Lesley Ann Warren – Whimsically Classic

All TCMFF 2024 Coverage:

TCM2024: Updates From the Field

TCMFF 2024: It’s a Wrap!

Our Trip to the TCMFF 2024– Part 2

Our Trip to the TCMFF 2024– Part 3

Our Trip to the TCMFF 2024– Part 4

Here’s part one of my planned four-part series chronicling my husband’s and my visit to this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival. We weren’t originally planning on attending; but our plans were changed when I applied for a media credential (just to see what would happen) and I was approved! We purchased a Classic pass for my husband as it was comparable to my media pass. Last year, for our first festival, we went all out with the Spotlight pass, so this year was our first experience with the queue system. Knowing that people can be shut out of screenings, we kept that in mind as we planned our schedule. I’d read that people considered last year to be a more budget-conscious version of the festival to which they were accustomed. Having never attended before, we had nothing to which to compare it. We had an absolute blast at last year’s festival and had just as much fun (if not more) at this year’s.

We stayed at the Quality Inn on La Brea and Sunset Blvd. We even had a room with a view of the pool! The hotel was one of those 1960s hotels where the pool was in the middle of a courtyard with rooms around the perimeter. I was happy that we had an interior room and not one of the rooms with the door on the exterior of the building. Accessing our room would require someone to walk through the office. Since I booked only about 1.5 months out, it was the last hotel I could find that was within walking distance to the festival, was modestly priced, and had a King bed available. It was a fine hotel, but I think if we go to the festival again, I’m going to try and book earlier and stay at one of the hotels near Hollywood Blvd. The Quality Inn was very close to the In-N-Out on Sunset Blvd though. We may have taken advantage of it a couple times during our trip. In-N-Out has now expanded to Oregon, but it’s always so horrendously busy that the only time I’ve ever been there is when I’m in California. Our walk back to the hotel at night was fine, we didn’t have any issues with any people outside. However, I was walking back with my husband and sticking to well-lit busy streets. I would not recommend walking back alone.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

This was our first full day in Hollywood. We’d flown in from Portland the night prior. Originally, I had plane tickets to fly into LAX Wednesday afternoon, but decided to switch to flying into Burbank Tuesday night instead. This was done to eliminate the stress of trying to get across Los Angeles in a short window when I needed to be at the TCMFF media event that afternoon. I can wholeheartedly recommend flying into Burbank versus LAX. Much smaller and less drama. Not to mention it’s only about 30 minutes from Hollywood versus 60+ minutes from LAX near Inglewood. We also decided to not rent a car this go around, as we were only planning on attending the festival–no Disneyland, sadly. It was outside of this year’s budget. Tuesday night was our first experience using Lyft or any ride-sharing service. I had a first time rider coupon, giving us 50% off our ride.

My photo of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. No cars in front!

On Wednesday morning, we had lunch at In-N-Out and then went over to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel–the center of the TCMFF. Preparations were still underway with banners and signage being hung and line queues still being built. At noon, the gift boutique was scheduled to open in the lobby of the TCL multiplex. As one who always wants first crack at the merchandise if possible, my husband and I were there within five minutes of opening. They were still setting up the POS and doing training! I purchased a really neat old diner-style coffee mug that had the retro-style graphics TCM used in the mid-90s when it started. The back of the mug states “Perk Up with TCM!” I also purchased a 15th TCMFF shirt, a 30th anniversary TCM pin, and a 15th TCMFF refrigerator magnet. I like to collect refrigerator magnets and Christmas ornaments from places that I travel to during the year. Unfortunately, TCM did not have any Christmas ornaments in their boutique. If you’re reading this, to the “powers that be at TCMFF,” you should add Christmas ornaments to the boutique offerings.

