Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Hollywood
The following are the events and screenings for the 2011 TCM Classic Film Festival. Additional program announcements will be made right up until the start of the festival. A complete festival schedule is available online at http://www.tcm.com/festival.
Opening Night Events
An American in Paris (1951)
• World premiere of new 60th Anniversary restoration
• Live appearance by Leslie Caron
• Thursday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Kicking off the 2011 TCM Classic Film Festival is this colorful musical about a painter finding art and romance in the City of Lights. Gene Kelly stars in the film with Leslie Caron, who will appear at the gala presentation. The musical score is packed with Gershwin classics, and the dance sequences are among cinema’s most memorable. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the film won six Oscars®, including Best Picture.
Girl Happy (1965)
• Poolside screening introduced by Chris Isaak and Mary Ann Mobley
• Thursday, April 28, at 8 p.m. at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel swimming pool
Elvis Presley’s last big blockbuster features the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll as a singer assigned to keep an eye on a young woman during Spring Break in Ft. Lauderdale. Shelley Fabares co-stars, along with Harold Stone and Gary Crosby. The soundtrack album, featuring the title song, along with “Spring Fever,” “Do the Clam” and “You’ll Be Gone,” climbed to #8 on the charts. This special screening will take place poolside at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the host hotel for the TCM Classic Film Festival.
TCM Pays Tribute to Peter O’Toole
TCM will pay tribute to legendary actor Peter O’Toole, who will be on hand for several special events.
Becket (1964)
• Friday, April 29, at 9 a.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
O’Toole earned the second of eight Best Actor Oscar nominations for his performance as England’s King Henry II, whose friendship with Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket turned into a power struggle that ended with Becket’s murder. Richard Burton, who plays the title role, joined his co-star and good friend on the list of 1964’s Best Actor Oscar nominees. O’Toole took on the visage of Henry II again four years later in The Lion in Winter (1968), which marked his third Oscar nomination.
Peter O’Toole: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival
• Friday, April 29, at 3 p.m. at the Music Box Theatre
Kicking off TCM’s celebration of Peter O’Toole, the legendary actor will sit down with TCM host Robert Osborne for an extensive conversation about his life and career. The conversation will be recorded in front of a live audience of festival attendees for airing on TCM at a later date.
Peter O’Toole Hand and Footprint Ceremony
• Saturday, April 30, at 10 a.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
As part of the festival activities, O’Toole will place his hand and footprints in concrete in the forecourt of the world-famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
TCM Pays Tribute to Kirk Douglas
The TCM Classic Film Festival will celebrate screen icon Kirk Douglas with a special night of programming.
A Conversation with Kirk Douglas
• Friday, April 29, at 8 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Kirk Douglas and TCM’s Robert Osborne will sit down for a conversation about the actor’s life and career. They will present fascinating clips from Douglas’ Before I Forget, which premiered at the Center Theater Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, Calif., in May 2009.
Spartacus (1960)
• Friday, April 29, at 8:30 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Based on a historical novel by Howard Fast, this epic film from director Stanley Kubrick stars Douglas as the famous gladiator who leads a massive slave revolt against Roman authorities. Tony Curtis, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton and Oscar winner Peter Ustinov co-star. Spartacus earned Oscars for its art direction-set decoration, cinematography and costume design, with additional nominations for film editing and Alex North’s score. Douglas’ powerful and intense performance is considered among the actor’s finest. Although Spartacus is now considered one of the best examples of the epic genre, its reception in 1960 was not quite so welcoming, in large part because screenwriter Dalton Trumbo had been blacklisted as a communist sympathizer. Douglas insisted on giving Trumbo on-screen credit, which drew the ire of powerful columnists like Hedda Hopper and organizations such as the American Legion. Despite the naysayers, Spartacus effectively ended the blacklist, allowing banned filmmakers to work openly once again.
The Essentials
Some of the greatest movies ever made populate the TCM Classic Film Festival’s Essentials collection, covering a wide variety of genres, from musicals to horror to historical epics. Many of the screenings will feature celebrity introductions. (Films listed in chronological order by release date.)
The Mummy (1932)
• Midnight screening introduced by Ron Perlman
• Saturday, April 30, at Midnight at The Egyptian Theatre
Boris Karloff plays the title role in this atmospheric chiller from first-time director Karl Freund. After being buried thousands of years, he rises from his tomb to be with the woman he believes to be his reincarnated lover. This film marked another triumph for Universal Studios and Boris Karloff after such memorable tales as Frankenstein (1931) and The Old Dark House (1932). Prosthetic pioneer Jack Pierce spent eight hours each day preparing Karloff’s exceptional make-up.
The Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
• Friday, April 29, at 10:15 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
Warner Bros. followed up its huge hit 42nd Street (1933) with this visually splendid musical featuring Dick Powell, Warren William, Joan Blondell, Ginger Rogers and Aline MacMahon. Mervyn LeRoy directed this story about a millionaire-turned-composer, with choreography by the legendary Busby Berkeley. This film captured the hearts of Depression-era America with its opening number, “We’re in the Money,” one of many memorable tunes featured throughout.
A Night at the Opera (1935)
• Introduced by film historian and producer Robert S. Bader and Andy Marx, grandson of Groucho Marx
• Preceded by the animated short “What’s Opera, Doc?” (1957), starring Bugs Bunny
• Thursday, April 28, at 7:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
Robert S. Bader (The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk) and Groucho Marx’s grandson Andy Marx will introduce this hilarious Marx Brothers romp about a pair of lovers trying to make it in the opera world. Kitty Carlisle, Allen Jones and Margaret Dumont co-star in the film, which was cut down for subsequent releases until much of the lost footage was restored after the discovery of a more complete print in Hungary.
Now, Voyager (1942)
• Introduced by Illeana Douglas
• Friday, April 29, at 3:45 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
A young unmarried woman living with her mother finds new life with the help of a psychiatrist and a new lover in this classic drama starring Bette Davis, Claude Rains and Paul Henreid. Casey Robinson adapted Olive Higgins Prouty’s best-selling novel, which is given lush treatment and a memorable Max Steiner score.
