TCM Classic Film Festival April 6 - 9, 2017!! #TCMFF #ClassicFilm

Tickets go on sale for THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL this Thursday, November 3!

Here's their description of this year's comedy theme.

"Join us for the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival, exploring COMEDY IN THE MOVIES. From lowbrow to high, slapstick to sophisticated comedies of manners—we will showcase the greatest cinematic achievements of lone clowns, comedic duos and madcap ensembles."

Don't miss the chance to attend. I know every year I've learned things direct from the source - seeing many stars and film makers telling us all their secrets. Ok maybe not ALL their secrets, but some really great morsels! FYI if Angie Dickinson or Mitzi Gaynor attend DO NOT miss a interview with them. Those ladies are hilarious and love to share.

Until you've seen a classic film in an audience full of true classic film fans you can't believe what a difference it makes. Also seeing films you may have seen 100 times in your own home will have so many more details on the big screens of Hollywood's movie palaces.

See you there!

2016 TCM Classic Film Festival Announcement #TCMFF

TCM Classic Film Festival is a high point of my year. This year's festival is being held April 28-May 1st. Today they've released a few more of the films they'll be showing and there are some great restorations among them and they announced that Gina Lollobrigida will be in attendance. For more info on guests.

Here's the complete list of today's film announcements.

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) – Featuring an appearance by Gina Lollobrigida
Starring Gina Lollobrigida, this film, presented in collaboration with Park Circus, showcases her comedic skill and natural charm (and earned her a Golden Globe® nomination) in this tale of a woman confronted by three former lovers who have been sending support checks to help raise the daughter each thinks is his.

Trapeze (1956) – Featuring an appearance by Gina Lollobrigida
Gina Lollobrigida made her U.S. film debut, proving herself as talented as she was beautiful, in this tense tale of a female acrobat who comes between the partners in a trapeze act, played by the ever-athletic Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, presented in collaboration with Park Circus.

Children Of A Lesser God (1986) – Featuring an appearance by Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin won a Best Actress Oscar® for her film debut as a rebellious deaf woman whose life is transformed by an innovative teacher (William Hurt). Their powerful performances anchor this unique film, with a new print courtesy of Paramount Pictures in celebration of its 30th anniversary in 2016.

The Endless Summer (1966) – Featuring an appearance by Bruce Brown
TCM celebrates the 50th anniversary of the ultimate surfing documentary in which filmmaker Bruce Brown followed two young surfers on a round-the-world trip in search of “the perfect wave.”

Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) – With Conductor Dr. Mark Sumner along with Orchestra and Chorus with Richard Einhorn in attendance 
A special presentation of this classic silent film with Richard Einhorn’s original score performed by a live orchestra and chorus conducted by Dr. Mark Sumner, which brings exciting new life to director Carl Theodor Dreyer’s searing account of the trial and execution of St. Joan.

The Kid (1921)
Charles Chaplin’s first feature as star, director, writer and producer drew on his childhood experiences to create a heartwarming story of a tramp who adopts an abandoned child. Shown in a North American premiere restoration presented in collaboration with Janus Films.

The Song Of Bernadette (1943)
Jennifer Jones gives a luminous (and Oscar-winning) performance as Bernadette Soubirous, the real-life peasant girl whose visions of the Virgin Mary inspired the townspeople of Lourdes in the 19th-century shown in a world premiere restoration presented in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox.

The Keys Of The Kingdom (1944)
Gregory Peck became a star and earned his first Oscar nomination playing a priest stationed in China whose devotion to the poor keeps him from rising within the church, shown in a world premiere restoration presented in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox.

Private Property (1960)
TCM presents, in collaboration with Cineliciouspics, the world premiere restoration of this acclaimed independent film, an L.A. noir starring Corey Allen and Warren Oates as two small-town crooks trying to seduce a beautiful blonde.

For the complete list of films that have been announced click here.

There are still passes available, but only the lower levels. You can buy TCM Film Festival passes here.

Hope to see all my old friends at the festival this year, and of course make some new ones! Hopefully, we'll have another announcement about films and appearances soon...STAY TUNED!

TCM Classic Film Fest Saves! #TCMFF @TCMFilmfest

Well the 6th TCM Classic Film Festival has come and gone and it was, as always, spectacular. I had a great time seeing films, listening to classic film panelists (including Peter Fonda, Shirley MacLaine, Anne Coates, and Errol Flynn's daughter) and hanging with all my gray scale comrades.

By blog from left TCMParty, GlamAmor, We Recycle Movies, Me, Once Upon A Screen, I Luv Cinema,and Pre-Code.com

There are a lot of questions you hear over and over again at the TCM Film Festival, "What are you most looking forward to at the Festival?", "Who is you favorite star of classic film?", etc... They all stump me. Maybe because I have no origin story for loving classic film. I feel like everyone I spend 4 days with every spring in Hollywood to worship classic film with have a moment they can point to and say that's when I started loving "old movies". Based on their moment they can pick a favorite star who played a role in their transformation from normal human to, as Will McKinley calls it, Old Movie Weirdo. 

