TCM Classic Film Festival Returns to Hollywood

The TCM Classic Film Festival returns to Hollywood beginning Thursday for four days of classic films, celebrity appearances, guest speakers and panel discussions.

Most film festivals try to introduce new and upcoming films to the world, but the TCM festival showcases classic films with more than 70 screenings  through May 1.

 The main goal of the festival is “to further build a community for classic film lovers, create a place where they can gather, celebrate their shared passion and immerse themselves in a classic movie environment,” said Charlie Tabesh, senior vice president of programming at TCM and head programmer of the festival.

Now in its second year, the film festival will hold screenings at several Hollywood locations, including Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Egyptian Theatre and poolside at The Roosevelt Hotel. Club TCM, a gathering spot for mingling and special guest speakers, will be located in the Blossom Room at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the site of the first Academy Awards ceremony.

Tabesh is especially excited for Buster Keaton's The Cameraman with live accompaniment by Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks orchestra. Other programming highlights include the world premiere of the 60th anniversary restoration of An American in Paris, a screening of Shall We Dance with Alexis Gershwin (niece of George and Ira Gershwin), Citizen Kane, A Streetcar Named Desire, Taxi Driver, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Shaft, Girl Happy, Goldfinger, To Kill a Mockingbird, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and West Side Story.

Kirk Douglas will join TCM host Robert Osborne for an interview on stage, leading into a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s film Spartacus on the second day of the festival. Peter O’Toole, Kirk Douglas, Warren Beatty, Leslie Caron, Roger Corman, Mariel Hemingway, Angela Lansbury, Jerry Mathers, Hayley Mills, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Richard Roundtree, Barbara Rush and Alec Baldwin are some of the celebrities slated to appear during the festival.

“I think this year there is much more a sense of anticipation since we did it once successfully, so I hope we can surpass what we did last year,” Tabesh said.