TCM Classic Film Festival Adds Award-Winning Stars, Filmmakers And More

The 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival has unveiled another spectacular lineup of special guests and events for this year’s four-day gathering in Hollywood. Among the newly announced participants for this year’s festival are five-time Emmy® winner Dick Van Dyke, Oscar® winner Shirley Jones, two-time Golden Globe® winner Angie Dickinson, six-time Golden Globe nominee Robert Wagner, seven-time Oscar nominee Norman Jewison, longtime producer A.C. Lyles and three-time Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker. In addition, the festival will feature a special three-film tribute to director/choreographer Stanley Donen, who will be on-hand for the celebration.

As part of its overall Style and the Movies theme, the festival has added several films featuring the work of pioneering costume designer Travis Banton. Oscar-nominated costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis will introduce the six-movie slate, with actress and former Essentials co-host Rose McGowan joining her for one of the screenings.

Other festival additions include a screening of The Wolf Man (1941), with an appearance by Academy Award®-winning makeup designer Rick Baker; a special screening of A Night to Remember (1958), commemorating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic; a collection of 3D rarities; and much more.

TCM’s own Robert Osborne will once again serve as official host for the star-studded TCM Classic Film Festival, which takes place in Hollywood April 12-15. Passes and more information are available through the official festival website: http://www.tcm.com/festival. For all the latest news and comments about the TCM Classic Film Festival, follow @TCMfilmfest on Twitter or search for hashtag #TCMFF.

Special Screenings:

Wings (1927) – 85th Anniversary Restoration, introduced by long-time Paramount producer A.C. Lyles

Charles “Buddy” Rogers, Richard Arlen and Clara Bow star in William A. Wellman’s high-flying World War I melodrama, the first movie ever to take home Oscar for Best Picture. Wings set the gold standard for Hollywood when it comes to shooting aerial dogfights. Longtime producer A.C. Lyles, who originally saw Wings in 1927, when he was 10 years old, will provide the introduction.

Black Narcissus (1947) – Hosted by editor Thelma Schoonmaker

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s powerful drama stars Deborah Kerr as a nun working to start a mission in an isolated Himalayan valley. Jack Cardiff’s stunning color cinematography takes center stage. Sabu, David Farrar, Flora Robson and Jean Simmons co-star in the film, which will be introduced by Powell’s widow, Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker.

A Night to Remember (1958) – U.S. Premiere of Restoration, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic

Decades before James Cameron swept moviegoers away with star-crossed lovers aboard a doomed ship, British director Roy Ward Baker presented a starker, less romanticized version of the sinking of the the “unsinkable” Titanic. This Golden Globe-winning docudrama, based on Walter Lord’s definitive book, stars Kenneth More as the ship’s dutiful second officer. The cast also includes David McCallum, Jill Dixon, Laurence Naismith, Frank Lawton and Honor Blackman.

Rio Bravo (1959) – World Premiere Restoration, introduced by Angie Dickinson

John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan and Angie Dickinson headline this top-notch western from director Howard Hawks. The story centers on a sheriff who enlists the help of various locals in order to keep a killer from escaping town. Wayne was reportedly nervous about his love scenes with Dickinson, who was half his age at the time.

Elmer Gantry (1960) – Hosted by Shirley Jones Sinclair Lewis’ incisive novel about a con man wooing a female evangelist comes to life in this powerful drama. Burt Lancaster took home an Oscar as the charismatic title character, with Jean Simmons as Sister Sharon Falconer. Shirley Jones earned Oscar gold playing against type as Elmer’s former flame.

The Longest Day (1962) – World Premiere of 50th Anniversary Restoration, hosted by Robert Wagner

An all-star cast comes together to tell the story of the Allied forces’ invasion of Normandy on D-Day in one of the biggest war films of all time. John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Robert Wagner and many more star under the direction of Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton and Bernhard Wicki.

The Pink Panther (1964) – Introduced by Robert Wagner

Blake Edwards’ hilarious caper comedy stars David Niven as a suave jewel thief, Robert Wagner as his handsome son, Capucine as a rebellious princess and Peter Sellers in his first performance as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. Among the many delights are Henry Mancini’s memorable music and Friz Freleng’s opening sequence.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) – Introduced by Norman Jewison

Director Norman Jewison took the art of split-screen imagery to a new level with this sexy thriller about a millionaire thief and the female insurance investigator determined to bring him down after a bank robbery. Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway provide the on-screen sparks.

