"Running With Scissors"

Evan Rachel Wood and Joseph Cross go to the movies in "Running With Scissors" (Sony, 2006). We don't learn what film they're seeing or go inside at this point but it's soon evident that they're in San Pedro at the Warner Grand, 478 W. 6th St.

The film is about a boy's difficulties growing up with a dysfunctional mother, alcoholic father and crazy psychiatrist. It was directed by Ryan Murphy, based on the book by Augusten Burrows. The cinematography was by Christopher Baffa. The film also features Annete Bening, Alec Baldwin, Brian Cox, Jill Clayburgh, Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristin Chenoweth.  

 

 

 

We cut to a marquee shot and time goes by during a Lina Wertmuller festival. 

 

 

When the audience comes out there's no sign of Evan Rachel. It's another day, another date.

 

The date now for Joseph Cross, on the left, is Joseph Fiennes. "Hey, you want to come see my wheels?" 

 

Walking away from the Warner. Fiennes becomes a boyfriend. 

 

Much later in the film we're back at the Warner. Last time it was just the exterior, this time only the interior. Annette Bening is offstage right before a reading. She's our lead character's mother and an aspiring poet. Note the 1931 dimmerboard with many blank plates on this end where lots of stage dimmers should have been. The stage was never fully equipped. 

 

 

 

Looking into the house. Everyone's in formal wear and Annette is wearing the black dress she made for her personal appearances. We're at Carnegie Hall. Well, this is her vision of what her appearance there would be like. At this moment in the film she's undergoing electroshock therapy. 

 

 

A look off right at a nearly blank wall. Talkies had arrived before the theatre opened so the stage wasn't fully rigged until much later. 

 

Another look into the house. Her character never gets to Carnegie Hall. 

See the pages about the Warner Grand on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and many photos.

On IMDb: "Running With Scissors"