Our Trip to the TCMFF 2024 Part 4 (and Final Part)

…Reposting to fix technical issues. Originally posted 7/28/24

Previous Coverage:

Our Trip to the TCMFF 2024–Part 3

Our Trip to the TCMFF 2024–Part 2

Our Trip to the TCMFF 2024–Part 1

TCMFF 2024–It’s a Wrap!

TCMFF 2024:Updates From the Field

Oh man! I realized that I never finished writing the last part of our trip to this year’s TCMFF. I’m sure nobody cares by now; but I need to finish it. I have a few articles I need to write and I am behind because I’ve been so busy these past couple of months!

Sunday, April 21, 2024

We spent our entire last day of the festival at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. We couldn’t help it, every film showing there on Sunday was awesome. My husband and I started off the day with classic film noir–Double Indemnity. There was a delightful interview between Fred MacMurray’s daughter Kate and TCM host Eddie Muller. The home from Double Indemnity, as everyone knows was located in the Hollywood Hills and is still standing in 2024, though the garage door has been updated since 1944. I’ll admit by day 4 of the TCMFF, I was exhausted. I felt myself nod off a couple times during Double Indemnity, but at least I wasn’t snoring like some other people. Ugh.

Anyway, after Double Indemnity, we got back in line at Grauman’s for Sabrina, another one of my favorite films. This screening was introduced by Dave Karger with guest Kin Shriner, a star on General Hospital and apparently a huge classic film fan. It was a lot of fun seeing Sabrina on the big Grauman’s screen! After Sabrina, we had planned on seeing Chinatown also at Grauman’s; but we ended up forgoing that screening so that we could get in line for Spaceballs and guest Mel Brooks. When the schedule was announced and I learned that I had received media credentials, we knew that Mel and The Long, Long Trailer were our two must-see events. Nothing else scheduled would take us away from them–thank goodness TCM didn’t schedule the two events at the same time. I think that would have killed me.

Our 2-3 hours in line paid off. My husband and I were #6 and #7 in line, respectively. When the time came to finally be seated for the event, we wanted to be close enough to be able to see Mel; but not so close that watching the movie was obnoxious. We were told prior to Mel’s appearance on stage to clap and cheer loudly, because “Mel likes that.” The 990+ people in the theater gave Mel a standing ovation when he came out. He was absolutely amazing. He is 98 years old and came out on stage with no cane, no walker, no assistant to help him walk.

Then, at one point, Mel pulled a Hitler mustache out of his pocket and did an impression. Later, Mel stated that he knew he would make it in show business because he did the best cat impression of anyone. He then performed the cat impression and you know what? It was really good. Ben couldn’t keep up with Mel and I don’t think he was trying. At one point, Ben just put his notes away and let Mel go. Finally, it was time for Spaceballs, but frankly, I could have listened to Mel for 2 hours. I’ve seen Spaceballs.

Anyway, after Spaceballs, it was time to go to the closing night party. The party was packed but my husband and I managed to find a spot near the front and were given a free glass of champagne. The five hosts, Ben Mankiewicz, Dave Karger, Alicia Malone, Jacqueline Stewart, and Eddie Muller came out and led the festival goers in a toast. We toasted both the TCMFF’s 15th anniversary and TCM’s 30th. I was disappointed that we didn’t get to speak to the hosts like we did last year. We didn’t realize that the pool area was open for the closing party. Next year, if we go to the TCMFF again, we’ll be prepared to check the pool!

This year, we didn’t see a lot of new films. In fact, we only saw two films that we hadn’t seen before. But that’s okay, because this year’s festival gave us the chance to see a lot of old favorites in the theater–including my favorite film of all time, The Long Long Trailer! We also got to see a lot of big stars, which isn’t an experience that can be replicated watching movies at home.

New to Me Movies: Gambit (1966) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). My husband had seen ‘Encounters’ before.

Old Favorites Watched: Clue (1985), 101 Dalmatians (1961), It Should Happen to You (1954), Jailhouse Rock (1957), The Mad Miss Manton (1938), The Long Long Trailer (1954), The Big Heat (1953), Footloose (1984), Double Indemnity (1944), Sabrina (1954), and Spaceballs (1987).

We also did the media reception, the red carpet event, watched 9 Fleischer cartoons; but didn’t do any panels.