For me, I don't remember a time I didn't love old movies. It's impossible to pick a moment of transformation. It's entirely possible I was born this way. I do know however that classic films have been the background to my life and in the same way that certain  music triggers memories for some, classic films are inextricably tied to various moments and people in my life. For instance, I can't see AFRICAN QUEEN without thinking of my father, my mother comes to mind when I see SUNDAY IN NEW YORK, and as I explained in this years TCM film festival #HeartMovies video PSYCHO for my first mini romance.

Katherine Hepburn PHILADELPHIA STORY defines yar

 In many cases classic film has helped me through difficult times in my life. This particular weekend of the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival I was struggling with my daughter's first trip away from home. While she was off on Catalina island frolicking with her friends I could have been home having a major anxiety attack about all the possible calamities that could befall her while out of my reach. Instead I was mercifully rescued by my drug of choice, classic film. Instead of chewing my nails or pulling out all my eyebrows I watched film after film in distracted bliss. Who can obsess about their children when Tracy Lord is explaining what "yar" means in PHILADELPHIA STORY, or Dan Duryea is getting out noired by Lizbeth Scott in TOO LATER FOR TEARS. TCM and classic film definitely saved me, for probably the millionth time.

Dan Duryea and Lizbeth Scott in TOO LATE FOR TEARS

The TCM Classic Film Festival is owed a big thank you this year from my friends and family for sparing them this mother's anxiety that they would have been tasked with assuaging, if it weren't for the film festival. So in the words George M. Cohan spoken by James Cagney in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY "Ladies and gentlemen, my mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you and I thank you."

Returning The Favor Robert Osborne #TCMFF #RTFRobert

The news was just released that our beloved Robert Osborne won't be able to attend the TCM Classic Film Festival this year due to health issues. I know we all want him to take care of himself so we are glad that he is putting his health first.

Let's all let him know that we will do everything in our power to keep the festival humming along this year and look forward to seeing him next time. In interviews he has mentioned all the TCM fans who tell him how he (and TCM) got them through an illness, let's return the favor.

You can send a card to

Robert Osborne

c/o TCM

1050 Techwood Drive NW

Atlanta, GA 30318

And PS good luck to Ben Mankiewicz, Scott McGee, and Sean Cameron. I'm sure you guys will rise to the occasion, cover everything beautifully and do Mr. Osborne proud.

UPDATE: For those going to TCM Film Fest there will be a mail box at the info desk, outside of Club TCM, where you can drop off cards for Robert.

Here is the release:

To all you members of the TCM family:

 I'm Robert Osborne and I want to tell you about a funny thing that happened to me on the way to this year's Film Festival. I’ve been putting off a minor health procedure (as everyone tends to do now and then). I planned to take care of it as soon as the Festival was over but my doctor said, "enough already, Osborne. Let’s get this done now so that sooner rather than later you can get back to introducing movies on TCM.” So that's what I'm in the process of doing right now—taking care of that medical procedure.

 The downside is that it means I won’t be joining you at this year’s Festival in Hollywood—very disappointing for me because for the past six years the TCM Classic Film Festival has been one of the things I've enjoyed most: sharing the Festival with you, the great sense of community we have, the conversations with so many of you Festival goers as well as the gifted actors and artisans who are part of the classic films we show, the pure joy of it all. But as we all know, one's health is a gift, and has to be protected and put first. Rest assured that the many talented hosts at the Festival, including Ben Mankiewicz, will be helping you have the very best Festival going experience.

 I know you'll enjoy the wonderful films we have programmed, and meeting the gifted artists who are participating in this exceptional event. Enjoy every moment of it and make as many memories and new friends as you can. And rest assured, I’ll be seeing you again, very soon.

 But right now: on with the show. 

Cheers, 
Robert Osborne 

All The Announcements So Far For TCM Classic Film Fest 6 #TCMFF @TCM

We're are definitely heading in to the home stretch of the year long wait for the next TCM Classic Film Festival. It will begin March 26 and run through the 29th. Just 2 more months to go!

The opening night gala will be a screening and celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Sound Of Music with both Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in attedance. In my few experiences he has not been enthused with the shadow Sound of Music casts over the rest of his career, so I'm a bit surprised he is attending. If you want a chance to see Christopher talking at length about this film this may be you best chance.

