A First Time Attendee At Turner Classic Movies Film Festival 2016

                                                                       

Let me first say that Turner Classic Movies is my favorite channel.  It is the only channel where I feel I can bask in my love of classic films.  For the past seven years, TCM has put on a festival in Los Angeles for their fans.  At the festival, fans can go to screenings of numerous vintage films. Along with the films, festival goers  have opportunities to listen to the actors or writers or directors or any other person who played a part in bringing these films to life. 

So it shouldn't be a surprise that I have yearned to attend this festival.  However, there has always been a major barrier to my going: Money.   I simply felt I could not afford to spend the money no matter how much I knew I would have the time of my life.  When I joined Twitter, I found a community of fellow lovers of TCM and Classic Movies.  I would read their tweets and see their pictures of their time at that particular year's festival.  With every account I read, my heart would ache with missed opportunities.  Still, every year I kept telling myself that I could not go.

Then Maureen O'Hara attended the festival in 2014 and they screened one of my all time favorites, How Green Was My Valley.  I missed that year.  Then Maureen O' Hara passed away and I realized I had missed an opportunity to see in person one of my favorite actors at a screening of one of my favorite movies.  It hit me more than ever that these legends won't be around forever.  I can't keep letting opportunities pass me by. So I really started to save.  I made a promise to myself that I was going to attend 2016 Festival.

When passes for the festival went on sale, I bought the Classics Pass.  A fellow festival-goer recommended a hotel for me.  The hotel was in the perfect spot. I was within walking distance of all of the theaters.   I booked my flight.  As it came closer to my traveling to LA, I started to get nervous.  I couldn't believe I was going. I couldn't believe I actually spent so much already and I hadn't even gotten to LA yet. 

When I arrived in LA the nervousness went away.  My very first time in LA! I arrived the day before the festival officially started. I dropped off my bags and I started to walk around. Without even realizing it, I had found my way to Grauman's Chinese Theater. I saw the hand prints and foot prints of actors I have admired my whole life. I actually stumbled upon Harold Lloyd's prints and he is my favorite Silent Film Star.  I walked around that little area and read  the inscriptions and noticed the dates. The dates ranged from 1920s, 1930s and on and on til today. Amazing!

                                                                           

 I walked up and down Hollywood Blvd looking at the Walk of Fame. I found Spencer Tracy whom I have loved watching since I was 9 or 10 years old.  I walked around and looked at the people. Every person that I saw on the streets, I wondered if they were there for the festival as well. Were they just like me?  I made my way to Roosevelt Hotel. A smile broke out on my face when I saw the signs for the TCM Film Festival posted on the hotel.  I had arrived. I had truly arrived. I received an information packet which included a schedule.  Oh boy. That schedule.  Talk about making hard choices. There were so many interesting and rare films. Many playing at the same time. What to do? How to decide? I wanted to see everything.

                                                                   

The first evening of the festival, they showed "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" with actor Ted Donaldson in attendance.  And following that was a screening of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" with Katharine Houghton in attendance.  Two of my favorite movies. One which starred Spencer Tracy.  And boy it was an absolute treat listening to these actors speak of their experiences in making their respective films.  In particular with Katharine Houghton.  Listening to her speak of her experience was an eye-opener for me.  I have seen this movie many times over, but I had never really stopped to think what it was like to actually film it during the late 1960s. Also I attended screenings that had guests Carl Reiner, Angela Lansbury, and Eva Marie Saint. Fantastic! These 3 legends are in their 90s and yet they were of clear and crisp mind. They were funny. So full of life.  With each guest interview I had the privilege to attend, I learned what it was like to make the movies that I have loved for years. I got to hear it with my own ears and see with my own eyes. In person.

During the Festival, I had the opportunity to attend a session on Vaudeville.  I saw clips of films that haven't been seen in over 80 years!  How incredible is that?!   It highlights the importance of preservation and restoration.  It would be a shame to forever lose this part of our history.

Also during this Festival, I had the opportunity to meet people who love these movies as much as I do. It was like we were in our own world during those 4 days.  I felt part of a tribe. It was a community and I loved being a part of it.

TCMFF 2016 will not be the last for me.  I have finally experienced it and now cannot stop at just one.

                                                                          

The Liebster Award

Stephen Reginald (@  Classic Movie Man ) nominated me for the Liebster Award.  This is the first time I've ever heard of this, but I feel honored that he thought of me!

