TCM Festival: Opening Night!

 

My favorite scene in “A Star Is Born” is when Judy Garland gets home from a long day at the studio and acts out the entire production number she shot that day for her hubby James Mason, just using items in their very cool 1954 Malibu home. The scene is funny, a tour-de-force for Garland, and it really conveys the intimacy between the two characters. There are so many great numbers in this film but I think the best of them are the ones with less glitz where Judy’s talent is just allowed to shine in its full glory. Nothing beats her simple but powerful rendition of “The Man Who Got Away.” 

Just got back from the gala opening night festivities of the TCM Film Festival. We had a great time. Classic film freaks from all over the world have converged on Hollywood Boulevard to attend this four-day event. The red carpet event that opened the festival was the breathtakingly beautiful restored version of “A Star Is Born.” This film was already restored once in 1983 but new technologies have enabled preservationists to improve on the restoration and up the quality of the sound and visuals a hundred-fold. There wasn’t a single scratch or speck of dirt on the pristine CinemaScope print—I felt like I could walk right into the Technicolor frame.

My fabulous deep red Buick LaCrosse arrived this morning, courtesy of General Motors. I’ll have it for the next week. Driving to the Hollywood Roosevelt I literally felt like I was floating on air. It was so quiet that I kept thinking I was in a hybrid, but it’s not. What a gorgeous car and what a perfect set of wheels for this particular event—the interior styling of the LaCrosse evokes the classic films of the 40s and 50s. I shot a bunch of video with the Buick folks this afternoon which I will torture you with as soon as it is edited. I got to talk to TCM host Robert Osborne. He's such a pro and a real hero for those of us who love classic films. I snapped this photo of actor Tony Curtis who was right behind us on the red carpet. I’ll be seeing two of his films this weekend, “The Sweet Smell of Success” and “Some Like It Hot.” We were sitting behind Eli Wallach and across the aisle from Peter Bogdonavich. Saw Judy Garland’s kids, Lorna and Joey Luft, and a host of other celebrities filing into the magnificent Chinese Theatre.

It’s always thrilling for me to see a movie like this with a full house of appreciative fans. Here’s a photo I took of Robert Osborne and Alec Baldwin chatting on stage before the film. They screened a newsreel of the original premiere of the movie at the nearby Pantages Theatre on September 29, 1954. Seeing that was almost as much fun as watching the film. Every big star in Hollywood was at that premiere and thousands of fans lined the streets. Our audience erupted into cheers for many of the stars in the newsreel which I found very moving. Oh, how young and beautiful they all were. Tony Curtis was there with his wife Janet Leigh, both impossibly gorgeous, Debbie Reynolds, Lucy and Desi, Lauren Bacall, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, and of course a radiant Judy Garland. Everyone was convinced she’d win the Oscar for this film but in a very surprising upset, Grace Kelly won the prize that year for “The Country Girl.” As Osborne told us, Judy later said she didn’t mind losing because she got her Joey instead. Her son was born two days before the Academy Awards were given out.

 

Here I am on the red carpet, on my way from Grauman’s to the after party. They had these great blow-ups of photos shot during the making of the film. That's director George Cukor conferring with Judy on the left and Judy looking into the camera on the right. 

Yikes, it’s after 1 am now and I have to wake up early for 12 more hours of movie-going all day tomorrow. Will I make it? Leah’s advice was to just not snore too loudly if I fall asleep during any of the films. It’s an exercise in stamina, to be sure, but I can’t imagine nodding out during any of these great films. If I need a nap, I can always escape to my luxurious Buick LaCrosse.

Comments

[Wendy Oborne]

What a fabulous experience for you! I'm so jealous - but you deserve it. And regarding Judy in "A Star is Born" and how she lost the Academy Award: I always thought she was robbed. Grace Kelly - Paaah. No passion. Judy had nothing but passion - and astonishing well rounded talent to boot.

[The Pliers]

Speaking of letters that I write and never send, I love Alec Baldwin and have written him all sorts of mental, unsent letters. I am so envious of you there Hollywood for the TCM film festival. It really is fun to see the old films with an appreciative audience.

Have a blast, Danny! You look happy, healthy, and right at home on the red carpet!

[Carolyn Normandin]

Danny -- it looks like you are having a blast... we here are Buick are so excited! I am glad you love the LaCrosse as much as we do...

Have GREAT fun all weekend.

[NeCole Scott]

I feel like the mouse in your pocket, lol. Thank you so much for sharing this, it appears that you are having a wonderful time...and...driving a sexy car to boot!

[Judy]

You look radiant at the opening, so much at home on the red carpet. I am looking forward to your comments. Some like it Hot has to be one of the great films that you can see over and over again.

[Judy]

OOPS...the same for Judy Garland's version of "A Star is born"

[DebbieW]

Oh, how I wish I were there! Please see everything and report back. In detail

[Cynthia Reich]

Oy, Tony Curtis (aka Bernie Schwartz) in a wheelchair.... How I loved him when I was in jr. high. He started out as Anthony Curtis, not a good name for a Jewish boy.

[Shannon]

"This is Mrs. Norman Maine"... admit it, you cried. Love this movie.