Thursday
- Early evening - This first slot of the fest is one of the toughest choices I’ve had to make. I’ve never seen NIGHT WORLD (1932), but I also would love to see Ms. Monroe and Ms. Russell on the big screen. Add to that a terrific noir with Bogart and Bacall and this is one tough nut to crack. My first choice would be the pre-code, even though I’m sure that this will be one of the 5 TBAs on Sunday. (Our pre-fest tradition is to eat upstairs at Baja Fresh and watch the red carpet festivities from the second floor.)
- Late evening - This is one of the easiest slots for me, as I really don’t have an interest is seeing any other film except for THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY-SOXER (1947). ”Mellow greetings, yookie dookie!”...I hope to see you at the Egyptian for Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and adorable teenager Shirley Temple (this film has a pretty good supporting cast, too with Rudy Vallée, Ray Collins and Harry Davenport.)
Friday
- Early morning - I’m going to be checking out MERRILY WE GO TO HELL (1932). A film I’ve heard of but have never seen before. That means I’ll miss one of the great noirs (THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE) and one of the great love stories (THE CLOCK).
- Late morning - OUT OF AFRICA (1985) has long been a favorite of mine and it will be great to finally see it on the big screen.
- Afternoon - Because I won't get out of “Africa” in time to catch RAIDER’S OF THE LOST ARK, I’ll catch SUNRISE: A SONG OF TWO HUMANS (1927) which--even though I recently saw it on TCM--I just can’t get enough of Janet Gaynor. My third film at house 1 today!
- Early evening - I’ll probably see the two shorter films in house 6 in this slot, both which I’ve never seen: VANITY STREET (1932) and OPEN SECRET (1948). Though I’ve also not seen Truffaut’s DAY FOR NIGHT which I should or turn in my “foreign film nut” card.
- Late evening - I’ll probably see new-to-me-noir ROAD HOUSE (1948). Ida Lupino and Richard Widmark, oh yes. Two other great films in this slot: DO THE RIGHT THING and GOODBYE MR. CHIPS (the Donat/Garson version).
- Midnight - Hey, it’s Friday night...let’s have fun! (And try to not nod off during SANTO VS THE EVIL BRAIN!)
Saturday
- Early morning - I’ve seen FROM HERE TO ETERNITY recently, so I’ll miss Donna Reed as the “hooker”--er, I mean “hostess”. I’ve also seen ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT previously and gave it 2/5 stars...it’s kind of a hot mess. (My review here: https://boxd.it/uqb1L ). I’m part of the Illeana Douglas fan club and she’s introducing DOUBLE WEDDING (1937), so I’ll start my day at the Egyptian and slapstick comedy with William Powell & Myrna Loy.
- Late morning - Only one choice for me here! Alert the #70sFilm devotees, I’ll re-queue at the Egyptian in order to see A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE (1974) for the very first time. I’m already in tears reading the write-ups and reviews on this film.
- Afternoon - The only film in this block that gets out early enough to catch BLOOD MONEY in the next slot is LOVE AFFAIR (1939). Sometimes the schedule simply makes the decision for you.
- Early evening - I’ve seen “Butch and Sundance” twice before on the big screen (and it’ll be fabulous at the Chinese Theater). But instead, I’ll catch a pair of films I’ve never seen before, and the both sound great. BLOOD MONEY (1933) and LIFE BEGINS AT 40 (1935) the former being introduced by Bruce Goldstein and the latter being introduced by Leonard Maltin.
- Late evening - My first trip to the Chinese Theater! I’ll be seeing STAR WARS (1977) on the big screen for the first time since--um--1977 (though technically this is the 1997 re-release that's slightly different than the original). This should be a fun crowd...also, I refuse to call it “Episode 4” or whatever they renamed it. It’s STAR WARS, you goobers!
- Midnight - THE STUDENT NURSES (1970) may be nothing like NIGHT NURSE (1931), but I’m looking forward to a bawdy, crazy film.
Sunday
- Early morning - I love any film in the “hands surgically replaced” horror sub-genre, so what fun it will be to watch the film MAD LOVE (1935) first thing at the Egyptian.
- Late morning - I’ll surely be at Douglas Sirk’s MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (1954) for Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman in this slot.
- Afternoon - I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the 1964 version of THE KILLERS, but Angie Dickinson is scheduled to be there, so I’m in!
- Early evening - This is yet another rough slot. I could pick between two excellent (but long) films: GONE WITH THE WIND (1939) and THE GODFATHER: PART II (1974) or I could watch two films I haven’t seen before. Add to that there are a cluster of three TBA films right here. I’ll probably head down Hollywood Blvd to the Egyptian for new-to-me A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS (1928) and then re-queue to close out the 2019 TCMFF with THE DOLLY SISTERS (1945) on nitrate.
Other friends' posts on their picks (if I'm missing yours, hit me up on Twitter and I'll add it):
- @007hertzrumble - Thirty Hertz Rumble
- @PreCodeDotCom - Pre-Code
- @MaterialGirl850 - The Hollywood Review
- @StanfordClark - Movies Past and Present
- @Journeys_Film - Journeys in Classic Film
- @julsrich - Cinema Crossroads
- @backlotsfilm - Lara Gabrielle
- @NikkiLM4 - The Way We Watch
- @CitizenScreen - Once Upon a Screen
- @LaurasMiscMovie - Laura's Miscellaneous Musings
- @IrishJayhawk66 - Outspoken and Freckled
- @ChrisSturhann - Blog of the Darned
- @thedameupstairs - Flickin' Out
