My 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival Review

Because there was a TCM Classic Film Festival Media Reception on Wednesday, TCMFF Eve, I decided to start my classic-film viewing a day early by attending a matinee of Allan Dwan’s Woman They Almost Lynched (1953) at the Vista Theater. Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino purchased the theater in 2021. After a remodel, it opened last November. In addition to the theater, there is a coffee shop next door, Pam’s Coffey. named after one of Tarantino’s leading ladies. In different locations, the shop had a couple VCRs playing movies. One showing a Laurel & Hardy short, the other a Dick Tracy movie. There was a reserved table and while in the middle of enjoying a coffee and a snack, Tarantino walked in, requested a hot dog, and sat down.

Was my first time at the Vista, so I didn’t understand the set up. Allan Dwan’s Woman They Almost Lynched (1953) was playing in the Video Archives Cinema Club room, which has about 20 seats. Unfortunately, the setup leaves a lot to be desired. I was stuck having to sit way too close in the second row, so my neck grew a tad stiff as the show went on. Unexpectedly, Tarantino joined us, in the row behind me. There was some trouble getting the film in focus, so us lucky attendees got an impromptu introduction by Tarantino who told stories about Dwan and former house guest/semi-vagabond Peter Bogdanovich. The movie was very entertaining about a town along the Arkansas-Missouri border that tries to stay neutral during the Civil War. The women have to team up to defeat the bad men.

The 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival officially kicked off on the afternoon of Thursday April 18 as attendees packed into Club TCM within the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The eagerness for “So You Want to Put on a Classic Film Festival” demonstrated that the festival itself had as devoted supporters as the classic films they screen.

Starting work in 2009, TCM staffers got to work, wanting to build a Mecca for classic movie fans. They visited and stole ideas from different festivals, like Telluride and Santa Barbara. The speakers shared wonderful behind-the-scenes stories, from Kirk Douglas getting emotional at the reaction of the Spartacus audience, to Jerry Lewis cancelling three days before before eventually attending. A volcano almost impacted Luise Rainer’s appearance as did her vanity, but she eventually got there, albeit 45 minutes late.

The 2010 portion took up the majority of the time allotted so the remaining years got brief mentions, such as Peter O’Toole honored in 2011 with the first hand/footprint ceremony, having to steal a golf cart from mall security to get the Deliverance cast to their appearance in 2013, Dana Gould appearing as Dr. Zaius in 2017 to introduce Planet of the Apes. The stories were so entertaining they could hold a panel focused on each year.

Only Yesterday (1933) is rather a convoluted story. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 damages many people. James Emerson (John Boles) is about to blow his brains out during a cocktail party held at his home. Before doing so, he discovers a lengthy letter that tells a story of which he was unknowingly a major player, which is shown in a flashback. Before shipping off to WWI, he meets Mary (Margaret Sullavan in her film debut) at a social function and a night together results in a baby. She leaves for New York to raise the child. When James returns at the end of the war, she tries to reunite with him, but he has no memory of her. Years later, they cross paths at a New Year’s Eve party and she goes home with him and again is intimate, but decides to keep her identity a secret. That is until on her deathbed, asking James to care for their son. It’s strange she didn’t confront James earlier with this news and what would hasve happened if the note never made it to James.

Powell & Pressburger’s The Small Back Room (1949) was the U.S. Premiere of its restoration. This tense thriller is a WWII drama about British weapons experts. Sammy Rice is a scientist who suffers pain from his prosthetic leg and he medicates with alcohol. Unfortunately, this causes him to lash out at his girlfriend who is also his secretary. He is called out to defuse a device booby-trapped by the Nazis. He’ll be the second person to attempt as Captain Stuart’s was not successful. Even though both are tied to the character of Sammy, his military work is much more interesting than his drunken self loathing.

After an organ pre-show played classic Disney songs, One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) screened at the studio’s El Capitan Theatre on Friday. The discussion revealed how Disney brought in Xerox as a cost-saving measure. Walt thought the art looked too rough but there’s a charm to the new style that differentiates its modern London setting from the European fairy tales.

Roger, a struggling songwriter, and his Dalmatian, Pongo (Rod Taylor), are bachelors in London. Pongo arranges a meeting with Anita and her Dalmatian Perdita (Lisa Daniels), and love soon blooms for both couples. Perdita has a litter of 15 puppies and Anita’s school chum, Cruella de Vil (Betty Lou Gerson in a scenery-chewing performance), would like to buy them, but she only wants them for their fur. Although refused, Cruella has the pups dognapped and stashed at her farm. Pongo and Perdita, with the help of a number of animals, work to rescue the pups. It’s a fun, family adventure that offers laughs and thrills.

For The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Jodi Foster spoke beforehand, although those of us sitting on the side of the theater had to deal with a steady stream of audience members blocking the view as they made their way to seats. She tried to buy the rights to the book, but Orion already had the rights. Was intriguing to learn Gene Hackman was going to direct and play Scott Glenn’s role. When he left, she wanted to direct but Demme was brought on. She met with him, wanting to be his second choice because she presumed Michelle Pfieffer, with whom he worked on Married to Mob, was going to be his choice Pfieffer chose something else and Foster was hired.

Foster plays FBI agent Clarice Starling, who is assigned to interview cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins in an Oscar-winning performance, although he clearly plays a supporting role and not a lead) in the hope that he can give the bureau insight into catching serial killer Buffalo Bill, who kills and skins women. Lecter only helps if Clarice will reveal personal details, which allows the audience to learn her motivations. Lecter takes advantage of others who want his help, which leads to his escape. Clarice is able to find Buffalo Bill’s location but will she be able to subdue him by herself while many agents are off on a wild goose chase Lecter sent them on.