In the afternoon, my husband and I waited in the lobby of the Roosevelt hotel to pick up our passes. My husband was able to pick up his pass right away, but I had to wait an hour for the media room to open. We both had a drink while we waited. I had a glass of rosé wine and my husband had a whisky-based cocktail called the Expat that also had some sort of spicy peppers. He must have liked it as he had two during our trip. Finally at 2pm, I was able to get my media pass in the “Writer’s Room” at the hotel. I was also given the choice between two books: the new book about Double Indemnity by Alain Silver and James Ursini; or Donald Bogle’s biography about Lena Horne. I opted for the former as it was a book on my wishlist already.

Judy Garland’s blouse from *Meet Me in St. Louis*. This was the actual blouse that was torn during Judy’s scuffle with Tom Drake on his porch. The mending on the sleeve can be seen.

After picking up our passes, we headed down to the Hollywood Heritage Museum near the Hollywood Legion to view the newest exhibit devoted to MGM stars and costumes. We received a special peek at the event via the Facebook TCMFF group which was having a party at the museum. Normally the museum is only open on the weekend. The exhibit was fantastic. I saw Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan loin cloth, a suit owned by Greta Garbo, a hat owned by Errol Flynn, one of Humphrey Bogart’s fedoras, the blouse Judy Garland wore in Meet Me in St. Louis when she beats up Tom Drake on his porch, Esther Williams’ gold catsuit from Million Dollar Mermaid, the painting Jean Harlow’s mother had commissioned after Jean’s untimely death in 1937, and so many more great costumes and artifacts.

My husband and I only had time to view the exhibit before it was back up the hill and back to the Roosevelt for the 4:30 media event. This was a really fun event as it wasn’t crowded and felt somewhat exclusive. Complimentary appetizers, beer, wine and other refreshments were available. We were able to see the hosts and hear what films they were most excited about introducing. Ben stated my favorite film, The Long Long Trailer, and I thought he was kidding. While I don’t know if that was really the film he was most excited about introducing, he was at the screening. I like to think he was being truthful. We were also given the scoop on the next season of TCM’s “The Plot Thickens” podcast. More about the media event in this post.

After the media event it was back down the hill for the conclusion of the TCMFF Facebook party. We then went to Musso & Frank’s for a 7:30 dinner reservation and then went back to the hotel. After completing the trek from the Roosevelt to the Hollywood Heritage museum four times, our legs were spaghetti. I nursed sore legs and two huge blisters for the first two days of the festival. Shout out to CVS for having moleskin and blister pads available. Also shout out to ibuprofen which got us through some trying times. Lol.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

This was the official first day of the festival. I had lunch reservations at Miceli’s Italian Restaurant, a place I’ve been wanting to go for a few years now. This is where Lucille Ball went in 1956 to learn how to toss pizza dough. Alas, we did not get pizza because they were large and we didn’t want to carry around leftovers. Both my husband and I got sandwiches. He got a meatball sandwich and I got a chicken parmesan one. They were delicious. My husband also had this amazing caprese salad with burrata cheese. I tried Miceli’s house Italian dressing and it was delicious. Their dinner rolls were also fantastic. The calamari was also amazing. The next time my husband and I are in Hollywood, I want to go there for dinner.

The inside of Miceli’s Italian Restaurant in Hollywood

We were going to hoof it to Amoeba Music, but our legs said no. Instead, we decided to just hang out around the Roosevelt. In the afternoon, my husband and I decided that we wanted to try and get onto the red carpet bleachers. Not having Spotlight or Essential passes, we weren’t going to be able to see the stars of Pulp Fiction–John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Harvey Keitel. My husband and I figured that the bleachers would be our best shot. At a little bit before 2:00pm, we saw that a line was already forming, so we got in line. My husband and I were #13 and #14, so we were definitely getting in. The queue was small and we were told by some of the red carpet bleacher veterans that basically only the people within the established queue would be admitted. Any stragglers who were well beyond the queue ropes were probably SOL.

John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson on the red carpet. (Photo provided by: TCM Classic Film Festival).

