MY PICKS FOR THE 2019 TCM FILM FESTIVAL

posted ~ Monday, April 1st, 2019

It’s a time-honored tradition for bloggers ~ and anyone, really ~ to let folks know their choice of films they’ll see at the 2019 TCM Classic Film Festival. Well who am I to buck tradition.

So, for better or for worse…in sickness and in camaraderie and quixotic drunkenness, this is my “Master Plan” for how I’ll spend the 2019 TCM Classic Film Festival.

…Unless I change my mind.

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THURSDAY ~ APRIL 11th, 2019

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

May I be candid with you? Perfectly candid? There really is only one way to see Marilyn Monroe…on a big screen, a large canvas, in all her gloriously majestic glory. She, is an icon. She, is an era. She, is under~rated. She, is Mount Rushmore …important like that. I am prepared and look forward to being overwhelmed and drown in the Technicolor image of Marilyn and Jane Russell as they stride across the screen with a sexual confidence that is off the chart. I love their friendship and camaraderie in this. They enter that club like they are entering the gun fight at the O.K. Corral. They are Woman.

THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY SOXER

What a fun movie. Shirley Temple’s no longer on the good ship lollipop. She’s all grown-up and crushing hard. Myrna Loy is as beautiful, adept and regal as she ever was delivering those straight lines keeping everyone in check. But it’s Cary Grant, man. He’s the consummate movie star. And a good actor. He’s not afraid to be silly. He’s an actor who can be dead serious in “Suspicion” “Notorious” “Mr. Lucky” “None But the Lonely Heart” and then go screwy in ( “Bringing Up Baby” ) bananas
( “Arsenic and Old Lace” ) or just adorably silly. Sit back. This is going to be fun.

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FRIDAY ~ APRIL 12th, 2019

MERRILY WE GO TO HELL     VANITY STREET                    OPEN SECRET         

This trio of films will be a new discovery for me. I’m pretty much going in blind. I’ll come out learning something. 0oooh, look how young everyone looks.

 

SUNRISE

I’m told this is the apotheosis of Silent Film; it is all a Silent Film could be and more, being on the cusp of talkies and directed by the master, F. W. Murnau. I’ve seen bits and pieces of this movie, and have an idea of what it’s about. I look forward to watching it in one fell swoop. My friend Wendy promised I will be amazed. So I’ll let HER tell you her take on the movie after the screening.

DESERT HEARTS

Generally I’m not a fan of “newer” movies at the festival, but this wonderful 1985 movie is a total exception. I saw it when it was originally released and I wholeheartedly recommend this quiet loving film, but I know…I know. There’s stiff competition in its time slot: ( “Do the Right Thing” “Road House” ~ a Nitrate print, dammit…“Winchester 73”  “Goodbye Mr. Chips” and “The Opposite Sex” ~ which I know has a cadre of fans ). The director and its stars ( Donna Deitch, Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau ) will be at the screening. I actually met all three during the film’s thirtieth anniversary screening in NYC.

The film is soft and warm and kind. It takes place at the end of the 50’s where two women are trying to find themselves and their place in the world…and find each other. Audra Lindley does a great job in this movie. Whatever side of the ‘fence’ you’re on, love is love is love…see this film and let it put a string of lights around your heart.

SANTO vs THE EVIL BRAIN

I’ve never even HEARD of this movie before. But who cares, I’ll be with my roomies and the Midnite movies at the TCMFF are a lotta fun. Where can I get some No-Doz?

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SATURDAY ~ APRIL 13th, 2019

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE ( not “Collude” )

Noah’s Ark, sci~fi style. I love sci~fi…and I’m all in for Barbara Rush.

 

 

 

LOVE AFFAIR

TCM’s theme this year is “Love” and this is a great love story. Nice chemistry between Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. Can a shipboard romance last on dry land? Just watch where you’re walking when you’re in love…and crossing the street.

 

BLOOD MONEY

Frances Dee…full stop. Frances Dee. Well what’s your reason for living?

 

 

 

 

INDISCREET

Ingrid’s back and Cary’s got her. He never left her. This is one of the first Hollywood films Bergman did after “La Scandale”; you know, the Rossellini thing. And what a return. In this sparkling comedy, these two are having an affair but can’t marry because his wife won’t give him a divorce. Thing is Bergman doesn’t know…he’s not married. They’re a dazzling couple and this is a great comedy. Check out the Guest Essay in my blog by my Texas pal, Christy Putnam who writes about this film. I’m looking forward to checking them out on th…hold on!

THE BAD SEED

Hold on…THIS is a poolside screening? And actress Patty McCormack will be there? And it’s competing in the same time slot as “Indiscreet”???

OHHHHH NOOOOO! TCM has done it again. They’ve ruined my life by making me make a choice. I’m pretty torn on this one.

Eileen Heckart’s big scene will tear your heart out. Nancy Kelly’s edginess keeps me unsettled throughout the entire performance as we watch her realize her daughter has “issues.” McCormack gives an astoundingly compelling performance as a Murderer-In-Pigtails. Which screening should I do? Shall I go glossily romantic or dark and disturbing and cocktails in hand?

