"L.A. Plays Itself" has become a cult film in part because Thom Andersen assembled the clips of nearly 300 movies without clearances, so it can only be shown in a theater (although Andersen says he hopes it will be released on DVD someday).

But beyond the mystique, "L.A. Plays Itself" is a long, illuminating look at the way the city is portrayed in film. For my money, "L.A. Plays Itself" isn’t so much a film as it is a long, rambling essay about the city–narrated by Encke King in a flat monotone worthy of Jack Webb–accompanied by all those clips. Here’s a list of shots, thanks to twotreasis.org.