So the rules are that I must answer 11 questions that my nominator composed to me, tell 11 things about myself that readers don't know,  nominate other bloggers and pose 11 questions to them.  So here we go!!!

1. Screwball Comedy, Film Noir, Musical or Western?
      Tough to answer. I love them all. But if I must choose then....Screwball Comedy.

2. Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe or Lana Turner?
        Got to go with Jean Harlow.

3. What film do you think is the most overrated of all time?
      Hmm...this is difficult to answer. If I had to choose, I guess I would pick "Slumdog Millionaire."

4. Who is your favorite film star and why?
          If I had to choose just one then it would be Spencer Tracy. He has captivated me since I was a young kid. He had a strong screen presence. He came across as such a natural.  He was versatile. And in his performance in "The Old Man and the Sea" he showed just how captivating he can be with only himself.

5. Do you have a favorite movie line? If so, what is it and what movie is it from?
           My favorite line comes from "How Green Was My Valley." The quote in the movie is part of the narration that originally came from the book the movie is based on. The narrator says "Men like my father cannot die. They are with me still, real in memory as they were in flesh. Loving and beloved forever. How green was my valley then."

6. Cheesecake, apple pie or hot fudge sundae?
       Ack! The most difficult question to answer! Chocolate Mousse cheesecake.

7. What movie star’s work do you think should get more attention?
          I wish today's generation would learn of Myrna Loy and watch her work.

8. What was the first film you remember seeing in a movie theater?
         I think it was My Little Pony. LOL

9. How old were you when you realized you loved movies?
       I think I was 9 years old when I realized movies were more than just simple means of entertainment to me.

10. What is the best novel-to-screen adaptation, in your opinion?
           "To Kill a Mockingbird" hands down.

11. Is there a movie you haven’t seen that would surprise us?
           "Camille."  I want to see it, but something always seems to prevent it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
11 Things Readers May Not Know About Me:

              1. I speak Russian
              2. I'm learning to play piano and harmonica
              3. I attempted to learn to play Rugby once.
              4. I studied abroad in Russia for 3 months.
              5. I went to University of Virginia
              6. "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Brideshead Revisited" are two of my favorite books.
              7. I once dressed up as Charlie Chaplin for Halloween.
              8. On my college dorm wall, I had a poster of Spencer Tracy.
              9. Eggplant parmesan is one of my favorite dishes.
              10. Superman was my favorite superhero as a kid.
              11. West Side Story was the first soundtrack I bought.                                                                                                                               

Charles Coburn: What a Character!

WHAT A CHARACTER: Charles Coburn

Every fan of classic films should know the face of Charles Coburn if not the name.   He has appeared in many films usually portraying elderly authority figures.  He was born in Macon, Georgia in 1877.  He spent the majority of his career performing on stage.  In fact, he did not begin his film career until he was in his 60s.    Many of Coburn's well known films were comedies.  Some of his most memorable comedic roles were in the following:

The Lady Eve (1941):

Coburn portrayed Barbara Stanwyck's father, "Colonel" Harrington.  Harrington is a con man card shark who taught his daughter well the art of fleecing unsuspecting marks. They set their eyes on naïve Charles Pike(Henry Fonda) as their next mark.  How disappointing for professional con  Harrington when his daughter ends up falling in love with Charles Pike and protects Pike from her father’s card tricks?

George Washington Slept Here (1942):

Coburn played Connie Fuller's (Anne Sheridan) rich uncle Stanley.  Whenever he arrives for a visit Connie and husband, Bill (Jack Benny), are sure to cover the living room with numerous pictures of good old Uncle Stanley.  After all, they want to make sure rich Uncle Stanley knows just how much they love him. In dire need of money to save their home, the Fullers turn to Stanley who is their only hope.  Imagine their shock when they discover all is not as it seems with Uncle Stanley’s fortune.

The More The Merrier (1943): 

In his Academy Award Winning role for Best Supporting Actor, Coburn portrayed millionaire Benjamin Dingle.  Dingle arrives in Washington DC as an Advisor on how to handle the housing shortage during WWII.  However when he arrives in DC, he discovers his hotel room isn't ready.  He answers the ad of Connie Milligan(Jean Arthur), who is seeking a roommate.  She sublets him half of her apartment, and they have to learn how to live in this shared space despite having different personalities.  Things get even more complicated( and funny) when Dingle sublets half of his half to Sgt. Joe Carter (Joel McCrea).