In the red carpet line, there was also question as to whether a second set of bleachers would be set up. After some sleuthing by another line member, it was determined that no, only one set of bleachers. Apparently, they used to use two bleachers but when the bleachers weren’t filled, it was decided to reduce it to one bleacher. It’s completely understandable. It looks bad for TCM and to the red carpet attendees to have a half-filled bleacher. That image doesn’t exactly convey enthusiasm and excitement for the festival. TCM employees Scott McGee and Yacov Freedman talked to the red carpet bleacher fans and flagged down the TCM hosts and red carpet guests for small interviews. Unfortunately, when the time came for the stars of Pulp Fiction, they were only able to wave and walk by as they needed to be inside. We were told that John Travolta wanted to come back out and see the fans, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time. I believe this to be true as Travolta seems like a nice, personable guy.

Dave Karger and Lesley Ann Warren at the “Clue” screening. (Photo provided by: TCM Classic Film Festival).

After the red carpet, it was time for my husband’s and my first film. When White Heat (1949) was announced, I knew I wanted to see it on the big screen. But then the final schedule was released and one of my absolute favorite movies, Clue (1985) was scheduled, poolside. It was scheduled opposite White Heat. Oh TCM. Why do you do this to me? In the end, Tim Curry’s hilarious performance won out over Cagney. Making the screening even better was that Lesley Ann Warren, aka Miss Scarlett, was scheduled to appear. She was a great guest and still gorgeous.

The Clue pool screening was crazy. It was packed and we arrived late due to being part of the red carpet. We barely attended the opening night party. We attended in the sense that there were no lines at the bar and no one inside Club TCM at the Roosevelt. We went to the pool and were unable to find seats. Having insanely achy legs, the thought of standing for two hours did not seem appealing. Always one to try and stake out potential seats, I spotted a pair of reserved seats that were not occupied. I spoke with a TCM staffer and was told that if the guests for whom the seats were reserved did not show up at the start of the event, we could have the seats. My husband and I stood next to the seats for nearly an hour, hoping that these VIP people did not show. The TCM staffer even told another staffer that those seats were already spoken for by us, should the VIPs not arrive. At about five minutes before the screening, a pair of women showed up and spotted my seats. I made sure to stand as close to them as I could without actually sitting there. As soon as Dave Karger was introduced, Boom! I took the signs off the seats and sat down. I overheard the woman tell her companion, “they just dove in there and took the seats.” No I didn’t lady, I had dibs on them long before you showed up. I didn’t just “dive in.”

The ceiling of the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Anyway, despite the cutthroat acquirement of seats at the Clue screening, we had a great time. Making it even better was that they showed all three endings in a row, which is how this film should be seen. After Clue, we walked down to the Egyptian to see a new-to-us film, Gambit, from 1966 with Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine. This was our first time seeing the Egyptian and it was gorgeous on the inside. The romantic caper film, Gambit, was very entertaining and a fun way to end the evening. My other choice for that block was In Cold Blood at the multiplex, but Clue ended too late. I’m not about leaving screenings early. Every film/event we attended at the festival, we watched in its entirety. I’m glad we saw Gambit. We’re planning on adding it to our film collection.

“Communism was just a red herring.”
Tim Curry as “Wadsworth” in Clue (1985)

A movie based on a board game should not be good. I can only think of one other movie based on a board game, Battleship (2012), and since I haven’t heard about that film since it came out ten years ago, I doubt that it will stand the test of time. I don’t even think it lasted until 2013. However, a film based on a board game that has stood the test of time is Clue, made 37 years ago in 1985. While the black comedy murder mystery failed to impress contemporary audiences upon its release, it has since developed a massive cult following. The film’s incredibly quotable dialogue has seamlessly integrated itself into everyday lexicon–or maybe just mine.

The 1992 version of Clue. This is the one that I had!

