TCM Classic Film Festival - Day 2 (Pt. II: Arabian Nights & Gladiatorial Games)

After lunch I made my way over to the Chinese Multiplex Theater for a screening of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. I've always been a big fan of Ray Harryhausen's effects work (Super Dynamation!) in genre films from Earth vs. The Flying Saucers and Jason and the Argonauts to The Mysterious Island.

It was a real hoot seeing one of the movies that my dad saw as a kid. Sure, the dialogue is pretty hokey, and the film definitely reflects a very different era in American culture, but that was part of its charm. It was also very cool that they had on hand a film historian who talked about the film before the screening and shared some interesting tidbits about the production. All in all, it was a lot of fun.

Also of interest was the Chinese Multiplex Theater itself. Before yesterday, I didn't even know that this theater existed. The Multiplex is a collection of about a half dozen movie screens that sits between Graumann's Chinese Theater and the Kodak Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. The theater lobby was completely decked out for the festival. There were all kinds of displays and standees celebrating classic movies everywhere. I don't know how long I spent wandering around after the movie.

I think my favorite display was the one that held the Best Picture Academy Award for An American in Paris (the 1951 Gene Kelly/Leslie Caron film that was restored and given a red carpet premiere for the festival this year). We're talking an ACTUAL Oscar! I'd never seen a real one up close before. It was cool to see. I wonder how much those things weigh?

After I checked out the displays in the Multiplex, I made my way back out to Hollywood Boulevard. I'd intended to stop in at the Roosevelt Hotel to chill for awhile before making my way to Graumann's Chinese Theater across the street. However, as I left the Multiplex, I walked right by Graumann's and noticed a number of people in line. Curious, I stopped and asked a man what movie he was in line for. "Spartacus, " he replied. I checked the time and saw that the Spartacus screening was still about two hours away. Yet there were already a couple of dozen folks waiting in line.

I made a quick decision. I'd already learned my lesson that morning when I was greeted by the long line for Becket outside the Egyptian. I jumped into line, ready to wait for my chance to see Stanley Kubrick's classic film and its iconic star, the legendary Kirk Douglas, in the flesh! I knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I wasn't going to miss it.

The two-hour wait to get into Graumann's went by quickly. While we stood there, the line swelled into the hundreds. There was a lot of excitement in the air. I met a family just in front of me who saw a screening of Bette Davis' Now, Voyager earlier in the day. I'm ashamed to say that I'm not as versed on my Bette Davis movies as I should be, so I kicked myself for not making time to see this movie (guess I'll have to catch it on TCM or on DVD sometime soon).

Note to self: for the 2012 festival (and yes, you're coming back, BTW), create a list of must-see classic films that you'll make time to see.

It's sad to say, but despite being a huge movie fan and a filmmaker, classic films remain my Achilles Heel. Of course, I've seen quite a few of the movies that my parents and grandparents grew up on (my favorite film of all time is Ben-Hur for crying out loud!), but I'm not as knowledgeable about them as a group (unlike say, the films from the late 1970s on - the movies that I grew up with). Of course, one could argue, that's the entire purpose for coming to a festival like this. So I get credit for that, right?

In any case, the two hours in line went by quickly. We had plenty of entertainment in the queue on Hollywood Boulevard: dudes and dudettes dressed as superheroes (you can make a living doing that?); a street rapper who accosted people (mostly attractive women) as they walked by and improvised rhymes incorporating some bit of info about the people who agreed to participate; and tons of random of people who drew attention all on their own, including a couple of Brazilian beauties who turned heads and had tongues wagging while they wandered around the grounds outside Graumann's. I know, I know. I tried to snap a quick pic, but to no avail before they wandered off. Next time, I promise to get photographic evidence of random exotic beauties.

Finally, though, the wait was over and it was time to go into Graumann's! Getting to go into this legendary theater was a real treat. The joint is huge! It's truly a beautiful example of the old-style movie palaces of yesteryear. Just gorgeous. I could spend a lifetime seeing my favorite films on that fabulous screen. Well, at least I got a taste by getting to see Spartacus there.