Cabin in the Sky (1943)
• Introduced by film historian and author Donald Bogle
• Preceded by the musical short “Jammin’ the Blues” (1944)
• Saturday, April 30, at Noon at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
This groundbreaking musical features an all-star cast in a retelling of the Faust legend. Ethel Waters, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Lena Horne, Rex Ingram and Duke Ellington star in Vincente Minnelli’s debut film as a director. Among the musical highlights is Waters’ performance of the Oscar-nominated “Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe.” Film historian and author Donald Bogle, whose latest book is Heat Wave: The Life and Career of Ethel Waters, will introduce the screening.
Gaslight (1944)
• Introduced by Angela Lansbury
• Saturday, April 30, at 9:30 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Angela Lansbury earned the first of three Oscar nominations for her performance as Nancy, a young maid whose employer may be trying to drive his wife insane. Lansbury made a strong impression at the age of only 18, holding her own against the film’s powerhouse stars, Charles Boyer and Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman. George Cukor directed the film, which is the second adaptation of a popular Patrick Hamilton play that first came to screens in 1941.
The Third Man (1949)
• Introduced by script supervisor Angela Allen
• Saturday, April 30, at 9 a.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
Postwar Vienna serves as the setting for this classic thriller about a writer trying to track down an old friend, only to hear that the friend has been killed. But all is not as it seems. Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles and Trevor Howard star, with a screenplay by novelist Graham Greene and an enormously popular zither score by Anton Karas. Legendary director Carol Reed helmed the film, which earned the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and the British Academy Award for Best Film. Prior to the screening, Angela Allen will discuss her experience working on the film, her first as script supervisor.
All About Eve (1950)
• Saturday, April 30, at 12:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Few movies cut as sharp and as deep as Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s cynical backstage drama starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Oscar-winner George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlow, Thelma Ritter and Marilyn Monroe. The story follows an aging Broadway actress whose admiring fan is quickly turning out to be her professional and romantic rival. With 14 Academy Award nominations, All About Eve is the most nominated film of all time. In addition to Sanders’ trophy for Best Supporting Actor, Mankiewicz took home prizes for Best Director and Best Screenplay, Edith Head and Charles Le Maire earned honors for Best Costume Design, and the film itself beat out such fellow classics as Sunset Blvd., King Solomon’s Mines and Father of the Bride to win Best Picture.
A Place in the Sun (1951)
• 60th anniversary screening
• Introduced by Rose McGowan
• Sunday, May 1, at 3:15 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift star in this adult drama of a young man who falls in love with a society girl while trying to make his way in his uncle’s company. Shelley Winters co-stars as the girl he leaves behind. Michael Wilson and Harry Brown wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay, which is based on Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy. The film also earned Oscars for director George Stevens, composer Franz Waxman, costume designer Edith Head, cinematographer William C. Mellor and editor William Hornbeck.
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
• World premiere of 60th anniversary digital restoration
• Friday, April 29, at 9 a.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Vivien Leigh earned her second Oscar as Tennessee William’s faded beauty Blanche Dubois in Elia Kazan’s powerful adaptation. Marlon Brando plays the volatile Stanley Kowalski, while Kim Hunter and Karl Malden turn in Oscar-winning performances as Stella and Mitch. Alex North provided the jazz-tinged score.
Royal Wedding (1951)
• 60th anniversary screening
• Introduced by Jane Powell
• Friday, April 29, at 1 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
This lively MGM musical features Fred Astaire and Jane Powell as a brother-sister dance pair who take their show to England at the time of the wedding for Queen Elizabeth II. This Alan Jay Lerner-Burton Lane musical features Astaire’s famous dancing-on-the-ceiling routine, along with the outstanding Astaire-Powell duet “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You (When You Know I’ve Been a Liar All My Life)?”
Niagara (1953)
• Introduced by film historian and author Foster Hirsch
• Saturday, April 30, at 6:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
This intriguing thriller from writer-producer Charles Brackett and director Henry Hathaway stars Joseph Cotten and Marilyn Monroe as George and Rose Loomis, a married couple vacationing at Niagara Falls. As their relationship unravels, she plots to have her husband killed, but not everything goes as it should. The cinematography by Joe MacDonald and art direction by Maurice Ransford and Lyle Wheeler put a unique, colorful spin on the film noir genre. The film was an enormous box-office hit, joining the same year’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire in making Monroe a superstar.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
• Introduced by Jane Powell
• Friday, April 29, at 9:30 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Stanley Donen directed this widescreen musical spectacular starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell. Keel plays a woodsman who decides, along with his brothers, to get married. But their method of proposing leaves a lot to be desired. This dance-filled film features a score by Johnny Mercer and Gene DePaul, plus knockout choreography by Michael Kidd, including the memorable barn-raising sequence.
The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
• Introduced by singer Nancy Sinatra and producer Tina Sinatra, daughters of Frank Sinatra, as well as Victoria Preminger, daughter of director Otto Preminger
• Saturday, April 30, at 3:15 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
Frank Sinatra earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his powerful performance as a heroin-addicted musician in this stark drama from director Otto Preminger. Based on a novel by Nelson Algren, this stark drama faced difficulties receiving approval from the Motion Picture Association of American because of its realistic depiction of drug abuse. Only after changes in the Production Code were made could it receive its approval certificate. Elmer Bernstein’s Oscar-nominated, jazz-infused score and comic actor Arnold Stang’s rare dramatic turn also highlight the film, which co-stars Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak and Darren McGavin.