Dracula (1931) Reprising the role that made him famous on Broadway, Bela Lugosi plays Bram Stoker’s hypnotic vampire. Directed by Tod Browning, this horror classic also features Dwight Frye, Helen Chandler and Edward Van Sloan.

Frankenstein (1931) James Whale’s wonderfully atmospheric version of Mary Shelley’s horror classic continues to reign as one of the greatest horror films ever made. Boris Karloff stars as the monster, with Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein and truly memorable makeup by Jack Pierce.

The Black Cat (1934) – Introduced by Bela Lugosi Jr. and Sara Karloff

Boris Karloff plays a devil-worshipping architect with sinister plans, while Bela Lugosi plays the doctor determined to thwart him in this visually sumptuous production. One of the most unique horror films to come out of Universal, The Black Cat features remarkable art deco sets designed by Charles D. Hall.

Son of Frankenstein (1939) Basil Rathbone stars as the title character in this third film in Universal’s Frankenstein franchise. Boris Karloff plays as The Monster for the last time, with Bela Lugosi particularly memorable as the deformed Ygor. The film features a tongue-in-cheek script by Wyllis Cooper, visually striking sets by Jack Otterson and spooky cinematography by George Robinson.

The Wolf Man (1941) – Introduced by Academy Award-winning makeup designer Rick Baker

Universal launched a new and highly successful horror franchise with this timeless tale of a man who becomes a wolf when the full moon burns bright. Lon Chaney Jr. turns in a sensitive performance in the lead role, with wonderful support from Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Bellamy, Bela Lugosi and Maria Ouspenskaya.

Special Presentations:

A Fine Mess: Laurel & Hardy – Introduced by Dick Van Dyke

Comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are put through the ringer in such hilarious shorts as (titles). Dick Van Dyke, whose comic legacy includes three consecutive Emmys for the sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Comedy Awards, will introduce the shorts and discuss the influence Laurel & Hardy have had on his life and career.

“A Trip to the Moon” and Other Trips through Time, Color and Space – Presented by Serge Bromberg

Serge Bromberg’s Lobster Films has been behind many significant restorations and rediscoveries, including the restored A Trip to the Moon (1902), presented with much fanfare at the 2011 edition of the Cannes Film Festival. TCM Classic Film Festival passholders will have the opportunity to enjoy that magical film – which played a key role in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo – along with several other rare shorts from the early years of cinema. The lineup includes A Trip Down Market Street (1906), Metamorphosis du Papillon (1904), The Acrobatic Fly (1908), the Ub Iwerks cartoon Baloonland (1935) and Georges Méliès’ decidedly adult Apres le Bal (1897).

Retour de Flamme: Rare and Restored Films in 3-D – Presented by Serge Bromberg

Film historian and archivist Serge Bromberg will take the audience on an amazing trip through the history of 3D filmmaking. This “eye-popping” collection includes an early experiment in 3D from the year 1900, George Sydney’s 3D short Murder in 3D (1931) and the Chip ‘n Dale cartoon Working for Peanuts (1953), as well as two recent Road Runner shorts created in 3D.

A Salute to Stanley Donen

The TCM Classic Film Festival pays tribute to legendary filmmaker Stanley Donen with three of his films starring one of his favorite actresses: Audrey Hepburn. Donen, who received an honorary Oscar in 1998 for his body of work, will be on-hand to take part in the celebration. His career will also be represented during the festival with the world premiere of the 60th anniversary restoration of Singin’ in the Rain (1952), which he co-directed with Gene Kelly.

Two for the Road (1967) – World Premiere of 45th Anniversary Restoration

Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney star as a quarrelsome couple reminisce about their relationship during a drive in southern France in Stanley Donen’s insightful drama. Henry Mancini wrote the score. The 4K digital restoration of Two for the Road was completed by 20th Century Fox in collaboration with The Film Foundation.

Charade (1963) The TCM Classic Film Festival pays tribute to director and choreographer Stanley Donen with a presentation of this sophisticated mystery-comedy starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Grant plays a man who helps widow Hepburn track down a fortune hidden by her late husband. Walter Matthau, James Coburn and George Kennedy co-star, with a terrific score by Henry Mancini.

Funny Face (1957) Fred Astaire is a fashion photographer who turns Audrey Hepburn into a chic model in this highly stylized musical featuring memorable Gershwin songs. Kay Thompson co-stars, with impeccable color cinematography by Ray June and John P. Fulton.

