Day two at the 2017 Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Classic Film Festival was enlightening and delightful. Saw films for the first time, revisited some old favorites, and saw some interesting people.
Basically, the entire day was spent either in line or in the theater.
In line
In the theatre
Today’s films were:
Animated Shorts by Ub Iwerks
First up was a screening of 10 rarely seen short films created by animator Ub Iwerks in the 1930s. It was hosted by animation expert and historian Jerry Beck and documentary filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, Ub Iwerks’ granddaughter.
Short films included:
- Oswald the Rabbit in Hungry Hobos
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in Steamboat Willie
- The Skeleton Dance
- Flip the Frog in Fiddlesticks
- Flip the Frog in Movie Mad
- Willie Whopper in Hell’s Fire
- Willie Whopper in Cave Man
- Jack and the Beanstalk (a “ComiColor” cartoon)
- Baloonland (another “ComiColor” cartoon)
- Merry Mannequins
Beat the Devil (1953)
Directed by John Huston and filmed on location in Italy, this comedy farce was weird but fun (it’s just always a bit unnerving for me when Humphrey Bogart is in a comedy). I particularly loved the black and white cinematography by Oswald Morris. Truman Capote was a screenwriter on the project, too.
Introducing the film were film scholar Cari Beauchamp and script supervisor for the film Angela Allen.
L-R: Angela Allen and Cari Beauchamp
The Princess Bride (1987)
Holy smokes, I was reminded of how much I love this movie. TCM host Ben Mankiewicz interviewed director Rob Reiner before the film. Cary Elwes (who played Wesley in the film) was in the house, too.
L-R: Rob Reiner and Ben Mankiewicz
Broadcast News (1987)
It was wonderful to revisit this interesting take on the decline of television news intermixed with a very compelling romantic comedy/love triangle. There to introduce the film were director James L. Brooks and actor Albert Brooks.
L-R: Albert Brooks, James L. Brooks, and Ben Mankiewicz
High Anxiety (1977)
Mel Brooks was on hand to introduce his spoof/homage to Alfred Hitchcock. Such an unbelievable treat to see/hear Mel Brooks in person.
L-R: Mel Brooks and Ben Mankiewicz
Zardoz (1974)
The TCM Classic Film Festival is carrying on its tradition of midnight screenings of cult classics. Day two’s midnight movie was the horrible Zardoz which features Sean Connery running around in only a red diaper for the entire film. Weird and hilarious. A fellow film goer brought these Zardoz-inspired cookies.
Stanford Clark 