Carousel (1956)
• 55th anniversary screening
• Saturday, April 30, at 3 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
This beautifully filmed widescreen musical tells the story of a rowdy carnival barker who tries to better himself when he falls in love. Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones star in this Rogers and Hammerstein adaptation of Ferenc Molnár’s Liliom, which features such memorable songs as “If I Loved You,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,” “Soliloquy” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
La Dolce Vita (1960)
• West coast premiere of 50th anniversary restoration
• Presented in partnership with The Film Foundation and Gucci
• Saturday, April 30, at 9 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Federico Fellini’s beautifully restored masterpiece stars Marcello Mastroianni as a tabloid reporter trying to find meaning in his shallow existence. Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée and Yvonne Furneaux co-star. The memorable costumes earned designer Piero Gherardi an Oscar. On the 50th anniversary of the film's U.S. release, TCM presents the West Coast premiere of a new restoration from the Film Foundation in conjunction with Gucci, making this sweet life even sweeter.
West Side Story (1961)
• 50th anniversary screening of 70mm print
• Introduced by George Chakiris
• Sunday, May 1, at 7 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
This extraordinary musical combines the talents of choreographer/co-director Jerome Robbins, composer Leonard Bernstein, lyricist Stephen Sondheim, co-director Robert Wise and writers Ernest Lehman and Arthur Laurents. The result is one of the greatest film musicals ever made. Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer lead the cast as star-crossed lovers in the mold of Romeo & Juliet. Rita Moreno and George Chakiris earned two of the film’s 10 Oscars. The brilliant songs have become permanently entrenched in pop culture, with such tunes as “Maria,” “Tonight,” “Somewhere” and “America,” to name a few.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
• World premiere of 50th anniversary restoration
• Presented as a tribute to director Blake Edwards
• Saturday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Truman Capote’s flighty story comes to the big screen with Audrey Hepburn as a backwoods girl who runs away to find success in New York. There, she finds herself involved with a gigolo (George Peppard). Patricia Neal and Mickey Rooney co-star. Henry Mancini’s score, including the Oscar-winning song “Moon River, co-written with Johnny Mercer, is a favorite of many movie fans.
The Parent Trap (1961)
• 50th anniversary screening
• Introduced by Hayley Mills
• Saturday, April 30, at Noon at The Egyptian Theatre
This delightful comedy stars Hayley Mills as a pair of sisters who were separated shortly after birth when their parents divorced. Now they’re determined to get the adults back together. This film marked Mills’ second of six projects for Disney. It features three songs written by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, including the title song performed by Tommy Sands and Annette Funicello.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
• Introduced by Gregory Peck’s family, as well as co-star Mary Badham
• Friday, April 29, at 4:15 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Robert Mulligan’s powerful adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel stars Gregory Peck in an Oscar-winning performance as Atticus Finch, a widowed Southern lawyer who risks everything to stand up against racism. The story is told from the point of view of his daughter, Scout (Mary Badham), a tomboy who spends her summer days with her older brother, Jem (Phillip Alford) and their awkward neighbor Dill (John Megna), the latter based on Lee’s close friend, Truman Capote. Brock Peters co-stars as a black sharecropper wrongly accused of raping a white woman, and Robert Duvall, in his film debut, plays Scout and Jem’s mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley. This true American classic also earned Oscars for Horton Foote’s memorable screenplay and the evocative art direction/set decoration by Alexander Golitzen, Henry Bumstead and Oliver Emert.
The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)
• Introduced by Debbie Reynolds
• Sunday, May 1, at Noon at The Egyptian Theatre
Meredith Willson’s delightful musical makes the transition from Broadway to the big screen with this lavish film. Debbie Reynolds stars in the title role as a backwoods girl who eventually became the richest woman in Denver and went on to survive the sinking of the Titanic. Songs include “I Ain’t Down Yet” and “Belly Up to the Bar, Boys.”
Goldfinger (1964)
• Sunday, May 1, at 12:30 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Considered by many to be the greatest James Bond film ever, this exciting outing features 007 as he tries to prevent the robbery of Fort Knox’s gold supply. Sean Connery stars, with Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore and Gert Frobe as the title villain. This marked the first of four Bond films directed by Guy Hamilton and the first of three to feature Shirley Bassey’s powerful voice over the opening credits.
Shaft (1971)
• 40th anniversary screening
• Introduced by Richard Roundtree
• Saturday, April 30, at 9:30 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
This seminal blaxploitation flick stars Richard Roundtree as a private detective on the hunt for the daughter of a Harlem mobster. Directed by the legendary Gordon Parks, the film is based on a novel by Ernest Tidyman. Isaac Hayes wrote and performed the theme song, which earned the Oscar for Best Original Song.
The Godfather (1972)
• Friday, April 29, at 12:15 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Francis Ford Coppola’s brilliant cinematic version of Mario Puzo’s mafia novel was one of the first big blockbusters of the 1970s. The film, which earned Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay, stars Marlon Brando as the head of the Corleone family, with Al Pacino, James Caan and John Cazale as his sons. The film also stars Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Alex Rocco and Abe Vigoda. Nina Rota’s score and Gordon Willis’ cinematography stand as towering achievements in a film that has become a cultural icon.
That’s Entertainment! (1974)
• Introduced by Marge Champion
• Sunday, May 1, at 9 a.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
This tribute to the great MGM musicals includes clips from 60 different films, from early sound musicals to major artistic triumphs. In many ways, this film was the last hurrah for the great studio, the final major project shot on the studio's back lot just after it had been sold to real-estate developers. Documentarian Jack Haley, Jr., whose father had played the Tin Woodsman in The Wizard of Oz (1939), assembled an all-star cast of MGM alumni to return to studio sets to introduce clips around various themes, reviving interest in classic musicals.
Network (1976)
• 35th anniversary screening
• Archival print from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Archive
• Sunday, May 1, at 9 a.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
This prescient film from director Sidney Lumet follows the behind-the-scenes wrangling over a network news program after its anchor becomes unhinged on camera. Predicting the rise of reality television and other media trends, Paddy Chayefsky’s Academy Award-winning script is a satirical masterpiece, providing the perfect foundation for Oscar-winning performances by Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight, as well as nominated performances by William Holden and Ned Beatty.
