FILM/SNEAK PEEK : `THE MALTESE FALCON' FLIES TOWARD THE ALEX.

The Alex Film Society at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre is planning its next film program for 2 and 8 p.m. July 12. Featured will be the film noir classic ``The Maltese Falcon,'' directed by John Huston, and starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Gladys George and Sydney Greenstreet.

Also screening is a rare 1944 jazz short, ``Jammin' the Blues,'' which is considered one of the finest musical shorts ever made. It features Lester Young, Red Callendar, Harry ``Sweets'' Edison, John Simmons and Illinois Jacquet.

A historic newsreel and a Warner Bros. 1946 Merry Melodies cartoon, ``A Bacall to Arms,'' will round out the program.

The program will be hosted by Rudy Behlmer, author of the books ``Inside Warner Bros.'' and ``Behind the Scenes,'' who'll speak on the making of ``The Maltese Falcon.'' Tickets are $8.50 for the evening show, $7 for the matinee, $6 for Alex Film Society members.

For information, call the Alex box office, [phone]. For tickets by phone, call [phone]. The Alex Theatre is at 216 N. Brand Blvd.

Yiddish favorites

The Yiddish Film Festival continues through Thursday at the Laemmle Town Center theater in Encino and the Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills. The diverse program of Yiddish favorites produced in America, Poland and the former Soviet Union is being presented afternoons and evenings in conjunction with the National Center for Jewish Film. For program information, call the Town Center theater at [phone].

`Fancy Free' at 50

Animation aficionados can look forward to the July 15 golden anniversary video release of the 1947 Disney classic ``Fun and Fancy Free.'' Walt Disney's ninth animated feature, it was the only one to include Jiminy Cricket, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, and the last one to feature the voice of Disney himself as Mickey. Priced at $26.99, it features two animated stories, ``Mickey and the Beanstalk'' and ``Bongo,'' along with a behind-the-scenes featurette.

Tribute to Capra

The late filmmaker Frank Capra's enduring blend of optimism and sentimentality is celebrated in a video tribute that coincides with the 100th anniversary of his birth. ``Frank Capra's American Dream,'' narrated by Ron Howard, chronicles the life and movies of the poor Sicilian immigrant who became a three-time Oscar winner, the director of films such as ``It Happened One Night,'' ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' and many others. Also coming to stores are video versions of Capra favorites such as ``The Miracle Woman'' with Barbara Stanwyck, ``American Madness'' with Walter Huston, and others.

Focusing on New Visions

The Independent Feature Project West is seeking feature film submissions for its New Visions program, which screens a recently completed undistributed work every two months at the Writers Guild Theater. For information, call [phone].

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Photo

Photo: ``Fun and Fancy Free'' - the last of Walt Disney's animated features to use his own voice as Mickey's - will be released for home video sale on July 15.