Style in the Movies: The Legendary Costumes of Travis Banton

One of the most important costume designers of classic Hollywood, Travis Banton was the man who taught Edith Head and dressed the likes of Mae West, Claudette Colbert, Carole Lombard and a host of other glamorous Paramount stars. The festival will feature six films showcasing Banton’s work. They will be introduced by Oscar-nominated costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis, who will be joined by Rose McGowan for Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948).

Trouble in Paradise (1932) – Introduced by Deborah Nadoolman Landis

Ernst Lubitch’s sparkling comedy stars Herbert Marshall and Miriam Hopkins as a pair of crooks out to swindle a rich socialite, played by Kay Francis. Beautiful art deco designs complement Travis Banton’s lush gowns.

I’m No Angel (1933) – Introduced by Deborah Nadoolman Landis

In the most successful film of her career, Mae West shines as a sideshow performer who falls for playboy Cary Grant. Costume designer Travis Banton provides West with the perfect wardrobe to capitalize on her sex symbol status.

The Scarlet Empress (1934) – Introduced by Deborah Nadoolman Landis

Frequent collaborators Marlene Dietrich and director Josef von Sternberg bring the story of Russia’s Catherine the Great to the screen in ornate style. John Lodge and Sam Jaffe co-star. Bert Glennon’s glowing cinematography, Hans Dreier’s expressionistic art direction and Travis Banton’s inventive costumes make this one of the most visually captivating films of the era.

Nothing Sacred (1937) – Recent restoration introduced by Deborah Nadoolman Landis

Carole Lombard and Fredric March star in this terrific screwball comedy about a hotshot reporter who tries to exploit the “imminent” death of a Vermont girl. William Wellman directed from Ben Hecht’s hilariously cynical script.

Cover Girl (1944) – Introduced by Deborah Nadoolman Landis

Rita Hayworth shines in this musical about a chorus girl who chance at stardom comes when she is chosen to be a highly paid cover girl. Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin’s score includes the classic “Long Ago (and Far Away).” Travis Banton’s gowns for the film range from turn-of-the-century to modern.

Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948)—Introduced by Rose McGowan and Deborah Nadoolman Landis

Joan Fontaine plays a woman obsessed with a pianist played by Louis Jourdan in this rich romantic drama from Max Ophüls. Howard Koch adapted the screenplay from a novella by Stefan Zweig.

About the TCM Classic Film Festival

Each April, Hollywood rolls out the red carpet to welcome thousands of movie lovers, filmmakers and legendary stars from around the globe for the TCM Classic Film Festival. Marking its third year, the TCM Classic Film Festival is the place to experience classic movies as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in some of the world’s most iconic venues, with the people who made them. The four-day festival, which takes place Thursday, April 12 – Sunday, April 15, features a wide range of screenings, events and appearances starting early in the morning and going into the late evening.

TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne will serve as official host of the TCM Classic Film Festival, with TCM weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz also introducing several events. Among the highlights of this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival: a gala opening-night screening of the newly restored Cabaret (1972), with a live appearance by Oscar® winners Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey*; a multi-tiered celebration of Kim Novak, including the taping of a TCM special, a hand and footprints ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theater and a screening of the Alfred Hitchcock classic Vertigo (1958); live appearances by Debbie Reynolds at anniversary screenings of the newly restored Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and the western epic How the West Was Won (1962), the latter presented in all its Cinerama glory; a multi-tiered look at Style in the Movies; a salute to Paramount, featuring an appearance by Oscar-winning producer Robert Evans; the U.S. premiere of the documentary Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room (2010), with live appearances by “Baby Peggy” Diana Serra Cary and filmmaker Vera Iwerebor; newly restored editions of such landmark films as Wings (1927), Casablanca (1942) and Grand Illusion (1937); and much more.

The third-annual TCM Classic Film Festival is produced by TCM. Since launching in spring 2010, the TCM Classic Film Festival has quickly established itself as a destination event for film lovers, drawing more than 25,000 attendees from around the country and around the globe in 2011. Festival passes are on sale now at http://www.tcm.com/festival.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has a longstanding role in movie history and was the site of the first Oscars® ceremony, will serve as the official hotel for the festival, as well as home to Club TCM, a central gathering point for passholders. Screenings and events will be held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and, for the first time this year, Arclight Cinema’s Cinerama Dome and The Avalon.

* Schedule permitting

About TCM Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award winning network that presents great films, uncut and commercial free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 86 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials, 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also stages special events and screenings, such as the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise; produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs; and hosts a wealth of materials on its website, http://www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.