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
• World premiere of 35th anniversary digital restoration
• Saturday, April 30, at 12:15 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Clint Eastwood’s revisionist western features the actor as a peaceful Missouri farmer driven to revenge after his wife and son are killed. Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke and Sam Bottoms co-star. Bruce Surtees’ cinematography and Jerry Fielding’s Oscar-nominated score are among the many highlights in this widely praised film.
Reds (1981)
• 30th anniversary screening
• Introduced by Warren Beatty and Alec Baldwin
• Saturday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Warren Beatty earned an Oscar for directing this powerful look at the life and career of revolutionary journalist and activist John Reed. Diane Keaton co-stars as fellow writer Louise Bryant, with Jack Nicholson as playwright Eugene O’Neill and Oscar-winner Maureen Stapleton as social activist Emma Goldman. Among the film’s many highlights are Vittorio Storaro’s Oscar-winning cinematography and the intriguing use of commentary by real-life activists, writers and educators interspersed throughout the story. Beatty, who also earned Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture nominations for the film, will discuss its legacy during a pre-screening interview with Alec Baldwin, co-host of TCM’s The Essentials movie showcase.
Nice Work if You Can Get It: The Film Music of George and Ira Gershwin
TCM will celebrate the work of George and Ira Gershwin with a collection of films featuring their most memorable songs, including the opening-night gala screening of An American in Paris (1951).
Shall We Dance (1937)
• Introduced by Alexis Gershwin, niece of George and Ira Gerswhin
• Preceded by the animated short “Mouse in Manhattan” (1945), starring Tom & Jerry
• Saturday, April 30, at 9:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
This sparkling musical comedy features Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as a dance team posing as husband and wife. Eric Blore and Edward Everett Horton co-star. The wonderful Gershwin score includes “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.”
Girl Crazy (1943)
• Introduced by Mickey Rooney
• Friday, April 29, at 4 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
As part of the festival’s multi-film celebration of songwriters George and Ira Gershwin, Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney will make a rare public appearance for a presentation of the Gershwin musical Girl Crazy, in which he starred with Judy Garland.
Manhattan (1979)
• Introduced by Mariel Hemingway
• Sunday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Woody Allen’s slice-of-life valentine to New York features the actor-director-writer alongside Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Meryl Streep and Oscar nominee Mariel Hemingway. The gorgeous black-and-white photography is provided by Gordon Willis, all set to a collection of memorable Gershwin tunes.
Disney’s Musical Legacy
Presented in collaboration with D23, The Official Disney Fan Club, this multi-faceted collection of screenings will celebrate Disney’s history of bringing music and film together, from the studio’s timeless animated shorts to its popular live-action musicals.
Fantasia (1940)
• Recently restored edition
• Sunday, May 1, at 7:15 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
This groundbreaking animated anthology, one of Walt Disney’s most astonishing achievements, combines classical music with animated imagery, from the abstract (“Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”) to the hilarious (“Dance of the Hours”) to the awe-inspiring (“Night on Bald Mountain” / “Ave Maria”). A commercial failure when it was first released, the film has since become a cultural treasure, thanks not only to the innovative recording and animation techniques, but also to Mickey Mouse’s memorable appearance as “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”
Summer Magic (1963)
• Introduced by Hayley Mills
• Saturday, April 30, at 9 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Hayley Mills earned a Golden Globe® nomination for her performance in this Disney family classic about a family growing up in Maine on a shoestring budget. Dorothy McGuire plays the widowed matriarch of the clan. The screenplay was adapted from the book Mother Carey’s Chickens by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Burl Ives co-stars and sings the memorable ditty “The Ugly Bug Ball.”
Silly Symphonies
• Curated by Leonard Maltin
• Friday, April 29, at 1 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Film historian Leonard Maltin will curate and introduce this collection of memorable Silly Symphonies shorts. Walt Disney Productions created 75 of these music-filled animated shorts from 1929 to 1939. Many of the featured shorts (rarely theatrically screened) broke new ground in animation techniques, garnering seven Academy Awards® along the way.
Laugh-O-Grams
• Newly discovered and restored shorts
• Presented in collaboration with The Walt Disney Family Museum and Museum of Modern Art
• Introduced by historian J.B. Kaufman and featuring live musical accompaniment by Ben Model
• Thursday, April 28, at 6 p.m. at the Chinese Muliplex – Theater 4
• Sunday, May 1, at 5:45 p.m. at the Chinese Muliplex – Theater 4
This collection of recently discovered and restored Laugh-O-Grams heralds the earliest days of Walt Disney’s career. Before he started the studio that would bear his name, Disney started the Laugh-O-Grams studio. Located on the second floor of a brick building in Kansas City, Mo., the Laugh-O-Gram studio became home to many of the pioneers of animation. The building, which still stands, is also said to have provided Disney with the inspiration for his most enduring character, Mickey Mouse.
A Celebration of Bernard Herrmann
From Alfred Hitchcock to Orson Welles, composer Bernard Herrmann collaborated with some of Hollywood’s greatest film artists. His innovative and evocative scores continue to influence composers today. The festival will commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth with several screenings.
Citizen Kane (1941)
• World premiere of a 70th anniversary restoration
• Saturday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Orson Welles’ chronicle of the rise and fall of a media mogul is considered by many to be the greatest film ever made, thanks to its groundbreaking storytelling style and technical prowess. Welles brought many of his Mercury Theatre players and craftspeople to Hollywood for the film, including composer Bernard Herrmann, who would go on to become one of Hollywood’s most respected composers.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
• Introduced by Dorothy Herrmann, composer Bernard Herrmann’s daughter
• Thursday, April 28, at 7:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Bernard Herrmann’s lovely score – reportedly the composer’s personal favorite – is just one of this romantic classic’s many attributes. Gene Tierney stars as a young widow whose new home is haunted by a dead sea captain, played by Rex Harrison. George Sanders and Natalie Wood co-star, with Joseph L. Mankiewicz directing.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
• 60th anniversary presentation
• Introduced by Dorothy Herrmann, composer Bernard Herrmann's daughter
• Thursday, April 28, at 10 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Robert Wise’s sci-fi drama stars Michael Rennie as a visitor from outer space who comes with a warning for the people of Earth. Patricia Neal co-stars as the woman who helps him. Robert Wise’s pacifist drama has been hailed as one of the genre’s finest works. Bernard Herrmann’s score features several electronic instruments not commonly used in 1951, including the eerie-sounding Theremin, which later became a staple of science-fiction films.
