Frank Capra

A parcel of land between Westlake Village and Malibu described as "environmentally priceless," which was deeded to the state to settle $1.2 million in taxes owed by the estate of the late film director Frank Capra, may be converted to parkland to prevent its sale for private use. The unusual transfer, which requires approval by the state Legislature, is designed to preserve the 160-acre parcel as the key link to completing the Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains.

A parcel of land between Westlake Village and Malibu described as "environmentally priceless," which was deeded to the state to settle $1.2 million in taxes owed by the estate of the late film director Frank Capra, may be converted to parkland to prevent its sale for private use. The unusual transfer, which requires approval by the state Legislature, is designed to preserve the 160-acre parcel as the key link to completing the Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains.

A parcel of land between Westlake Village and Malibu, deeded to the state to settle $1.2 million in taxes owed by the estate of the late film director Frank Capra, may be converted to parkland to prevent its sale for private use. The unusual swap, which requires approval by the state Legislature, is designed to preserve the 160-acre parcel as the key link to completing the Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains.

American Movie Classics carries Kenneth Bowser's engaging 1997 documentary "Frank Capra's American Dream" tonight, trimmed to 88 minutes from its original 109-minute version, which premiered theatrically last July. Unfortunately, crucial material about the director's colleagues has been cut; the shorter version reinforces Capra's view of himself as an auteur.

The Strong Man (AMC early Monday at 3 a.m.) Thanks to Frank Capra, this 1926 silent is comedian Harry Langdon's best picture, in which he falls in love with blind girl Priscilla Bonner and is pursued by Gertrude Astor's hilarious gold-digger.

In 1983, Michael Thomas was running the San Diego Film Society and invited legendary director Frank Capra, then 86, and his longtime cinematographer, Joseph Walker, to San Diego for a lecture and a screening of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (AMC early Wednesday at 3:30 a.m.) Wistful comedian Harry Langdon's first (1926) feature film finds him competing in a cross-country walking race and falling in love with Joan Crawford. Written by Frank Capra, who was to direct Langdon in his next and better-known picture, "The Strong Man."

Jeff Garlin is a seriously funny guy, both as Larry David's agent and friend Jeff Greene on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and as a veteran stand-up comic in the storytelling tradition of Woody Allen and Shelley Berman. But the 45-year-old Garlin is also pretty serious about his latest role as a filmmaker. "In terms of the movies I want to make, I'm only interested that they have pathos and humanity in them," he says. "There are plenty of people making cynical movies. There are tons of them.

IT'S not far from where Linus Pauling discovered how atoms link to form molecules. Or where Charles Richter developed the Richter scale. Or where 17 future Nobel laureates studied (Frank Capra too). But this morning, the red-eared slider turtles at Caltech in Pasadena don't seem all that impressed. All they care about is the sun, warm and bright, shining down on the home they share with crayfish, egrets and a family of mallards.

IT is arguably one of the most magnetic moments ever captured on film. This enduring celluloid juncture from 1946's "It's a Wonderful Life" can be summoned to mind by merely mentioning "the prayer scene." In it, a tearfully reduced George Bailey -- played by Jimmy Stewart -- sits at a bar and contemplates taking his own life, then clasps his hands and quietly asks for God's intervention. And while filming this key moment, this pivotal point in the picture, Frank Capra \o7goofed\f7 -- big time.