FILM/SNEAK PEEK : RESTORED FILMS PUT INTO FOCUS BY UCLA SERIES.

Byline: - Bob McCarthy

Last year's release of Orson Welles' ``A Touch of Evil'' redefined the scope of film preservation from touch-up to recut. Instead of polishing up the original, the preservation team gave this 1958 thriller a new shine by re-editing it the way Welles wanted it done. A second version was created - this one a director's cut based on Welles' instructions.

``Out of the Past: Film Restoration Today,'' which opens Wednesday at UCLA's James Bridges Theatre, begins a nine-week examination of important examples of film restoration and the underlying ethical issues that are being challenged. Foremost among those are: What constitutes an original?

The UCLA Film and Television Archives has lined up restorationists for the weekly screenings to talk about the tools of the trade, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday with the screening of the German mountain drama ``The White Hell of Piz Palu.'' Director Arnold Fanck is credited with being the father of this mountain genre in which man must endure the harsh elements or perish.

Fanck's 1929 silent film with German intertitles was restored, and a new musical score was added in time for the 1997 Berlin Film Festival. Preservationist Jan-Christopher Horak will be present. Other leaders in the field will speak at future screenings.

A German theme runs through the programs in April, with ``The Joyless Street'' (Germany, 1925) screening April 14, ``Louisiana Story'' (U.S., 1948) on April 21, and ``The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Germany, 1919) and ``From Morn to Midnight (Germany, 1920) on April 28. Programs begin at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $6 general admission, $4 students with ID and seniors. The Bridges Theatre is at the northeast corner of the UCLA campus in Westwood, near Sunset Boulevard and Hilgard Avenue. For information, call [phone].

Family classics

On April 11, UCLA's Archives will preserve the experience of seeing family favorites ``The Black Stallion'' and ``National Velvet'' on the big screen with a ``Kids Flicks'' double feature.

``Black Stallion'' (1979) is the inspired retelling of Walter Farley's novel about a boy, a stallion and the bond they form after a shipwreck. Directed by Carroll Ballard, this stand-up-and-cheer film stars Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney and Teri Garr. ``National Velvet'' (1944) stars Elizabeth Taylor and Rooney as two English children who win a horse in a raffle, then train it for the Grand National Steeplechase.

This family-oriented series features classic cartoons and refreshments at intermission. It begins at 2 p.m. in the Bridges Theatre. Admission is $4 general admission. Coming next month: the Beatles' ``Yellow Submarine'' and ``James and the Giant Peach'' on May 2.

In the shadows

Danger hangs heavy like a foggy night, where no hidden love nest, hotel room or darkened alleyway is ever too safe. But, hey, film noir aficionados wouldn't have it any other way.

American Cinematheque has uncovered a lair of gems in the eight-night ``Side Streets and Back Alleys: The First Festival of Film Noir'' starting tonight with director Richard Fleischer's ``The Narrow Margin'' (1952) at 7 p.m., followed at 9:30 by a Fleischer twin bill of ``Armored Car Robbery'' and ``Violent Saturday.''

Before Saturday night's program, author Eddie Muller will sign copies of his book ``Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir.'' Showing at 7 p.m. is ``The Killer That Stalked New York'' (1950), starring Evelyn Hayes and directed by Earl McEvoy. At 9:30 is a Phil Karlson double feature of ``99 River Street'' (1953) and ``Kansas City Confidential'' (1952), starring John Payne.

Films will screen at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Ticket prices are $7 general admission, $5 Cinematheque members. Call [phone], Ext. 2, for 24-hour program information.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: Elizabeth Taylor stars in ``National Velvet,'' which is being shown as part of UCLA's Archives family-oriented series.