The Trouble with Harry (1955)
• Introduced by Jerry Mathers
• Sunday, May 1, at 12:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
This delightful tongue-in-cheek thriller from director Alfred Hitchcock stars John Forsythe, Shirley MacLaine, Edmund Gwenn, Mildred Natwick and, in his first major film role, Jerry Mathers. The story involves a dead body, the various people who may have murdered him and the hilarious attempts to cover up the crime. Bernard Herrmann’s delightful score was considered by the composer to be a tribute to Hitchcock’s macabre sense of humor.
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
• Friday, April 29, at 3:45 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
The colorful fantasy stars Kerwin Matthews as the title hero, who sets out to save a princess shrunken by an evil wizard. This marked one of Herrmann’s numerous collaborations with producer Charles H. Schneer and special effects master Ray Harryhausen. Herrmann’s music for a scene in which Sinbad battles a skeleton is a xylophone tour de force.
Taxi Driver (1976)
• 35th anniversary screening of recently restored edition
• Sunday, May 1, at 4 p.m. at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Martin Scorsese’s brutal thriller features Robert DeNiro in one of his most disturbing roles as Travis Bickle, a disillusioned cab driver bent on cleaning up the streets of New York. Jodie Foster is a child prostitute who becomes an object of his obsession. Using a jazzy, mournful saxophone, Bernard Herrmann invokes a film noir feel for this dark movie set mostly at night.
Happy Trails: Roy Rogers
The TCM Classic Film Festival will salute Roy Rogers, the “King of the Singing Cowboys,” with four music-filled westerns, all restored in time for the 100th anniversary of Rogers’ birth.
Under Western Stars (1938)
• Introduced by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
• Preceded by the animated short “Deputy Droopy” (1955), starring Droopy Dog
• Thursday, April 28, at 7:45 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Roy Rogers landed his first starring role for Republic Pictures with this tuneful western. The story follows the cowboy as he seeks election to public office in order to bring water to the ranchers in his district. Songs include “Dust,” “Send My Mail to the Country Jail,” “Back to the Backwoods,” “Rogers for Congressman” and “When a Cowboy Sings a Song.”
Cowboy and the Senorita (1944)
• World premiere of new restoration
• Introduced by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
• Preceded by the animated short “Drip Along Daffy” (1951), starring Daffy Duck
• Friday, April 29, at 1 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Roy comes to the rescue when a villain tries to steal a gold mine from the young woman who inherited it from her dead father. Mary Lee and Rogers’ wife, Dale Evans, co-star. In addition to the title song, the film features such Phil Ohman-Ned Washington tunes as “The Enchilada Man” and “What’ll I Use for Money?”
My Pal Trigger (1946)
• World premiere of new restoration
• Introduced by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
• Preceded by the short “Meet Roy Rogers” (1941)
• Saturday, April 30, at 9:30 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Roy sets out to clear his name when he is accused of killing a prize horse in this western co-starring Dale Evans and George “Gabby” Hayes. Songs include “Ole Faithful,” “Livin’ Western Style” “All the Cowhands Want to Marry Harriet” and “El Rancho Grande.”
Trigger Jr. (1950)
• Introduced by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
• Preceded by the animated short “Hillbilly Hare” (1950), starring Bugs Bunny
• Sunday, May 1, at 3:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
When a killer horse is set loose by a local villain, it’s up to Roy to save the day with the help of his own trusty steed. Dale Evans and Grant Withers co-star. Roy Rogers and The Riders of the Purple Sage sing “May the Good Lord Take a Likin’ to You,” “Stampede” and “The Big Rodeo.” This film was released just one year before Rogers and Evans launched the long-running television series The Roy Rogers Show.
Discoveries
The festival will be packed with a number of outstanding films that are primed to be rediscovered by film fans. Each film has been painstakingly restored and features work by well-known film personalities. (Films listed in chronological order by release date.)
This is the Night (1932)
• UCLA restoration
• Introduced by film historian and author Foster Hirsch and Jennifer Grant, daughter of Cary Grant
• Saturday, April 30, at 9:30 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
Thelma Todd plays a woman caught between two men in this pre-Code comedy full of risqué elements. Cary Grant scores in his first feature film role as Todd’s javelin-throwing husband, while Roland Young plays her paramour. Frank Tuttle directed the film, which is based on a play by Henry Falk.
Taxi! (1932)
• Preceded by the Tex Avery animated short “One Cab’s Family” (1952)
• Friday, April 29, at 8:15 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Made on the heels of James Cagney’s rise to stardom in The Public Enemy (1931), this was one of several pictures with which the studio tried to use his manic energy and flair for invective in more sympathetic roles. Here he plays an independent cab driver fighting the mob’s efforts to take over the business. Loretta Young and George Raft co-star. This film gave rise to the misquoted “You dirty rat!” line used by just about anyone who tries to imitate Cagney.
Two Seconds (1932)
• Preceded by the animated short “Rackateer Rabbit” (1946), starring Bugs Bunny
• Friday, April 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
A year after director Mervyn LeRoy made Edward G. Robinson a star in Little Caesar (1931), he gave him a showcase role n this story of a man reviewing his life in the two seconds it takes him to die in the electric chair. Preston Foster and Vivienne Osborne and J. Carroll Naish co-star. Robinson’s courtroom testimony, a four-minute scene shot expertly by LeRoy, provided him with a tour-de-force monologue that represents one of the actor’s best moments on screen.