Clue, the board game, asks players to solve the murder of Mr. Boddy, the owner of the mansion in which the action of the game takes place. The answer to the murder lies inside an envelope placed in the center of the board. Players can assume the role of one of the mansion’s guests: Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, Mrs. White, and Professor Plum. A die is rolled and a player moves throughout the mansion, moving in and out of the mansion’s many rooms (Lounge, Dining Room, Kitchen, Ballroom, Study, Library, Billiard Room, Conservatory, and Hall). Players can also utilize the secret passageways that are present in each of the corner rooms. The secret passageway allows the player to move diagonally, from one corner to another. Upon entering a room, a player is allowed to make a suggestion. The player must make a suggestion and name a guest as the murderer and identify the murder weapon (lead pipe, knife, wrench, revolver, rope, and candlestick). The location of the murder is related to the room where the player resides. If the player states, “I think it was Miss Scarlet in the Conservatory with the lead pipe,” the person to the player’s left then has an opportunity to disprove the player’s suggestion by secretly displaying one of the matching cards in their hand. The player can then discreetly eliminate the room, guest, or weapon that was displayed by marking it on their clue sheet. If the player to the left cannot disprove, it is up to the next player to disprove the suggestion. If they cannot disprove the suggestion, it’s up to the next player, and so on. If nobody can disprove the suggestion, the player can then make an accusation. If none of the players can disprove the accusation, the player can reveal the contents of the envelope. If they are correct, they win the game.

The Clue movie takes the basic premise of the board game and gives it a slightly different spin. The film is set during the mid-1950s in Washington DC during the Red Scare. It is a dark, stormy night as six guests try to make their way to a mansion in the middle of nowhere. The cars of each guest match the color of their character’s pawn in the board game. Upon the guests’ arrival, they are given pseudonyms by Wadsworth, the Butler, and Yvette, the Maid. Wadsworth and Yvette are the only original characters added to the cast of main characters. The six guests’ pseudonyms align with the names of the guests from the board game. Right off the bat, one of the reasons that Clue is so awesome is that it has an All-Star cast:

Actor	Role	Known For (as of 1985):
Tim Curry	Wadsworth	Rocky Horror Picture Show, Annie, Legend
Colleen Camp	Yvette	Smile, Apocalypse Now, Valley Girl
Eileen Brennan	Mrs. Peacock	The Last Picture Show, The Sting, Murder by Death, Private Benjamin
Madeline Kahn	Mrs. White	What’s Up Doc?, Paper Moon, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein
Christopher Lloyd	Professor Plum	One Flew Over a Cuckoo’s Nest, Taxi (TV), Back to the Future
Michael McKean	Mr. Green	Laverne and Shirley (TV), This is Spinal Tap
Martin Mull	Colonel Mustard	Mr. Mom, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman (TV), Fernwood 2 Night (TV)
Lesley Ann Warren	Miss. Scarlet	The Happiest Millionaire, Victor/Victoria, Songwriter, Mission Impossible (TV)

After the guests all arrive, a seventh guest, Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving) shows up. Wadsworth reveals that it was Mr. Boddy who was responsible for sending the invitations that led to the guests’ arrival at the mansion. It turns out that Mr. Boddy has obtained some incriminating information on each guest and plans to blackmail them. Each guest is accused of the following scandal:

Miss Scarlet	Is a Madam, runs an underground brothel in DC.
Miss Peacock	Has been taking bribes on behalf of her husband, a Senator.
Mrs. White	Murdered her husband, a nuclear physicist.
Professor Plum	Lost his medical license due to having an affair with a patient.
Colonel Mustard	Suspected of being one of Miss Scarlet’s clients and is also a war profiteer who sold plane parts on the black market, which led to many deaths.
Mr. Green	Is gay. This isn’t a title he’s ashamed of, but would lose his job at the State Department if it were discovered.