Other announcement include the screening of a long thought lost Harry Houdini film The Grim Game. Harry plays the wrongly accused which allows him to display artistry through escapes from police and in pursuit of the guilty. The line forms behind me for this one

"This much-sought-after film – a complete print of which was only recently rediscovered and brought to TCM for restoration – features the escape artist and legendary illusionist in one of his few starring roles. The film was discovered and the restoration was produced and restored by award-winning film preservationist and silent-film scholar Rick Schmidlin, whose credits include such landmark restorations as The Dickson Experimental Sound Film (1894/'95), Greed (1924), London After Midnight (1927), Touch of Evil (1958) and Elvis: That's the Way It Is – Special Edition(1970)." -TCM

Finally today it was announced that Ann Margaret will be in attendance with the 50th anniversary of The Cincinnati Kid co starring Steve McQueen and Edward G Robison. Not to mention THE Joan Blondell as the dealer. That's card not drug. Also a must see for me!

Here is the rest of the list of films that have been announced thus far for the festival. 

world premiere restorations of:

· Warner Bros’ classic musicals 42nd Street (1933) and Calamity Jane (1953) and 1776 (1972)

· William Wyler’s delightful romance Roman Holiday (1953) from Paramount

· MGM’s western drama The Proud Rebel (1958)

· Jules Dassin’s French caper film Rififi (1958) from Rialto Pictures

Festival goers will also get to enjoy other iconic films such as:

· David Lean’s award-winning Doctor Zhivago (1965) from Warner Bros.

· 70mm print of Franklin J. Schaffner’s Oscar®-winning Patton (1970) from 20th Century Fox

· Walt Disney’s Oscar® winning classic, Pinocchio (1940)

Lastly, astronaut Captain James Lovell, the real-life subject of Ron Howard’s Apollo 13 (1995), will be on hand for the 20th Anniversary world premiere restoration

More announcements seem to be rolling out every day and I can't wait to start marking up my festival schedule with all my, hard to make, decisions of what to see. I can almost guarentee Grim Game and Cincinnati Kid will make that list, but who knows what other great things TCM has in store for the line up???

TCM Classic Film Festival Dates Announced #TCMFF #TCMParty @TCM @TCMFilmFest

UPDATE: TCM Film Festival tickets will go on sale to the public November 13th at noon. Passes can be purchased exclusively through the official festival website: www.tcm.com/festival. A limited number of festival passes will also be available to Citi cardmembers via an exclusive online only presale at www.citiprivatepass.com. This exclusive presale begins at 10 a.m. (ET), Tuesday, Nov. 11, and ends at 10 a.m. (ET), Thursday, Nov. 13.

Four film have also been announced all making restoration world premieres, Ron Howard's Apollo 13 (1995), Stanley Kubrick'sSpartacus (1960), William Dieterle's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) and Charles Reisner and Buster Keaton's Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928). The Keaton comedy will be accompanied by legendary silent film composer Carl Davis conducting the world premiere performance of his new score for the film.

TCM Classic Film Festival 2015 is celebrating it's 6th year and will be held on March 26-29. The theme this year will be History According to Hollywood. Which should give them a lot of film to choose from! Here's their description.

"The Old West. Medieval England. Ancient Rome. Hollywood has found endless inspiration in re-creating historical moments and bringing to life the heroes and villains of the past, creating a form of time travel for audiences through the ages and around the world. These films, however, are not always true to the historical record. Filmmakers have often created works about the past that are a reflection of the period in which they were made, or change facts to suit a particular storyline. The 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival will explore how cinema has shaped how we view – and remember – history."

We have our lovely, and both looking pretty cool too, hosts Robert Osbourne and Ben Mankiewicz.

Ben Mankiewicz at TCMFF 2014

Robert Osborne TCM 2013

Tickets will go on sale in November. The pass levels will be:

Palace Pass
$299 – Includes access to all screenings and events at the TCL Chinese Theatre (excluding the opening-night red-carpet gala) and the Egyptian Theatre Friday, March 27 – Sunday, March 29, as well as poolside screenings at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Classic Festival Pass
$599 – Includes access to all film programs at festival venues Thursday, March 26 – Sunday, March 29 (does not include admittance to the opening-night red-carpet gala screening at TCL Chinese Theatre or the opening-night party); access to all Club TCM events, panels and poolside screenings at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; an opening-night welcome reception at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; and the closing-night event.

Essential Festival Pass
$749 – Includes all privileges available to "Classic" passholders, plus entry to the opening-night red-carpet gala screening at TCL Chinese Theatre and official TCM Classic Film Festival collectibles.

Spotlight Festival Pass
$1,649 – Includes all privileges available to "Classic" and "Essential" passholders, priority entry to all screening events; plus entry to the exclusive opening-night party following the red-carpet gala screening at TCL Chinese Theatre; meet-and-greet events with TCM friends, including Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz; and a limited edition TCM Classic Film Festival poster.

In past years individual tickets have been available. I have yet to hear if this will be the case this year but here is how that worked last year.