Hoop-La (1933)
• World premiere of new restoration presented in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
• Introduced by MoMA film collection manager Katie Trainor and Clara Bow biographer David Stenn
• Saturday, April 30, at 12:30 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
This pre-Code romantic drama marks the final feature film of the “It” girl, Clara Bow, as she plays a carnival hula dancer out to seduce the carnival owner’s son. Although Bow was originally unenthusiastic about making the film and was only doing it so she could finish her studio contract and retire, her excellent performance lifts the material above the ordinary. Preston Foster and Richard Cromwell co-star under the direction of Frank Lloyd.
Night Flight (1933)
• Re-emergence of long unseen film
• Sunday, May 1, at 10 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Unseen since it was pulled from circulation in 1942, this all-star aerial drama re-emerges at the TCM Classic Film Festival. John Barrymore stars as the head of a South American airline who drives his pilots, including Clark Gable, to the brink of death as they deliver necessary supplies to remote regions. The outstanding cast includes Helen Hayes, Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy and Lionel Barrymore, appearing onscreen with his brother for the fifth and last time.
British Agent (1933)
• World premiere of new restoration
• Friday, April 29, at 4 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
This espionage thriller is loosely based on the memoirs of R.H. Bruce Lockhart, a British consul during the Russian Revolution. The story is set against the backdrop of Lenin's rise to power. Leslie Howard and Kay Francis star, with Michael Curtiz directing. This film presents a fascinating look at world politics as seen through the Hollywood dream machine.
Design for Living (1933)
• Screening of new print
• Introduced by film critic Lou Lumenick
• Friday, April 29, at 6:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
Fredric March and Gary Cooper star as sophisticated men of the world in this adaptation of Noel Coward’s hit play, also featuring Miriam Hopkins. Writer Ben Hecht’s screenplay Americanizes the three leads and, to please the censors at the time, gives them an essentially sexless relationship until romance reared its ugly head. With Ernst Lubitsch directing, the film remains an elegant statement about sophistication colliding with reality.
The Devil is a Woman (1935)
• World premiere of restoration presented in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art
• Introduced by MoMA film collection manager Katie Trainor
• Thursday, April 28, at 10:15 p.m. at the Chinese Muliplex – Theater 3
This drama set in Spain stars Marlene Dietrich as a woman who belongs to nobody and is the obsession of many. Lionel Atwill and Cesar Romero co-star. This marked the last of seven collaborations between Dietrich and filmmaker Josef von Sternberg.
Dodsworth (1936)
• 75th anniversary premiere of new print
• Friday, April 29, at 9:15 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton star in William Wyler’s underappreciated adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’ novel about a retired industrialist who takes his wife to Europe, only to find a surprising new life. This remarkably mature film features an intelligent script by Sidney Howard and Oscar-winning interior decoration by Richard Day.
Went the Day Well? (1942)
• North American premiere of new 35mm restoration
• Introduced by film historian and documentarian Kevin Brownlow
• Presented in partnership with Rialto Pictures
• Saturday, April 30, at 3:45 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
This newly rediscovered masterwork by director Alberto Cavalcanti stars Leslie Banks and Elizabeth Allan in the story of a British village dealing with an invasion of German paratroopers during World War II. Although told in flashback as if the war is already over, the film was made several years before the outcome of the war would be known. The outstanding script is based on a story by Graham Greene.
The Constant Nymph (1943)
• Long-out-of-circulation film and one of TCM’s most requested titles
• Friday, April 29, at 10 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Joan Fontaine earned her third Oscar nomination for this passionate romance about a girl who falls madly in love with a self-absorbed but married composer, played by Charles Boyer. Alexis Smith co-stars as Boyer’s wife. Edmund Goulding directed this intelligent, touching story, which features a sweeping score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. This film has long been out of circulation because of competing rights for Margaret Kennedy’s novel and play. It is among the movies most frequently requested by TCM fans.
Coney Island (1943)
• Screening of new print
• Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Betty Grable scored her first major film hit with this rousing period musical, in which she plays an entertainer in turn-of-the-century Coney Island. George Montgomery cons his way into a management job at her club, tones down her act to turn her into a star and steals her from crooked boyfriend Cesar Romero. With her blond hair and perfectly painted lips, Grable was the screen's best advertisement for Technicolor, and the sumptuous sets and Helen Rose costumes were the glamorous icing on the cake. The film was the latest triumph for 20th Century Fox’s resident musical mastermind, Alfred Newman, whose Oscar-nominated score deftly combines vintage songs like “Pretty Baby” and “Cuddle Up a Little Closer” with new numbers by the studio's resident songwriting aces, Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin.
Casanova in Burlesque (1944)
• Featuring Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, interviewed by Barry Allen
• Thursday, April 28, at 10 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Joe E. Brown stars in this comedy about a man leading a double life: burlesque comedian during the summer and Shakespeare professor during the winter. June Havoc and a young Dale Evans co-star. Among the movie’s memorable songs are “Who Took Me Home Last Night?” and “Taming of the Shrew.”
Bigger Than Life (1956)
• Introduced by Barbara Rush
• Friday, April 29, at 12:45 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 3
James Mason headlines this powerful and daring drama from director Nicholas Ray about a teacher who becomes a drug addict. Barbara Rush, who plays Mason’s devoted wife, will introduce the film. Bigger Than Life co-stars Walter Matthau and is based on an article in The New Yorker. Although a financial flop when it was originally released, the film has since been hailed as a masterpiece. In 1963, French director Jean-Luc Godard named it one of the 10 best American sound films.
The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
• Introduced by Roger Corman
• Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Roger Corman, who celebrates his 85th birthday in April, is set to introduce his Grand Guignol thriller-comedy starring Jonathan Haze as a nudnik trapped in a Faustian agreement with a blood-thirsty plant. Jackie Joseph co-stars as the woman he hopes to impress. Jack Nicholson steals the movie as a masochist who gets his kicks out of dental work. Although reportedly made in only two days on a shoestring budget, this film is now considered one of Corman’s best. It even served as the basis for an off-Broadway and film musical.
