Featured Articles
WAMG At The 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival
There’s truly no place quite like Hollywood. For the third straight year, the TCM Classic Film Festival was staged in the historic center of the world’s film industry. The event once again united a great community of film fans. The 2012 event celebrated style in the movies, from fashion to architecture and everything in between and lined up great films, terrific guests and many special events.
There were so many classic films to choose from over the 4-day festival, it was nearly impossible to decide what to see! Here are a few of my favorites from the weekend.
AUNTIE MAME (1958) –
Fantastically restored, and screened at the legendary Egyptian Theater, this Rosalind Russell classic was easily a fan fave at the festival. Even at 9am on a Saturday morning, the house was packed. The screening was hosted by two-time Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Scholar Cari Beauchamp, who introduced fashion designer and author Todd Oldham. Oldham commented about the fashions in the film and the fact that this role cemented Russell as a fashion icon, a huge feat for the day, considering she was in her early 50’s. Also noted was a scene-stealing Peggy Cass, who won a Tony award for the stage version, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the film as bumbling secretary Agnes Gooch.
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937) –
The 75th Anniversary screening of Disney’s first feature length animated classic was screened to a full house at the historical Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Called “Disney’s Folly” by detractors before its opening, the film broke box office records when released. On hand to welcome the audience was no other than Marge Champion, of the famous “Marge and Gower Champion” dance team of MGM musicals of the 40’s and 50’s. Eighteen years old and married to a Disney animator in 1937, Marge served as the model for the animated Snow White’s movements and dancing. The excited crowd in attendance gave her a huge applause and standing ovation. The film itself looked fantastic, still holding up beautifully 75 years later.
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) –
Definitely a highlight of the festival, as reflected by the huge line of ticketholders and an equally big stand-by line of those hoping to snag a ticket for Saturday night’s screening of Singin’ in The Rain at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Mr. TCM himself Robert Osbourne played host to the film’s star Debbie Reynolds, who graciously sat and spoke about her fond memories of making the film with co-stars Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor. Reynolds confirmed the old stories that she was not a dancer when hired and was taught to dance just 4 months before shooting began. Only having just turned 18 at the time, she also remembered a great story about constantly being told not to chew gum on the set. During the filming of one sequence with Gene Kelly, she removed her gum and stuck it to the ladder she was standing on. Kelly then leaned against it and when he moved away, his hairpiece stayed stuck! Also surprising to many, Reynolds was 20 years younger than co-star Gene Kelly, who looked much closer to her age in the film.
“They worked with me for four months before I ever saw anyone else,” said Reynolds on not being a dancer before the shooting the film.
Billy Zane, Debbie Reynolds, Simon Pegg, and John Landis on Saturday.
THE WOMEN (1939) –
Probably one of the most anticipated screenings of the festival, The Women bowed at the Egyptian Theater on Sunday, the final day of the festival. Once again, designer and author Todd Oldham was on hand to introduce what he calls one of his favorite movies of all time. He gave huge props to designer Adrian for the stunning costumes, saying there were so many, a separate warehouse was probably needed to house them all. And the fans in attendance were no amateur’s either – most of whom lined up nearly 2 hours in advance to snag a good seat. And many of the beloved lines were met with cheers (“jungle red!”) and loud hoots (“there is a name for you, ladies, but it isn’t used in high society… outside of a kennel”). A great ending to a great festival…see ya next year!
TCM’s own Robert Osborne once again served as official host for the four-day, starstudded event, which took place Thursday, April 12 – Sunday, April 15, 2012, in Hollywood. Osborne, Kim Novak, Robert Wagner, and Ben Mankiewicz celebrated TCM’s Happy 18th Birthday on Saturday.
See the various day video wrap ups by clicking the links below:
Day 1 Update
Day 2 Update
Day 3 Update
Day 4 Update
Icelandic Glacial Water was proud to support these filmmakers and movie lovers in their efforts to keep these iconic films alive on the big screen.
Festival sponsor Icelandic Glacial Water made sure everyone was thirst-free throughout the festival…including me. http://icelandicglacial.com/
TCM honored actress Kim Novak on Saturday with a multi-tiered celebration of her extraordinary career. Among the events, Novak had her hand and footprints enshrined in concrete in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater. She also joined TCM host Robert Osborne for an in-depth conversation taped in front of a live audience for airing on TCM later. She introduced a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s suspenseful classic Vertigo (1958).
