, helped solidify her legacy in the film industry, and her work remains celebrated today.
Join us for the six day celebration of the performing arts at the EMPOWERMENT: Edith + Etta event April 29 through May 4 at the Lankershim Arts center located in the heart of the NoHo Arts District at 5108 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601. All events are free and open to the public. Reservations are highly recommended for all screenings and will be shown in our Black Box Theatre.
If reservations are sold out, guests are welcome to come on the day of the event and wait in the standby line. Guests with reservations should arrive early. Any seats available 10 minutes to the start of the screening will be given to guests in the standby line. Popcorn and water are available for free.
For more information please email us at dca-lankershimtheatre@lacity,org or by phone at (818) 301-6120.
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LocationThe Historic Lankershim Arts Center (View)
5108 Lankershim Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA 91506
United States
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