UPDATE: Individual passes will be available at the prices listed below

Individual Tickets

Individual tickets are $20 for general audiences, $10 with valid student I.D. for most events. Individual tickets are $30 for general audiences, $15 with valid student I.D. for the closing night presentation. Individual tickets are sold on a cash only basis.

Mitzi Gayner TCMFF 2013

I wouldn't miss it for the world! The experience of seeing great films, in great old movie palaces, sometimes with interviews with cast, directors, or producers, and add to all of that an enthusiastic audience of Classic Movie fiends it's unparalleled.

As we get closer to the date of the festival I'm sure we'll get announcements about film selections. I wouldn't be surprised however if the opening night film remains a secret until painfully close to the festival. In an interview I did with TCM head programmer, Charlie Tabesh, he told me that in the early years of the festival they felt the audience needed to know what they were signing up for. But now that the festival is established and more of a known quantity audiences know what to expect. TCM feels they can allow more time to lock down the Gala opening night film and celebrity guests. It's hard on those who are deciding which pass level to purchase but ultimately probably makes for a better opening night event.




It really doesn't matter whether it's your first time or you've been to every single one, the experience is that of a class reunion. Everyone has this one thing in common and are happy to talk about it as long as you want. I've had so many priceless experiences over the years, meeting Ernest Borgnine, munching cookies with Tony Curtis, test driving Kim Novak's hand print cement.
If you love classic film it really is the ultimate experience. Tickets go fast so be sure to get yours ASAP and book your hotel now, especially if you want to stay at the historic Roosevelt Hotel , site of the first Academy Awards and the TCMFF official club house, where many events take place.

Other Hotels in the area

Loews

Redbury

W

The Hotel Hollywood

Days Inn

Jane Fonda Getting her prints at TCL Chinese Theatre TCMFF 2013

See you there!

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony Pictures #TCMFF

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Jerry Lewis had his hand and feet prints immortilized at TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre today. Once again because of the TCM Classic Film Fest I was there. This was a quick ceremony with Robert Osborne introducing Quentin Tarantino who then introduced Jerry Lewis as his favorite childhood actor. But once Jerry took the stage the hi jinks began.

Robert Osborne at Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Quentin Tarantino Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

 First Jerry heckled the stage hand who was removing the podium, insisting he bring it back.

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

 Then telling him to take it away, then to bring it back, then to move it around the stage. Finally asking the kid how long he'd been in show business.

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

 Then it was time for the cement, but Jerry needed to stretch first. The more he hammed it up the more the audience laughed, so this went on for awhile.

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Robert Osborne and Jerry Lewis at Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Quentin Tarantino and Jerry Lewis at Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

 Here Quentin comes up to shake hands with Jerry and it results in their hands getting all tangled. Then Jerry starts chewing on Quentin's hands. In the end they're both laughing and holding hands with fingers interlaced.

Quentin Tarantino and Jerry Lewis at Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Quentin Tarantino and Jerry Lewis at Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

 Jerry Lewis with wife and daughter at Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

 Jerry was very proud to have his daughter witness the ceremony. He asked her to stand up and take a bow.

 Jerry Lewis Print Ceremony TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

 After having the press yell at him for about a half hour to look this way and that Jerry asked for his camera and started taking pictures of us. He asked one member of the press to stand and then asked if he felt like a schmuck standing while the rest of us sat.

I think everyone had a really good time, including Jerry! It wasn't as emotional as the ceremonies I have previously attended but it was by far the silliest.

 Jerry Lewis Prints TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre

Opening Night TCM Classic Film Fest 2014 #TCMFF

TCM 20th Anniversary Promotion Set

Thursday was the first day of the TCM Classic Film Festival and it was spectacular as always. This year was the 5th year of the festival and celebrates the 20th year of TCM. I have been lucky enough to attend every year and am amazed at the ways it's grown and developed into a full fledged fan convention. Not only do we get to see the movies we love, in the theatres they were made to be shown in, but we also get to meet some of the stars, attend lectures and interviews about related topics, and finally meet like minded people who enjoy nothing better than talking old movies!

Here are some pictures of the first day's red carpet screening of Oklahoma and some of the sets and costumes from other films on display. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Marty Ingels at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Merrie Spaeth (The World Of Henry Orient) at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Illeana Douglas at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Shirley Jones at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Leonard Maltin at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Producer Walter Mirisch (Some Like It Hot) at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Wink Martindale at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Robert Osborne and Diane Baker (The Best Of Everything) at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Kim Novak (Vertigo) at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Ben Mankiewicz at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Maureen O'Hara (How Green Was My Valley) at TCM screening of Oklahoma

Margaret O'Brien (meet Me In St. Louis)  at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Candy Clark (American Graffiti) at TCM red carpet screening of Oklahoma

Casablanca set pieces in Club TCM

Casablanca letter of transit Club TCM

Wizard of Oz very scary monkey costume Club TCM

                                          For more posts about TCM Classic Film Festival