Film: Beyond the Multiplex

This week's special screenings

Monty Python Movie Marathon

An April Fool's Day celebration of the surreal humor of the great British comedy sextet: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave., 507-3760, free. Thur., Apr. 1 Approximate schedule: Highlights from original TV shows 1 p.m.; Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979, 93 min.) 3:30; Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975, 90 min.) 5:30; Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983, 103 min.) 7:30--AA

In Black and White: Three Women Writers

(NR, 79 min. total) Matteo Bellinelli's short 1992 documentaries, written by Barbara Christian, profile three notable African-American novelists: Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison, Gloria Naylor and Pulitzer Prize-winner Alice Walker. Introduced by China Hudson. West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 229-4800, free. Sat., Apr. 3 3 p.m.

The Thin Man

(NR, 93 min.) Sophisticated sleuths Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) investigate the case of a missing inventor, in W.S. Van Dyke's classic, 1934 suspense comedy, based on Dashiell Hammett's novel. Tuesday Afternoon at the Bijou series, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 507-3400, free. Tue., Apr. 6 1 p.m.

Whale Rider

(PG-13, 101 min.) In Niki Caro's 2003 film of Witi Ihimaera's novel, 12-year-old New Zealander Keisha Castle-Hughes is superb as a Maori girl defying her grandfather (Rawiri Paratene) to prove she's her tribe's natural leader. Oscar nom: actress Castle-Hughes. NOTBAD (Nevadans Organized To Better Address Diversity) presents Adaptations series, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 507-3400, free. Tue., Apr. 6 7 p.m.

Woman of the Year

(NR, 112 min.) Snobbish political columnist Katharine Hepburn is tamed by humble sports reporter Spencer Tracy, in George Stevens' classic 1942 comedy. Wonder Women series, Winchester Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive, 455-7340, $3. Tue., Apr. 6 7 p.m. (with subtitles for hearing impaired); Wed., Apr. 7 7 p.m. (with intro by Mercury critic Anthony Allison).

Secrets of the Titanic

(NR, 51 min.) Nicolas Noxon's 1986 National Geographic video details the history of the ill-fated ship and recounts oceanographer Robert Ballard's search for the long-lost vessel. Narrated by Martin Sheen. Movie Night at Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave., 507-3630, free. Wed., Apr. 7 7 p.m.

Jurassic Park

(PG-13, 127 min.) Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough star in Steven Spielberg's 1993 adventure, based on Michael Crichton's novel about an island theme park populated with dinosaurs cloned from DNA. Jurassic Park series, East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., 229-1515, free. Thur., Apr. 8 4 p.m.--AA