Monday, March 1, 2010

TCM comes to a city near you. Whether you like it or not.

TCM is doing a 5-City Tour called Road to Hollywood that will lead up to their first Classic Film Festival. I think TCM might have a vendetta against me (I don't know why that is because I love them). First of all, I haven't been able to afford the channel (that will change later in the year though, I hope). Then, they hold an awesome Classic Film Festival on the other side of the continent and make it so prohibitively expensive that I can't afford to go. Then they give me the ultimate tease. They tell me they are coming to Boston for a day. Really? Yay! Their visit will comprise of Ben Mankiewicz and a movie from 1982? Boo. That really sucks TCM. Couldn't you send me Robert Osborne and a pre 1970 movie instead? The only good thing I can see in all of this is that it will bring people to the Brattle, my favorite repertory theatre. If you are in Boston and you like the 1980s and you like things that are free, this one is for you!

Here is the press release if you want to read it.
---------------------------
For Release: March 1, 2010

Turner Classic Movies Heads to Five Cities for Road to Hollywood Tour,

Leading Up to Launch of First-Ever TCM Classic Film Festival

All Screenings Free to Public;

Tickets Available Beginning March 1 at tcm.com/roadtohollywood

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is taking its love of great movies to five cities nationwide with the Road to Hollywood tour, a slate of special free screenings building up to the launch of the first-ever TCM Classic Film Festival. In the weeks before the festival, which will take place in Hollywood April 22-25, TCM will travel to Boston (March 18); New York (March 23); Chicago (March 30); Washington, D.C. (April 8); and San Francisco (April 21) for presentations of five outstanding films, each set in the city in which it will be screened.

Most of the films will be introduced by TCM host Robert Osborne or weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz. In addition, TCM is planning celebrity appearances for each screening. OscarÒ and EmmyÒ-winning actress Eva Marie Saint (On the Waterfront) is scheduled to appear in Chicago for the presentation of the Hitchcock classic North by Northwest (1959). Broadway legend Elaine Stritch (Company) will be on-hand for the screening of All About Eve (1950) in New York. Filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) and popular San Francisco film critic and show business reporter Jan Wahl of KRON, will introduce the Orson Welles thriller The Lady from Shanghai (1948) in San Francisco. Producer George Stevens Jr., founding director of the American Film Institute, will take part in the screening of his father’s film The More the Merrier (1943) in Washington, D.C. And Boston Herald film critic James Verniere will take part in the Boston screening of The Verdict (1982).

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that we’ll be able to bring the excitement of our first TCM Classic Film Festival to folks in these five great cities,” said Osborne. “This is a great opportunity for us to connect directly with the TCM community across America. We look forward to meeting our fellow movie lovers and sharing our passion for great films.”

Below is a complete schedule of TCM’s Road to Hollywood screenings. Although the screenings are free to the public, tickets are required for entry. Tickets will be available beginning March 1 at http://www.tcm.com/roadtohollywood.

The Brattle Theatre in Boston – Thursday, March 18, at 8 p.m. – The Verdict (1982)

Ben Mankiewicz and Boston Herald film critic Jim Verniere will introduce this emotionally powerful legal drama directed by Sidney Lumet and written by David Mamet. Paul Newman earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as an alcoholic lawyer who is having difficulty keeping clients. He lands a dream case, however, when he is hired to sue a hospital for negligence.
 The Music Box Theater in Chicago – Tuesday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. – North by Northwest (1959)

Robert Osborne will by joined by Oscar and Emmy winner Eva Marie Saint (On the Waterfront) in Chicago for this presentation of one of Alfred Hitchcock’s biggest and most enduring hits. Cary Grant plays an everyman mistaken as a double agent and chased across the country by people on both sides of the law. Saint plays the woman unwittingly roped into helping him. James Mason, Leo G. Carroll and Martin Landau co-star.

The Avalon Theatre in Washington, D.C. – Thursday, April 8, at 8 p.m. – The More the Merrier (1943)

Ben Mankiewicz and producer George Stevens Jr., founding director of the American Film Institute, will introduce this highly entertaining film directed by Stevens’ father. Jean Arthur and Joel McCrea star as a pair forced to share a D.C. apartment during a wartime housing shortage. Charles Coburn won an Oscar for his deliciously comic performance.

The Castro in San Francisco – Wednesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. – The Lady from Shanghai (1948)

Filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show), who is an expert on the films of Orson Welles and was a close friend of the director, will be joined by popular San Francisco film critic and show business reporter Jan Wahl of KRON as they introduce this memorable thriller. The story involves a fake murder plot that turns out to be all too real. Welles stars along with Rita Hayworth, Everett Sloane and Glenn Anders. The film’s extraordinary imagery includes an exciting hall-of-mirrors sequence that remains a cinematic masterpiece.

About the TCM Classic Film Festival


The first-ever TCM Classic Film Festival will take place April 22-25, 2010, in the heart of Hollywood. The network is inviting fans from around the country to join this new festival and share their passion for great movies. This landmark celebration of the history of Hollywood and its movies will be presented in a way that only TCM can, with major events, celebrity appearances, panel discussions and more. The four-day festival will also provide movie fans a rare opportunity to experience some of cinema’s greatest works as they were meant to be seen – on the big screen.


The festival will involve several venues in a central area of Hollywood, including screenings at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has a longstanding role in movie history and was the site of the first Oscar ceremony, will be the official hotel for the festival as well as a key venue for festival passholders.