Before the movie started, though, we got a double treat, in the form of Robert Osborne, Mr. TCM himself, coming out to intro the film and its star, the guest of honor, Kirk Douglas! Osborne set the evening up with a short video tribute to Douglas, which gave a good sampling of the man's amazing film career, highlights featuring assorted clips of everything from Paths of Glory to Picasso. It was pretty cool. One particularly memorable bit was a piece from a one-man show that Douglas has been doing in recent years that featured him on stage having a conversation with a younger version of himself, projected onto a screen. That was nice.

After the tribute, Osborne came back out and introduced Douglas. I was only about 8-10 rows back, so I had a great view. When Douglas first came out and stood next to our host, I was honestly a little shocked at how short and frail he looked next to Osborne. Obviously, Douglas is an older man now, and we all know about the health challenges he's faced in his later years. Still, it was a bit of a surprise. However, while time has changed the man's body, Douglas quickly proved that it's done nothing to dampen his spirit. He had a twinkle in his eye that revealed a zest for life that was unmistakable. And it was infectious. This was freakin' Kirk Douglas! He had amazing presence on that stage, and he knew how to play to his audience. Most touching of all, you could tell that he genuinely enjoyed being there for us that night.

Osborne conducted an amazing Q&A with the star that was as much fun as it was informative. Douglas, for his part, was frank, funny, and poignant in his observations on his career and his life in general. It was obvious that this was a man with a point of view -- and a lot of life left in him.

At the end of the Q&A, the audience thanked the screen legend with a standing ovation. Their chat had lasted about 45 minutes, but it went by so quickly. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and their conversation continued to resonate with me during the screening. Getting the chance to see and hear Kirk Douglas in the flesh was the perfect setup for watching him in the film we were there to see that evening, and the perfect way to end my second day at the festival. It's a memory I'm going to carry with me for a very long time.

Be sure to come back soon. My next entry will be about day three of the Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival!

Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival - Day 2 (Pt. I: Royal Daze and a British Screen Legend)

This was a good day.

It started with an early screening of the 1964 Richard Burton/Peter O'Toole classic, Becket. I got to the theater (Graumann's Egyptian) an hour early (8:00 a.m. PST) only to discover that there was already a line for the film. A long one. But that was okay, for, as I was soon to learn, there was plenty of room in the auditorium, and getting a seat was no problem.

Heck, it was actually a lot of fun waiting in line, chatting with other festival attendees (not to mention flirting with one of the festival staff members as she handed out numbered slips for festival passholders in line, which gave us some priority over those who bought tickets for this single screening). You could feel the excitement coming from the other attendees, as we were all eager to discuss one aspect of the festival or another, as well as our love of film in general.

It was a real treat to see the famous Egyptian Theater up close, as this was my first time there. What I didn't know before this day was that it was the home of the American Cinematheque. The Egyptian decor was a sight to see (and an interesting contrast to the more famous Graumann's Chinese Theater). The interior was as much of a visual treat as the outside. Particularly impressive was the wrought iron ceiling work. That, along with the large screen and numerous seats, made for a wonderful film viewing venue.

All of this played wonderfully into setting the mood for the feature presentation itself: Becket. I realized as I watched the film that I'd never seen this movie all the way through. It was an amazing experience. For those who don't know, Becket is the story of real life 12th-century friends, Thomas Becket and King Henry II of England. Henry (played by Peter O'Toole) is the grandson of Norman invader William the Conqueror. Becket, played by Richard Burton, is a Saxon who is constantly reminded by those in the king's court (and the church) of his inferior status as one of the conquered.

Despite their differences, Becket and King Henry are good friends who find ways to further secure the king's position, at the same time irritating those who resent Henry and his cavalier ways. Their friendship faces a major test when Henry elevates his friend (already the chancellor of the realm) to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. Much to Henry's surprise, Becket takes the position and its responsibilities to heart. As archbishop, it is Becket's devotion to both God and his fellow man (and not to his king), that ultimately drives a wedge between the two friends and propels this incredible film to its powerful conclusion.

Becket was an amazing film that I'm glad to have finally seen in its entirety. It was a very moving experience, but not just because it's a great movie (which it is). You see, earlier this year, one of my cousins passed away. It wasn't until Michael's funeral that I learned that Becket was his favorite movie. My cousin and I had talked about our mutual love of movies on many occasions, but I never knew that this one was his very favorite.