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SUNDAY ~ APRIL 14th, 2019

HOLIDAY

This conflict of scheduling made me literally groan OUT LOUD!! You think this is a slam dunk? Au contraire mon frere! I was in physical pain at this one.

For one thing…YAY! Cary Grant is featured in several films at the festival. “Holiday” is a good movie on the serious side and this is my favorite teaming of Grant and Hepburn, in their third of four pairings ~ two superstars of classic film. I think Grant’s acting is underrated. Perhaps it goes unnoticed because he wears his characters like a glove. And if Kate is sometimes deemed too “actress-y”, she’s not here. They’re beautiful…they have chemistry. I find a sadness in them here. No doubt they are big game. 

MAD LOVE

BUT WAAAAAAIT!!! In that same Sunday time slot is “Mad Love.” Don’t you know the sick twisted thing that is “Mad Love”? Damn I want to see the great Peter Lorre on that big screen, with a packed audience at the Egyptian, going balls to the wall crazy, twisted, obsessively in love…maniacally laughing as he walks up the stairs in this get up, totally giving in to the euphoria and mania of his madness. Who among us hasn’t gone a little mad when we couldn’t have the person we wanted. I still haven’t decided which of these films I definitely want to see. Two different type of movie experiences. Damn.

MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION

This glossy re~make of the 1935 Irene Dunne – Robert Taylor movie is a solid hit. Playboy causes a woman to go blind in an accident and spends his time trying to find a cure. Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush are gorgeous to look at. Hudson’s believably paired with Oscar-winner Jane Wyman who holds it all together. This should be a good romantic screening.

A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS

From out of the past, we see the luminous Garbo screen teamed again opposite ill~fated leading man, John Gilbert. The time told tale focuses on two men in love with one woman. Those odds usually don’t work out…for Garbo. 

We’re goin’ high~brow with a live orchestra conducted by Carl Davis. Kevin Brownlow ( this year’s recipient of the Robert Osborne Award ) will be there too, along with Leonard Maltin. Garbo… at the Egyptian.

THE DOLLY SISTERS

One of the brightest stars of the 1940’s was the beautiful Betty Grable. Here she is in her absolute element:

*  Music
* Costumed to the hilt with those gorgeous legs
* Technicolor ( she was made for it )
* 20th Century Fox doing what they do best.

And June Haver is no slouch either. I’ve never seen this film. This bio-pic of the Hungarian stars is sure to be inaccurate fun. Seeing this means my festival experience is over. If it has to end…let it end on a high note of music and fun.

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Let me give a shout-out to some fellow bloggers who are in the same predicament I’m in…what films to see at the 2019 TCM Classic Film Festival:

Angela over at The Hollywood Revue: https://hollywoodrevue.wordpress.com/2019/03/23/my-choices-for-tcmff-2019/

Aurora aka @CitizenScreen of Once Upon A Screen: https://aurorasginjoint.com/2019/03/24/my-picks-for-tcmff-2019/ 

Chris Sturhann of Blog of the Darned: https://chrissturhann.blogspot.com/2019/03/tcmff-madness-baby-2019.html 

Danny of Pre-Code.Com:
http://pre-code.com/tcmff-2019-full-schedule-posted-and-where-youll-find-me/

Diana of the Flickin’ Out Blog:
https://flickinoutblog.com/2019/03/29/dim-the-house-lights-my-picks-for-the-2019-tcm-classic-film-festival/

Em of The Vintage Cameo:
http://www.thevintagecameo.com/2019/03/tcmff-2019-schedule-picks/

Jay Patrick of Thirty Hertz Rumble:
https://thirtyhertzrumble.com/high-fiving-2019-tcm-film-festival-preview/ 

Jocelyn of Classic Film Observations & Obsessions: https://classicfilmobsessions.blogspot.com/2019/03/planning-my-schedule-sort-of-at-10th.html

Joel of Joel’s Classic Film Passion:
https://joelrwilliams1.blogspot.com/2019/03/2019-tcm-classic-film-festival.html 

Julia Ricci of Cinema Crossroads:
https://cinemacrossroads.wordpress.com/2019/03/24/my-picks-for-the-10th-annual-tcm-classic-film-festival/

Keisha of Cinema Cities:
https://cinemacities.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/my-picks-for-tcmff-2019/ 

Kellee of Outspoken & Freckled:

Top Picks for 2019 TCM Film Festival

Kim of I See A Dark Theater:
https://www.iseeadarktheater.com/tcmff-2019-preview

Laura of Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings: http://laurasmiscmusings.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-2019-tcm-classic-film-festival.html 

Nikki of The Way We Watch: https://www.thewaywewatch.net/blog-1/2019/3/24/its-here-my-our-tentative-tcmff-2019-schedule

Samantha of Musings of a Classic Film Addict:
https://musingsofaclassicfilmaddict.com/2019/03/22/my-picks-for-the-2019-tcm-classic-film-festival/

StanfordClark of Movies Past and Present:
 http://moviespastandpresent.com/current-plan-for-the-2019-tcm-classic-film-festival/

 

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