The central gathering point for the TCM Classic Film Festival community will be Club TCM. This area, which is open exclusively to festival passholders, will be abuzz with activity during the entire festival, providing fans with unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Among the events slated for Club TCM are a book signing and display of original art by Tony Curtis; a special screening of Joan Crawford’s home movies, hosted by her grandson, Casey LaLonde; a presentation by special effects artist Douglas Trumbull; and numerous scheduled conversations with festival guests. Club TCM will also feature several panel discussions, including Casting Secrets: The Knack of Finding the Right Actor; A Remake to Remember: Hollywood’s Love Affair with Updating Movie Classics; The Greatest Movies Ever Sold: Classic Movie Marketing Campaigns; Location Location Location; Film Continuity: When Details Count; and TCM: Meet the People Behind the Network.


Club TCM will be headquartered in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. This lavish room is steeped in Hollywood history as the site of the original Academy Awards banquet.


The TCM Classic Film Festival is being produced by TCM. Serving as festival consultants are Bill and Stella Pence, who are well-known in industry circles as co-founders of the Telluride Film Festival.


The TCM Classic Film Festival is sponsored by Vanity Fair, the official festival partner and host of the opening night gala; Buick®, the official automotive sponsor; Delta Air Lines, the official travel partner; and Fekkai, official luxury hair care sponsor of the Vanity Fair’s Tales of Hollywood program.
Festival passes and additional information are available at www.tcm.com/festival.

Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network celebrating 15 years of presenting great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 80 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials, 31 Days of Oscar and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also stages special events and screenings, such as the upcoming TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood; produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs; and hosts a wealth of materials at its Web site, www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

13 comments:

  1. Hmmm--& I'd even be in the area that day...but why "The Verdict"? It's a good movie--I saw it when it came out--but I can think of a whole lot I'd rather see for such an event. For instance, "Now, Voyager" has a Boston connection.

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  2. That stinks. I saw the press release this morning & got so excited for you when I saw they were playing something at The Brattle, then noticed it was from the 80's and that let the air out of my balloon :(

    Really, if TCM (TCM!) is going to take movies on the road, they should ALL be pre-1970 classics. The Verdict is like an AMC movie, not TCM.

    I'm going to try to go to the NYC show, but really Chicago has the best lot (if you don't count the festival in CA, obviously)- Robert Osborne, North by Northwest and Eva Marie Saint!!

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  3. That's a good movie, but yikes, what a bummer, considering the other choices. If I had a little more time, even though I've seen it on the big screen a few times, I would drive to Chicago (I'm in Milwaukee) to see North by Northwest, though.

    Shelly

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  4. Wow, Boston is certainly getting jipped on the tour! Especially when you look at what the other cities have on offer. And it's a shame that the actual TCM Festival is so expensive - that's deterred me from going.

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  5. Boo. :( I'm not too far from Chicago, but I probably won't get to go.

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  6. Couldn't they come to St. Louis?! The closest they come to me is Chicago, although at least Robert Osbourne will be there showing one of my favourite films of all time!

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  7. I got all excited when I saw the New York show, for obvious reasons. Alas, it's on a Tuesday night and I'll be in class several hours away. Why doesn't Philly ever get cool things like this?

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  8. It's a shame they don't show an older film set in Boston like MYSTERY STREET (1950) or any number of other films...I guess MYSTERY STREET or something like WALK EAST ON BEACON! aren't well enough known, but the suggestion of NOW VOYAGER is a good one --

    It's crazy that the festival is right here in So. CA and I can't go...if I took just one person from our family for company, the price tag for the lowest level of tickets would be $1000!

    Best wishes,
    Laura

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  9. Why does all the good things have to happen in the states

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  10. I may have to go to this after all! The beau is a big fan of the movie esp. since it stars Paul Newman.

    John - Now, Voyager would be swell! I would even suffer Mankiewicz if they showed that!

    Kate - Thanks for thinking of me. If AMC comes to Boston, they best be bringing the cast of Mad Men, not a 1982 movie!

    Shelly - I would travel to Chicago too because that is the sweetest of all the showings. Eva Marie Saint & Robert Osborne!!!

    Elizabeth - :-(

    Mercurie & Princess - They should hit all the major cities, including St. Louis and Philly! It's not fair.

    Laura/Robby- I wish they didn't have those expensive passes. I would buy a ticket for one event rather than pay an exorbitant amount for a pass. Mystery Street would have been perfect too for Boston!

    Niki - It's so true. I feel like international classic film fans get jipped sometimes.

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  11. I'm sooo gonna be the one on the 30th; might set up camp outside the Music Box the night before. I hope Ms. Saint does an autograph signing. I'm gonna bring my 50th Anniversary DVD just in case.

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  12. OK, As Someone who lives In So Cal and knows the "Venues"and looking at the prices this is as much about Profit as classic films. The "Chinese" HAS A 'REP AS ONE OF THE FUNKIEST (Not Good ) THX house's in the USA ,maybe it's gotten better. But Hey, "It's In Hollywood" and they are marketing this to non locals anyway. Laura is right, what local can afford $1000.Bucks per person at the lowest levels?

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  13. Great News to share with everyone in the NYC area:

    The Country Girl - free NYC outside screening, Thurs, Aug 12!

    A treat for all film lovers!

    On Thursday, August 12, grab your family and friends to the Elevator Acre for an outside viewing of the 1954 Oscar award winning film, The Country Girl. Adapted from the Clifford Odets play and starring Grace Kelly, William Holden and Bing Crosby in his greatest performance, the classic drama tells the story of an alcoholic has-been Broadway actor struggling with the one last chance he’s been given to resurrect his career.

    Film starts at 8pm| The Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street, between Broad and William Streets| Free tickets will be available at the street-level Water Street entrance to the Elevated Acre on a first-come, first served basis starting at 6 pm on the day of the screening

    For more information visit: http://www.rivertorivernyc.com/events/eventDetail.php?eventID=3228

    So lets meet up! bring a blanket, invite your family and friends for a classic movie night!

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