Hollywood Gothique

Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS

Turner Classic Movies, the cable channel renowned for keeping the great films of Hollywood’s past alive on the small screen, expands into the theatrical arena with its first-ever film festival. Along with traditional classics like A STAR IS BORN and CASABLANCA, there will be a please platterful of mystery movies, fantasy films, and science fiction cinema, including KING KONG (1933), 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, a restored version of DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN, and a newly restored version of Fritz Lang’s silent masterpiece METROPOLIS, with musical accompaniment by the Metal Alloy Orchestra.

Of these, the must-see item is METROPOLIS. The discovery of previously lost footage made big news a year or two ago, and this is the first chance Los Angeles will have to see the result, which is supposed to contain some major additions. DAY OF THE TRIFIDS is not of the same stature, but it should be interesting to see the restored version of that one as well (although in this case the restoration is more a matter of improving picture and sound, rather than adding deleted footage). Of course, it is always nice to see 2001 on a big screen i 70mm; the KING KONG screening is less significant, as the film will be shown from a digital source.

Several guests will attend. Special effects supervisor Douglas Trumbull will be on hand for the 2001 screening; Trumbull will also appear at a separate tribute event “A Cinematic Odyssey”. Michael Hyatt will discuss his work on the restoration for TRIFFIDS. TCM host Rogert Osbourne will do the honors for the closing night screening of METROPOLIS.

The schedule of fantasy and sci-fi film events is as follows:

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY with Douglass Trumbull - Friday, April 23 at 9:15am in Egyptian Theatre

 

KING KONG – Friday, April 23 at 10am in Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

 

A Cinematic Odyssey with Douglass Trumbull – Friday, April 23 at 4:30pm in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

 

DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS with Michael Hyatt – Friday, April 23 at midnight in the Mann Chinese Theatre #1

 

SUNSET BOULEVARD with Nancy Olson – Saturday, April 24 at 9am in the Mann Chinese Theatre #1

 

PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN with Angela Allen – Saturday, April 24 at 10pm in the Mann Chinese Theatre #3

 

THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN – Saturday, April 24 at midnight in the Mann Chinese Theatre #1 

 

DAMN YANKEES with Tab Hunter – Sunday, April 25 at 9:30am in the Mann Chinese Theatre #1

 

METROPOLIS with Robert Osborne – Sunday, April 25 at 7pm in Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

These titles represent only a fraction of the films being screened. The biggest problem for film fans is that, with four screens running simultaneously, it will be impossible to see everything. You can check out the schedule at the TCM website: www.tcm.com/festival. The Los Angeles Times has an article about the fest here.

The TCM Classic Film Festival runs from Thursday through Sunday, April 22-25 at these locations in Hollywood:

• Egyptian Theatre: 6712 Hollywood Boulevard
• Grauman’s Chinese Theatre: 6925 Hollywood Blvd; phone: 323-464-8111
• The Mann Chinese Theatres: 6801 Hollywood Blvd; 323-464-8111.
• Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel: 7000 Hollywood Boulevard; (323) 466-7000