SAM series celebrates Paul Newman's legacy

"American Legend: The Films of Paul Newman" begins Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and continues through June 4 at the Seattle Art Museum, with 11 films in tribute to the iconic blue-eyed star who died last year after a long, distinguished career in film and philanthropy. The series begins with the 1956 drama "The Rack," an early Newman film written by Stewart Stern. (Stern, who now lives in Seattle, will speak about his friendship with Newman on Thursday and at the May 14 screening of "Rachel, Rachel.") The series, mostly on Thursday nights, includes such Newman classics as "The Hustler," "Hud," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Verdict." All screen in 35 mm. Tickets are $65 ($58 SAM members) and available through the SAM box office at 206-654-3121 or Scarecrow Video at 206-524-8554.

Also at SAM: John Ford's 1940 film "The Grapes of Wrath," starring Henry Fonda, screens tonight at 7:30 as part of the film series "American Dreams: The Films of a Nation." Tickets are $7 at the door. All SAM films screen at Plestcheeff Auditorium, Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., Seattle; 206-654-3121 or seattleartmuseum.org.

"Sullivan's Travels," Preston Sturges' 1941 Depression-era comedy classic, about a movie director (Joel McCrea) who sets out to experience "the real world," screens at SIFF Cinema this week in a new 35 mm print. Veronica Lake, with that peek-a-boo hair, co-stars. The Coen brothers were inspired by this film for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Also at SIFF Cinema this week: two HD screenings of Wagner's opera "Das Rheingold," performed by the Barcelona-based company La Fura dels Baus and conducted by Zubin Mehta. "Sullivan's Travels" screens nightly through Thursday; "Das Rheingold" shows Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer St., Seattle; 206-633-7151 or siff.net.

A young Leslie Nielsen (beloved by me for the "Naked Gun" movies) turns up in the 1956 comedy "Forbidden Planet," co-starring alongside Robby the Robot in an adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest." It screens Wednesday only at 7 and 9:15 p.m. at the Metro, 4500 Ninth Ave. N.E., Seattle; 206-781-5755 or landmarktheatres.com.

Terry Gilliam's "12 Monkeys" screens at midnight at the Egyptian tonight and Saturday. 805 E. Pine St., Seattle; 206-781-5755 or landmarktheatres.com.

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com