Comedy may be the genre Coburn had the most roles, however that does not mean he didn't foray into other film types.  In fact, one of his most memorable roles is in the drama "King's Row."

King's Row (1942):

In this movie, Coburn portrayed sadistic doctor Henry Gordon. Dr. Gordon is rumored to perform surgery without anesthesia.  His daughter, Louise(Nancy Colman) is in a relationship with rich boy Drake(Ronald Reagan).   When Drake's fortune is stolen, he goes to work on the railroad. When he gets injured, vindictive and sadistic Gordon needlessly amputates both of Drake's legs out of hatred.  This was a far cry from the harmless, lovable characters he was known for playing.

In each of the films listed and many more unlisted, Coburn had a presence about him.   He was a familiar face that audiences loved to see. Even fans of today get a real pleasure from his performances.  A character actor that was always reliable to bring out the best. 

Real in Memory As In Flesh....How Green Was My Valley

"How Green Was My Valley" is a John Ford masterpiece.   It premiered in 1941 and became a successful and popular film. It beat out "Citizen Kane" for Best Picture.  It boasts of a great cast with Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Donald Crisp, and Roddy McDowall in his first major feature film.

Now when I think about this movie, one word stands in the forefront of my mind: Memory. The life that is found within a memory.   The film begins in a dying town. A town that was stripped of its life by the coal mine. A faceless man is packing his belongings in preparation to leave this barren land.  As he is packing, he shares that he can close his eyes and see the town as it used to be.  A town full of life, song, and green.  He can clearly see the faces of his mother and sister as they prepare the evening meal. He can see the faces of his brothers and the townsmen as they leave the mines to walk home with a song on their lips.  He can see the face of his father as they take their custom walk through the fields and around town. I imagine he could still feel his father's hand as he holds it during their walk.

As the faceless man, Huw, walks down memory lane, the audience gets to see the town and people change over the years.  We see people getting married and leaving town.  We see people forced to leave town to find better work.  We see the mine killing people. We see the hypocrisy and lack of compassion of Man. We see Huw growing up and becoming a man.

As things change over the years, some things never changed for Huw.  The love of his mother and father remained central and never changing.  And when his father was killed at the mine, Huw said a line that really said it all: Men like my father cannot die. They are with me still, real in memory as they were in flesh, loving and beloved forever."   In our memories people can't die. Places don't die.  Huw could still remember the green of his Valley. He could still remember his father as he once was.  Life is in the memory.  How Green Was My Valley then.......

Clint Eastwood: From Rowdy Yates To Dirty Harry To Unforgiven

A Birthday Post

Today is Clint Eastwood's 84th birthday.  So in celebration we will explore some of his legendary career.  Mr. Eastwood has been part of the Hollywood Landscape for over 50 years, and he has remained a favorite amongst all generations.   We begin our journey on the cattle trail.

Rawhide (1959)

Rawhide was a show about life on a cattle trail. Clint Eastwood portrayed cattle driver Rowdy Yates, and this role was his first big break.  Rowdy was considered a young inexperienced handsome hot head.  He portrayed this character for 8 seasons and it made him a television star. 

The Man With No Name (1964)

The Man With No Name is a trilogy of Spaghetti Westerns that began with "A Fistful of Dollars" in 1964.  The trilogy included "For a Few Dollars More" and "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly."  These movies broke the Rawhide image and began a new phase in Clint Eastwood's career: the anti hero.  In these westerns Clint portrayed The Stranger.  His character had no name. He was mysterious. Tough. Deadly with a gun. 

Dirty Harry (1971)

In the Dirty Harry series, Clint Eastwood portrayed Harry Callahan.  The series consisted of "Dirty Harry," "Magnum Force," "The Enforcer," "Sudden Impact," and "The Dead Pool."  Harry was a cop whom as the title suggests wasn't afraid to get dirty.  He did what he thought was necessary to get the bad guys.  It could be argued that the Dirty Harry movies solidified Eastwood as the classic anti-hero of his time.  Callahan was a man for whom the audience cheered, even though he didn't behave as the classically good guy cop. He had memorable lines that people still quote to this day. If you walk up to anyone on the street, they may not know much about guns, but they would probably know Harry Callahan's gun.