Whistle Down the Wind (1961)
• 50th anniversary screening
• Introduced by Hayley Mills
• Sunday, May 1, at 12:30 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
Hayley Mills stars in this allegorical drama based on a book by her mother, novelist Mary Hayley Bell. Mills plays the oldest of three children who protect a fugitive in their barn after mistaking him for Jesus. Alan Bates and Bernard Lee also star, with Bryan Forbes making his feature debut as director. The whistling on the soundtrack was reportedly provided by Sir Richard Attenborough. This story was later turned into a stage musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Jim Steinman.
The Connection (1961)
• World premiere restoration
• Introduced by director Allison Anders
• Preceded by the animated short “His First Day”
• Friday, April 29, at 9:45 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Experimental filmmaker Shirley Clarke made her feature directorial debut with this searing drama about a group of junkies waiting for the arrival of their latest fix and the documentary filmmaker who wants to chronicle their behavior. Based on a play by Jack Gleber, this groundbreaking independent film was banned in New York until a lawsuit led the New York State Court of Appeals to clear the way for its exhibition.
One, Two, Three (1961)
• 50th anniversary screening
• Introduced by film historian Michael Schlesinger
• Saturday, April 30, at 9:30 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
James Cagney headlines his uproarious Billy Wilder comedy about a soda executive trying to overcome scandal in West Berlin when his boss’ visiting daughter falls for a communist. The outstanding cast includes Arlene Francis, Horst Buchholz, Pamela Tiffin and Red Buttons. Wilder and frequent collaborator I.A.L. Diamond wrote the screenplay based on a Ferenc Molnar play. This marked Cagney’s last big-screen appearance before his 20-year-hiatus from the screen.
The Sid Saga: Parts 1, 2 and 3 (1980s)
• Recently discovered masterpiece preserved by UCLA
• Introduced by film preservationist Ross Lipman
• Preceded by the Sid Laverents short “Multiple Sidosis” (1970)
• Sunday, May 1, at 9:15 a.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
Amateur filmmaker Sid Laverents burst into national attention in 2000 at age 92, when his short film “Multiple Sidosis” (1970) was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry. An undiscovered masterpiece, The Sid Saga is Laverents’ magnum opus, chronicling his family's many moves across the country in the early part of the century, his marriages and his many careers, such as barnstorming vaudevillian, dishwasher, sign painter, brush salesman, carpenter, soldier, sheet metal worker and rocket scientist. Finally, it chronicles his later years as a filmmaker, spanning everything from eccentric nature documentaries to mind-boggling comedies. Twenty years in the making and now preserved by UCLA, this unknown gem will receive its Los Angeles restoration premiere in a special tribute screening to Laverents.
Pennies from Heaven (1981)
• 30th anniversary screening of new print
• Introduced by Illeana Douglas
• Saturday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 4
This unique musical, adapted from Dennis Potter’s popular British television series, stars Steve Martin as a married Depression-era sheet-music salesman who falls for another woman. Bernadette Peters, Christopher Walken and Jessica Harper co-star under the direction of Herbert Ross. Danny Daniels’ choreography faithfully recreates the style of such legendary Hollywood choreographers as Busby Berkeley and Hermes Pan. The songs are taken from vintage musicals of the period, with the stars cleverly lip-syncing to the recordings.
The Silent Legacy
The TCM Classic Film Festival will feature two outstanding silent films accompanied by live music. It’s a fantastic opportunity to relive the glorious days of the silent era.
The Merry Widow (1925)
• Introduced by film historian and documentarian Kevin Brownlow
• Featuring the North American premiere of composer Maud Nelissen performing the score live with a ten-person orchestra
• Friday, April 29, at 8:15 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
Erich von Stroheim’s silent adaptation of Franz Lehár’s features great performances by John Gilbert as a prince and Mae Murray as the American showgirl who captures his affection. Although relatively tame by von Stroheim standards, this film still features several intriguing touches. Brownlow, who has written several books and directed numerous documentaries on the silent era, will introduce this special screening.
The Cameraman (1928)
• Featuring live musical accompaniment by Vince Giordano and His Nighthawks
• Preceded by the short “Lambchops” (1929), starring George Burns and Gracie Allen
• Saturday, April 30, at 7 p.m. at The Egyptian Theatre
Buster Keaton’s hilarious comedy features “The Great Stoneface” as a wannabe newsreel cameraman who is lovesick for a young woman. Marceline Day and Harold Goodwin co-star. This presentation will feature musical accompaniment by the popular jazz-music ensemble Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. The group, which was formed in 1976, is renowned for performing music of the 1920s and 1930s. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks have appeared in venues around the country and contributed to soundtracks for The Aviator, Revolutionary Road, Public Enemies and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, among others.
Special Events
A Tribute to the Nicholas Brothers
• Introduced by Robert Townsend and Bruce Goldstein
• Sunday, May 1, at 3:45 p.m. at the Chinese Multiplex – Theater 1
The fabulous Nicholas Brothers, Fayard (1914-2006) and Harold (1921-2000), are considered among the greatest dancers of the 20th century. Despite racial hurdles, the self-taught African American entertainers became one of the biggest musical acts of their time, headlining on Broadway, radio, and television, and in vaudeville and nightclubs. Their dazzling, show-stopping numbers in movies like Down Argentine Way (1940), Sun Valley Serenade (1941), and Stormy Weather(1943) made them international icons. Known for effortless moves, elegant tap dancing, impeccable rhythms and jaw-dropping leaps, flips and splits – along with a consummate grace and a sly sense of humor – the duo are truly impossible to categorize. They are the dancer’s dancers who found fans in Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse, Gregory Hines, George Ballanchine, Mikhail Baryshnikov and even Michael Jackson. This special tribute has been compiled by Bruce Goldstein, writer and co-producer of a 1991 documentary on the team.