So when I heard that Becket would be screened at the festival, I very much wanted to see it. I think for me, it became a way to honor my cousin's memory, so I'm glad I went. Now I think I see why Michael liked it so much. Great choice, Cuz.

If seeing this movie wasn't treat enough, it was all that more a memorable experience by the presence of one of its stars: Peter O'Toole. The actor showed up right after the screening to participate in a Q&A with TCM host Ben Mankiewicz. O'Toole, despite his years, proved that he's still a force to be reckoned with. He talked a good bit about the making of Becket, recalling several stories about his co-star, the late Richard Burton, with whom he shared a very close friendship.

O'Toole gave a great interview, full of warmth, wit and humor. And we in the audience ate it up, hanging on his every word, joke, and anecdote. It was a revelation to learn that TCM screened Becket at O'Toole's request. That says a lot, considering O'Toole's rich body of work, which includes my personal favorite of his films: Lawrence of Arabia. Getting to see and hear from the man who played T.E. Lawrence and King Henry II was a real treat and the opportunity of a lifetime. I'm so glad that I went to this festival!

Believe it or not, the day was just getting started with the Becket screening. It would continue with a screening of the Ray Harryhausen Dynamation vehicle, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. And this already very rich day would conclude with a screening of the Stanley Kubrick classic, Spartacus, with the great Kirk Douglas himself in attendance!

Since this entry is getting a little long, I'll cover the rest of Day 2 in my next post. Come back tomorrow for the rest of the tale...

Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival - Day 1

Today marked day one of the second annual Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival, a celebration of classic American films, sponsored by Turner Classic Movies, and attended by thousands of movie fans from all over the world. Dozens of movies will be screened, including An American in Paris, Spartacus, Citizen Kane, The Godfather, The Day the Earth Stood Still, All About Eve, and Shaft. There will be panels and discussions attended by such celebrities as Mickey Rooney, Peter O'Toole, Debbie Reynolds, Kirk Douglas, and of course, TCM host and moderator Robert Osborne.

And this year I'm in the thick of it all.

After missing the first festival last year, I decided that the next time around, I'd make sure I was there to see it for myself. And boy, am I glad that I came out for this party. There's a lot going on besides the film screenings themselves. There are swanky parties, red carpet gala celebrations, signings by stars of the films featured in the festival, and panel discussions held on an impressively diverse set of subjects, including: dancing in the movies, movie trailers, African-Americans in film, voice doubles in musicals, and film sequels.

There's tons to do, and I can't imagine anyone attending this year will be bored. That being said, day one of the festival was a little low-key for me. My flight from Atlanta got in late, late, LATE last night (or should I say this morning) and that threw my whole day off. I missed the first day's panels and screenings, but that's okay.

Thursday was the lightest day schedule-wise of the festival, so it gave me a chance to check everything out and get my bearings. I really enjoyed walking up and down Hollywood Boulevard taking in the sights and getting a feel for the vibe of the festival overall. If I had to sum it up in a word, it'd be: fun. And also style. It was exciting stomping up and down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, noting where all the festival venues were in relation to each other (Graumann's Chinese Theater and The Egyptian, for starters).

Especially impressive was walking into the historical Roosevelt Hotel, site of many an event back in Hollywood's heady glory days (including the very first Academy Awards, way back in 1929). Walking into the building, I felt as if I'd stepped back in time. I can see why TCM chose it as the hub for festival events. It's a classy, stylish place, and I could see that everyone in the joint was equally impressed by it... and having a grand old time, too.

So maybe I didn't attend any events today. It's cool. I still had fun just experiencing the festival. But trust me, I'm going to attend as many screenings and panels as I can over the next three days. And I'm going to be tweeting and blogging about all of it as much as possible (that is, when I'm not attending a screening or panel).

A bit of a slow start perhaps today, but I'll more than make up for on Day Two. Friday brings screenings (for me at least) of Becket (starring Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, the latter of which will be in attendance to introduce the film and participate in a panel discussion after the film), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (as part of a tribute to film music composer Bernard Hermann) and Spartacus (with "I am Spartacus!" himself, Mr. Kirk Douglas present).

I'd say it's all going to be good. It's going to be fun. And it's going to be covered here in my blog. So if you want to hear more, tune back in tomorrow for another report.

Until then, I'm signing off. I'll be seeing you at the movies....