Play Misty For Me (1971)

This film marked Clint Eastwood's directorial film debut. He played radio jockey Dave Garver who found himself dealing with an obsessed stalker. The title of the film refers to the stalker, Evelyn, frequently calling to request the song "Misty."  The film was received very well and it began Clint's journey as a successful director. 

Unforgiven (1992)

This is a big leap from the 1970s to the 1990s.  I am choosing to end with "Unforgiven," because this was my first introduction to Clint Eastwood as a director.    Also, this movie is considered by many to have revitalized the western genre. Therefore, I thought it would be fitting to end it on this film. 

 In the movie, Eastwood portrays William Munny. He is a man repenting the sins of his youth. A reformed murderer who has hung up his guns. He is convinced to help bring to justice men who had disfigured a female prostitute since the local sheriff is crooked.  Since it has been many years that he has done anything of that nature, he is rusty with a gun and with riding a horse.   It was hard for many in the audience to see Eastwood portray a man falling off a horse and not even able to shoot a gun anymore.  However, watching Eastwood portray a man struggling to not fall back into old habits, but also be able to do what needs to be done resonated with a lot of people.  

Clint Eastwood is one of the few Legends that are still around. He is still active today with acting and directing.  He is also a musician who has composed the musical score for some of his films.  A talented man that we hope continues to influence and make movies for years to come. 

Happy Birthday, Mr. Eastwood. You have truly made our day. 

Bette Davis: Fierceness Personified

Bette Davis: Fierceness Personified

When I think of Bette Davis, one word comes to mind: fierce.  Whether portraying a cunning evil Vixen or a plain fragile soul, there was a fierceness to her even if it was way below the surface.  Perhaps that was something pouring over from her true self into the role that she played?  I do not know.  All I know is that I could sense it.  We are going to explore two of her famous characters and get a feel of the fierceness that lurked.

The Little Foxes (1941)

In this movie, Bette Davis plays Regina Giddens.  At the start of the 20th Century, women certainly didn't have as many rights as men, particularly when it comes to inheritances.  Regina's brothers inherit from their wealthy father, while she can only rely on her ill husband for financial support. Now this does not sit well with Regina.  She wants what she feels she is owed- a lot of money.  When her brothers' scheme to gain more money for a venture does not go as planned, she finds the perfect opportunity to blackmail them.  Regina's fierceness is seen in what she is willing to do to get what she wants. I do not want to give too much away but there is a coldness in her. There is an intensity, a power, a fierceness in her eyes and body language as she stands firm to achieve her goal no matter the cost. 

Now, Voyager (1942)

Davis plays Charlotte Vale. Charlotte is considered plain and unattractive. She is brow beaten by her mother and has no self-esteem.  Things start to look up for her when she gets away from her mother.  She spends time in a Sanatorium and then takes a long cruise.  While away from her mother she learns independence and falls in love. Charlotte's fierceness is in her determination not to be placed back under her mother's thumb. She stands firm against her mother.  When tragedy occurs, she seeks the help she needs.  Then she has the compassion to help a young girl in a similar situation. She finds the power and fire within herself to be strong.

One actress. Two characters. Very different personalities.  Yet a power within them. A firmness. Strength. Fierceness.  

The Romantic-Comedy Blogathon

Arsenic and Old Lace: The Crazy Runs Deep

It seems a common occurrence for people to think their family is crazier than everyone else's family.  For theater critic, Mortimer Brewster, he may actually win that contest.

He has one brother(Teddy) who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt and constantly blows a bugle and charges up stairs:

He has another brother(Jonathan) who is a psychotic murderer, and through a botched plastic surgery was made to look like Boris Karloff:

And to top it off he has two sweet looking aunts, who poison lonely men that board at their house to bring the men peace:

The excitement begins when Mortimer takes his new wife to see his aunts before heading on their honeymoon.  That night, he discovers his aunts murderous deeds; his Boris Karloff looking brother returns to hide from the police; constant complaints against Teddy  requires him to finally be committed.

So in one night Mortimer has to keep his aunts' secret from being discovered, but stop them from continuing their poisonous practice. He has to procure all of the necessary documents to commit Teddy. Then he has to get Jonathan to leave the house without the man killing him. Mortimer has to deal with all of this while keeping his new wife from finding out, and with the police constantly stopping by.

Is there any wonder Mortimer fears becoming crazy himself?