The Tingler (1959)
• Midnight screening introduced by Bruce Goldstein, Director of Repertory Programming for Film Forum
• Featuring special surprises during the screening
• Friday, April 29, at Midnight at The Egyptian Theatre
Featuring one of director William Castle’s most intriguing concepts, this unique horror film stars Vincent Price as a scientist who discovers fear is caused by a creature that grows along the human spine. Castle pulls out all the stops to keep moviegoers on edge, with such memorable scenes as an LSD trip and a creepy sequence in color. TCM has several surprises in store for the audience in keeping with Castle’s reputation as Hollywood’s master of promotional gimmicks.
An Evening with Vince Giordano and His Nighthawks Orchestra
• Friday, April 29, at 9 p.m. at the Music Box Theatre
This popular jazz-music ensemble takes the stage for a memorable night of music.
Schedule
Thursday, April 28
Noon – Michael Schwab, creator of the key artwork for the 2011 TCM Classic Film Festival, will sign posters.
1 p.m. – “TCM: Meet the People Behind the Network” – One of the more popular panels from last year is back, giving fans the chance to learn more about some of the people working behind-the-scenes to bring you the programming, the original productions and the creative look of the network. This is an excellent opportunity for fans to find out more about the inner workings of TCM and what it takes to make the magic happen.
4:30 p.m. – “The Man Who Shot Hollywood: Jack Pashkovsky” – Barry Avrich, filmmaker, will share the story of Jack Pashkovsky, who took rare and candid photographs while employed at several Hollywood studios in the 1930s and ‘40s. Avrich will share his reminiscences of Pashkovsky, whose work will be publicly displayed for the first time in Club TCM.
5 p.m. – Festival Welcome Party
Friday, April 29
12:30 p.m. – Debbie Reynolds personal appearance and DVD signing
2 p.m. – “The Best Trailers Ever Made: the Art of Selling Motion Pictures” –Terry Press, one of Hollywood’s most respected marketing executives, leads a panel of her colleagues in a look at what it takes to create successful trailers, a key element to marketing any film’s marketing campaign. They will discuss how trailers first developed and how they have changed over time, becoming what many people consider to be a vital part of the movie-going experience.
Moderator:
Terry Press has been one of Hollywood’s most respected marketing executives for more than two decades through her company, 7570, Inc., as well as previously with DreamWorks and Disney. Her marketing campaigns include such films as Across the Universe (2007), Doubt (2008) and Julie & Julia (2009).
Panelists:
Benedict Coulter is founder of the agency Trailer Park. Since 2010, he has served as a marketing consultant for The Weinstein Company. He has worked on campaigns ranging from Jurassic Park (1993) to Avatar (2009).
David Sameth has produced numerous creative campaigns for films like Field of Dreams (1989), Do the Right Thing (1989), Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Old School (2003). He is the senior vice president of marketing at The Walt Disney Company, where he recently supervised the campaign for Toy Story 3 (2010).
Michelle Jackino, currently executive creative director at the agency The Ant Farm, has worked on numerous campaigns, including for American Beauty (1999), Gladiator (2000), The Departed (2006) and Rango (2011).
4 p.m. – “A Conversation with Leslie Caron” – The actress will be interviewed by film historian and professor Foster Hirsch. Following the conversation, Caron will sign copies of her new autobiography, Thank Heaven: A Memoir.
Saturday, April 30
12:30 p.m. – “A Conversation with Kevin Brownlow” – The renowned filmmaker, film historian and 2010 recipient of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Award will discuss his films, career and lifelong passion for silent cinema.
2:30 p.m. – “Voice Doubles” – They sang the songs that made film soundtracks memorable – some credited, others not. Voice doubles have a venerable tradition in movie making. This panel will feature three vocal stars whose work can be heard in some of the greatest musicals of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, when songs were often sung by “ghosts.” They will discuss how studios tried to keep their important contributions a secret.
Moderator:
Pete Hammond is a longtime film critic for Boxoffice Magazine. He is also a columnist for Deadline Hollywood and Movieline.com. He has earned five Emmy® nominations for his television writing.
Panelists:
Marni Nixon is a noted soprano and Emmy winner who was the voice double for Deborah Kerr in The King and I (1956), Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961) and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (1964), among others.
Jimmy Bryant is an arranger, orchestrator and singer who was the voice double for Richard Beymer in West Side Story (1961).
India Adams has been a popular singer for over 60 years in radio, TV and theater. Her singing voice has been used for Cyd Charisse in The Band Wagon (1953) and Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar (1954).
4:30 p.m. – “Fred and Kate: Behind the Scenes with Joan Kramer and David Heeley” – For more than two decades, starting with their award-winning profile of Fred Astaire in 1980, Joan Kramer and David Heeley have documented the lives and careers of many Hollywood legends. In doing so, they have established a reputation for finding the unfindable, persuading the reluctant and maintaining unique relationships long after the end credits have rolled. Their productions includeFred Astaire: Puttin’ on His Top Hat (1980), Fred Astaire: Change Partners and Dance (1980), The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn (1986)and Katharine Hepburn: All About Me (1993), among many others. In this special event, Kramer and Heeley will illustrate their stories about Fred Astaire and Katharine Hepburn with fascinating behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes and a special surprise for Astaire buffs.
9 p.m. – Delco Nightingale – Hailing from Philadelphia, Delco Nightingale revisits the sounds of big-band, jazz and swing standards, including many hits featured in festival films. It’s a great chance to dance all night.
Sunday, May 1
12:30 p.m. – “Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood” with author Donald Bogle – Historian, author and frequent TCM contributor Donald Bogle will present an eye-opening examination of the origins of black Hollywood during the studio era, revealing the lives of African-Americans in the early film industry and how they fought to make a place for themselves. Some began as servants to the stars, while others climbed their way up from bit parts. Also revealed are the lifestyles of this community, such as their social activities and which parts of town were open or closed to them. This illuminating t
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