This marks the second consecutive year TCM has featured hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Last year, Peter O’Toole was the honoree.
Margaret O’Brien and Kim Novak on Saturday.
TCM opened the 2012 edition of the TCM Classic Film Festival with the world premiere of a new 40th anniversary restoration of Bob Fosse’s Cabaret (1972). On hand were Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, and Michael York.
Actor Joel Grey (L) and singer/actress Liza Minnelli at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival Opening Night Gala.
Actresses Debbie Reynolds and Tippi Hedren graced the red carpet for the Opening Night Gala held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
On Cabaret, Liza said “It’s not this frivolous hoo-hah musical…it is so interesting and divinely decadent.”
Actor Joel Grey, TCM host Robert Osborne and actress/singer Liza Minnelli speak onstage.
Robert Osborne, Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, and Michael York introducing Cabaret on Thursday at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, California.
Robert Osborne, Liza Minnelli, Eva Marie Saint, and Jeffrey Hayden at the Vanity Fair After Party.
Mickey Rooney and Liza Minnelli at the Vanity Fair After Party.
Liza Minnelli and Tippi Hedren at the Vanity Fair After Party.
Other festival additions included a screening of The Wolf Man (1941), with an appearance by Academy Award®-winning makeup designer Rick Baker.
Rick Baker
Filmmaker John Carpenter introduced his favorite film, the seminal horror classic Frankenstein (1931).
Director John Carpenter on Friday.
Filmmaker John Landis introduced the horror sequel Son of Frankenstein (1939).
Tom Brown discussed Young Frankenstein with Mel Brooks.
TCM Classic Film Festival included a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Paramount Pictures. Robert Evans, longtime producer and former head of production for Paramount, took part in the tribute, which focused on the studio’s 1970s renaissance.
For the second consecutive year, the TCM Classic Film Festival celebrated the legacy of The Walt Disney Studios. Turner Classic Movies (TCM), in collaboration with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, presented a 75th anniversary screening of Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Disney’s first hand-drawn feature-length animated film.
Ginnifer Goodwin and Leonard Maltin discussing Snow White.
Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was screened at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. This film revolutionized the art of animation with its cutting edge technique, design and storytelling – setting animation in pursuit of an ever more realistic look. Moreover, it demonstrated animation’s viability as a legitimate cinematic art form. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bestowed a special Academy Award® on Walt Disney, recognizing Snow White as “a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field.” The unique Oscar® trophy consisted of one full-sized statuette standing next to seven miniature versions. The film also earned an Oscar® nomination for Leigh Harline’s memorable score. In 1997, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was named one of the 100 Greatest Films of All Time by the American Film Institute (AFI). The following year, the AFI named it the greatest American animated film of all time.
In addition, legendary actor Kirk Douglas presented the first general public screening of the newly restored (from original camera negatives) live-action adventure, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954).
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea went on to earn two Oscars®, one for the eye-popping visual effects and one for John Meehan and Emile Kuri’s art direction and set decoration. The film earned a third nomination for Elmo Williams’ editing.
The TCM Classic Film Festival also teamed up with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to showcase a unique slate of programming that taps into Academy archives and distinguished membership to illustrate this year’s overall festival theme of Style in the Movies.
AMPAS exhibited Hollywood home movies, preserved by the Academy, which featured legendary stars and filmmakers, presented by Randy Haberkamp of AMPAS and Lynn Kirste of the Academy Film Archive with special guests Margaret O’Brien; Steve McQueen’s former wife Neile Adams McQueen Toffel; Henry Koster’s son, Robert Koster; and the daughter of Fred MacMurray, Kate MacMurray.
AMPAS also presented a discussion of how art directors use various items to aid in storytelling featuring members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Art Directors Branch as well an exhibit of sketches and behind-the-scenes photography that illustrate the work of costume designers such as Travis Banton and Edith Head, comprised of rarely seen archival material from the Margaret Herrick Library at AMPAS.
0 comments