Keith Carradine talks about his father John, who was a favorite of director John Ford, before The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936). One night, Dr. Samuel Mudd (Warner Baxter) is called upon to help an unknown ailing traveler whose leg is badly injured. The next day authorities come to arrest Samuel because he unknowingly assisted John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Lincoln and send him to Shark Island off the coast of Florida. A dramatic escape attempt is foiled and he is put in harsh quarters. When the men at facility are struck by yellow fever, things get so desperate that Samuel is asked for help, which he grants because he is the bigger man. He certainly comes off like a hero, but upon doing some research, I discovered it’s a fiction. Samuel not only knowingly helped Booth but was involved in discussions to kidnap Lincoln. However, he had no interest when assassination was on table. So why the whitewashing of this man when so many others have been wrongly imprisoned whose stories could told be told instead? While the film is exciting while being watched, it’s deflating to learn the truth.

Not sure if it was the counter programming or a reaction to the movie itself, but Jailhouse Rock (1957) was not well attended. Filmmaker Alison Anders did the introduction, revealing that co-star Judy Tyler died a few days after shooting ended and that blacklisted screenwriter Ned Young tried to do this story with Gene Kelly.

In his third film, Elvis plays Vince Everett, who steps in to defend a young woman’s honor and ends up killing a man. While in jail, he meets former country singer Hunk Houghton (Mickey Shaughnessy), who teaches Vince guitar. During a TV broadcast from the jail, Vince performs and becomes a sensation, but the warden keeps his fan mail from him. When finally released, he eventually meets Peggy Van Alden (Tyler), a promoter who believes in Vince. His ego becomes overinflated as his fame increases, turning on those who believe in him, until a punch in the throat from Hunk damages his vocal chords. The story is familiar and Elvis is an okay actor, but his singing triumphs, especially in the iconic “Jailhouse Rock” sequence.

Had to make tough choices on Saturday. I attended A Little Romance (1979) for the conversation with Diane Lane. She first appeared in Medea on stage at six years old and she appeared in The Cherry Orchard at 12 alongside Meryl Strep and Raul Julia. Her father ran an acting school with John Cassavetes. This was her first movie role.

Rather than stay, I went to see The Mad Miss Manton (1938), a wild screwball comedy with Barbara Stanwyck as the titular character, Melsa, a socialite who, along with her friends, attempts to solve a murder. Known for committing pranks with her cohorts, the police and newspaper editor Peter Ames (Henry Fonda) think this another of their shenanigans. When an attempt is made on Melsa’s life, things are taken seriously. Along the way, Peter falls for Melsa, which puts a target on him as well. The Mad Miss Manton is a fun, comic mystery

I watched The Shawshank Redemption (1994) conversation with stars Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, the latter seeming not fully present in the moment, which may be age or could have been something else. They related fond memories of working on the film, and then it got a bit awkward as TCM’s Dave Karger asked which of three starlets, including Rita Hayworth, who has a presence in the film they would rather hook up with.

In all the festivals, Footloose (1984) was my first poolside event. I hadn’t seen it before and didn’t feel like I would be too invested, and I had always been concerned what a screening at the Roosevelt Pool would be like, so it seemed like a great pairing. Screenwriter/songwriter Dean Pitchford preceded the film to talk about his work on it, from the true story that inspired it to working with different artists on the songs.

Footloose is about Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) and his mother moving from Chicago to the small town of Bomont, Texas, which banned dancing and rock music after a tragic accident involving alcohol and dancing. Everyone has gone along with but Ren inspires the kids to rebel and hold a prom. It’s all rather corny as the grown-ups hate Ren and the trouble he is stirring up. His mom loses her job because of it, but she tells him to do what he feels is right. Some adults start a book burning that even Rev. Moore (John Lithgow) goes to far. The prom happens across the county line and a number of kids participate. Some tough guys show up to fight. Ren and Chet (Chris Penn) defeat but it’s odd none of the other guys attending the prom took part.

The poolside movie was more of a dance party, which was appropriate and the mindset needed to enjoy the experience. People were up dancing and sings to the songs, which was infectious. One could hear blended drinks being made at the hotel bar and a few folks, clearly not watching the movie, were getting loud in their conversation and sternly yelled at to take it to the lobby.

The midnight show was Heavenly Bodies (1984), a Canadian film about Samantha (Cynthia Dale), a single mom who quits her office job to open an aerobics studio. She has to deal with a football player interested in dating her and competition from a rival fitness club, especially when it comes leading an aerobics TV show. The script from director Lawrence Dane and Ron Base is rather weak. There’s more laughs at the film than with it. Naturally, there a rigorous dance-off to settle matters. Didn’t have as much as I would like at a Midnight Movie. In retrospect, sleep would have been the better decision.

My last film of the festival was Sunday’s screening of The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976). Billy Dee Williams was on hand to talk about the film and his career. He claims to have been influenced by classic-film actors like James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, Paul Muni, who he worked with in The Last Angry Man (1959).

Due to poor treatment by team owners in the Negro League, pitcher Bingo Long (Williams) and catcher Leon Carter (James Earl Jones) form their own team to barnstorm through Midwestern towns to earn a living. They were so good they could clown around during the game, like the baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters. However, making a living is tough. Not only do the players have to survive in 1930s segregated America, but the Negro League owners aren’t happy with their success and scheme to foil it. Likely based on true events, The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings is entertaining and also thought-provoking.

Unfortunately, that was all the time I had for the Brigadoon that is the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival. It’s never enough time and can never see enough films, but was a mostly enjoyable as always. Looking forward to the next one.