After this news is revealed, Wadsworth informs the guests that the police have been notified and will arrive in 45 minutes. Mr. Boddy gives each of the guests a weapon (one of the six weapons from the board game). He teases them with the weapons, saying that one of them should murder Wadsworth, who has a key to the front door, allowing for their escape and subsequent freedom. The light is then turned out, a moan and gunshot are heard. The light comes back on and Mr. Boddy is found supposedly dead. The guests then begin wandering around the mansion, trying to investigate the death of Mr. Boddy. We see the guests move from room to room, just like in the board game. The rooms in the film even resemble the board game. Somebody played a lot of Clue while designing these sets.

The whole time I watch this movie I am always fascinated with how Miss Scarlet’s dress stays up.

As the film wears on, more bodies turn up and is becomes obvious that one of the eight people in the house is the murderer. It is worth noting that when the policeman shows up to respond to Wadsworth’s call, it is exactly 45 minutes from when Wadsworth made the call. As the film wears on, other people such as a stranded motorist and a singing telegram girl show up and are soon added to the body count. There is a hilarious scene where the guests try to alleviate the policeman’s suspicion by pretending to be making out with the dead victims. As The Chords’ “Sh-Boom” plays, Miss Scarlet and Professor Plum pretend to make out next to the booze soaked, drunk, passed out (dead) motorist. Mrs Peacock pretends to be the arms of the (dead) cook caressing Colonel Mustard and Mrs. White makes out with (dead) Mr. Boddy on the couch. The policeman is satisfied, saying “these are just folks having a good time!” By the end of the film, there are six victims. Speaking of the end of the film, there is a hysterical sequence in which Wadsworth breathlessly takes the guests (and the audience) through all the events of the film as he works to reveal the culprit behind all the murders.

Upon the film’s original release, the filmmakers created three possible endings, hoping that the audience will see the film multiple times to see all the endings. This plan did not work, as audiences did not feel the need to see in the film multiple times. In my opinion, the only way to see Clue is with the “All three endings” option enabled on the DVD. For the record, the third solution with Mrs. White’s amazing “Flames on the side of my face” speech is the best ending of the three.

Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White is absolutely hysterical in this film. One of the funniest parts of the film (aside from “flames on the side of my face”) is when she talks about her husband and how she’s not a black widow:

COLONEL MUSTARD: How many husbands have you had?
MRS. WHITE: Mine or other women’s?”
COLONEL MUSTARD: Yours
MRS. WHITE: Five
COLONEL MUSTARD: Five?!
MRS. WHITE: Yes, just the five. Husbands should be like Kleenex: soft, strong and disposable.
COLONEL MUSTARD: You lure men to their deaths like a spider with flies.
MRS. WHITE: Flies are where men are most vulnerable.
Martin Mull as “Colonel Mustard” and Madeline Kahn as “Mrs. White” in Clue (1985)

MRS. WHITE (explaining why she’s paying the blackmailer): I don’t want a scandal, do I? We had a very humiliating public confrontation. He was deranged. He was a lunatic. He didn’t actually seem to like me much; he had threatened to kill me in public.
MISS SCARLET: Why would he want to kill you in public?
WADSWORTH: I think she meant he threatened, in public, to kill her.
MISS SCARLET: Oh. Was that his final word on the matter?
MRS. WHITE: Being killed is pretty final, wouldn’t you say?
Madeline Kahn as “Mrs. White,” Lesley Ann Warren as “Miss Scarlet,” and Tim Curry as “Wadsworth” in Clue (1985).

MISS SCARLET: Do you miss him?
MRS. WHITE: Well, it’s a matter of life after death. Now that he’s dead, I have a life.
WADSWORTH: But he was your second husband. Your first husband also disappeared.
MRS. WHITE: But that was his job, he was an illusionist.
WADSWORTH: But he never reappeared.
MRS. WHITE: He wasn’t a very good illusionist.
Lesley Ann Warren as “Miss Scarlet,” Madeline Kahn as “Mrs. White” and Tim Curry as “Wadsworth” in Clue (1985).