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This year’s Turner Classic Movies (TCMFF) kicks off in less than two weeks, and thousands of people will be on their feet hoping to catch their favorite screening. However, sometimes it is an illusion in a land of illusions. You’ll see what I mean when you look at my schedule.
It is the theme of this year’s festival, scheduled for April 24-27 Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on FilmAnd there’s plenty to fuel the imagination. In a year where I seriously considered skipping the festival, I’m now especially excited about what’s on offer. It will be a rekindling of my romance with movies in a sense, after a difficult few months in a new, big position at work and nerves caused by news everywhere. I haven’t gotten around to posting anything on this blog, but that changes today with this, my preamble to TCMFF 16.
Before I get to my planned schedule, a choice that usually causes a stir, know that there will be a lot of attention in Hollywood at the end of April. In fact, there are so many exciting things planned that I simply urge you to go to the source, TCM’s festival pages, where updates have been frequent, fast and furious.
There are several indicators Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back With festival-opening director George Lucas, BFI salutes and rare VistaVision screenings scattered throughout the weekend. 30 will be presented by director Rob Reiner and screenwriter Aaron Sorkine anniversary President of AmericaWhich I love and have blogged about here. Kathy Bates joins Reiner to present trouble (1990) and his spectacularly terrifying, Oscar-winning performance in that film. I am definitely your number one fan. Who else am I a fan of? The fabulous effects duo of Ben Barth and Craig Baron with a special presentation Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970). If you haven’t yet attended a screening presented by these two experts of off-screen treasures, then you just have to put it on your schedule.
The living legend Rita Moreno will introduce something (1976), which will be spectacularly popular. Michele Pfeiffer will be there at the Chinese Theater for the hand and footprint ceremony. I wish I could introduce you Tequila SunriseBut you can’t do everything. plus, The fabulous baker boys (1989), directed by Steve Close and starring the Bridges brothers, is an excellent choice.
There will also be George Stevens, Jr., who will follow up his Presidential Medal of Freedom with the Robert Osborne Award at this year’s festival. The award ceremony will be preceded by the 40th world premieree George Stevens Anniversary Restoration: A Filmmaker’s Journey honoring the legendary career of George Stevens Sr., one of my favorite directors.
Finally (for now), the official closing film of the legendary Chinese theater will be 30e Michael Mann’s anniversary show warmth with the director. This will be difficult to convey. We’ll see what the weekend looks like for me up front and in person, as this year’s schedule presents many conflicts that can be resolved. With that in mind, here are my picks for today…
Thursday, April 24
This is a rarity and a pre-code and it will be sold because of Karl Freund Moonlight and Pretzels (1933) is expected to rerun in one of the TBA slots on Sunday. me I’ll be kicking off TCMFF 16 at the Egyptian Theater with milk in hand for the first of four Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant collaborations. doubt (1941). Add in an Oscar-winning performance by Joan Fontaine and Frank Waxman’s score, and I’m in my favorite place in heaven.
My next pick would have to be David Lean’s pick Blithe Spirit (1945, which I’ve never seen. However, I don’t think so doubt It will leave me enough time to achieve it Blithe Spirit And since Ishiro Honda’s mythical Motra (1961) will be hard to ignore on the big screen, I’ll Be With a Moth.
Friday, April 25
‘Come put them around me – I’m starting Friday with one of my favorite previous codes, Robert Z. Leonard’s delicious Divorced(1930). Norma Shearer won an Academy Award for her lead role in this highly entertaining picture.
And it’s the only movie I’m absolutely sure about on Friday. The rest of the day is a cornucopia of difficult choices involving my Kerry Grant offer. Heaven help me.
I think about the following:
- The VistaVision presentation history Club at TCM. Presented by Charlotte Barker, director of film restoration and conservation at Paramount Pictures, and Craig Baron, Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and historian, it sounds fascinating.
- Next up, the world premiere of The Restoration of John Cromwell The Enchanted Cottage (1945) with the director’s son, the great James Cromwell, introducing the picture. I am a huge fan of Mr Cromwell’s work and this will give me a fantastic opportunity to see it in person. I quite liked it, but that means I’m missing the essentials raising a child (1938).
- Then I lean towards Ruben Mamuliani Zoro’s sign (1940) for several reasons, not the least of which were Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Basil Rathbone, sword fights, and the fact that this choice would put me in a great position. Now, Voyager (1942) introduced by Mario Cantone and his Bette Davis impersonator. However, this time slot is loaded with goodies.
attending the fall Zoro’s sign Screenings are numerous. For one, he stars opposite one of my favorite movies, Preston Sturges Lady Eve (1941), but I’ve already seen it on the big screen. Then there is trouble With Reiner and Bates, a George Stevens documentary and Me and my galRaoul Walsh’s never-before-seen coda introduced the highly entertaining Bruce Goldstein. This one might win if I can deal with the infamous House 4.
- I might even attend the midnight screening Rocky Horror Picture Show with Barry Bostwick attends on Friday.
Saturday, April 26
My Saturday will start with a nitrate print of Otto Preminger’s Daisy Kenyon (1947). Starring Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews and Henry Fonda, author/historian Donald Bogle and director Bill Morrison present it. Too bad I’m going to miss Freddie and Ginger carefree Screening at the same time, but hope to get a TBA slot on Sunday.
Once again, I’ll have a hard day after the first movie. There would be one combination Mildred Pierce then Kenyon in Egyptian (but I saw that at a previous festival that Anne Blythe presented) followed by a new to me Gunman’s Walk (1958), then Jaws (1975) and A fight at the OK Corral (1957). I’m leaning towards it Freshman (1925), however, followed Peirce, accompanied by Big Ben Modell and Gunfight. i love Jaws And Lorraine Gary will introduce her, but I think because she’s celebrating her 50th yeare In the year of the anniversary, I will more than likely have the opportunity to see it on the big screen than I did Freshman.
The craziest part of Saturday’s schedule is WS Van Dyke’s i still love you (1940) Playing poolside with Roosevelt occupies two time slots, a cruel and unusual punishment.
Sunday, April 27
My final week schedule will be determined after the TBA slots are filled, but I’m starting today Oklahoma! (1955) and discussion by Sean Cassidy. After that I find a complication. Jennifer Grant will play her father and Grace Kelly in Hitchcock to catch a thief (1955) among the Chinese, but if I go, I probably won’t talk of the town (1942) with an introduction by George Stevens Jr. This is the biggest problem for me all weekend. Is this Cary Grant or is that Cary Grant? I had the illusion of seeing a lot of Cary Grants throughout the weekend. This is not good, TCM.
And if I go talk of the townI will miss seeing Rita Moreno dating something (1976) and I’ll miss Rita Moreno if I see her Fantastic trip (1966) on the big screen. And any of them will influence which film I end up with at the festival. Do you understand the dilemma?
I have a lot to think about as I navigate this festival. To see where I’ll be, which Cary Grant I’ll be taking on, and get live TCMFF updates from Hollywood, follow me on social media. I will once again cover the festival as a media. Follow up.
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Hope to see you in Hollywood!
