The Turner Classic Movies Film Festival begins on April 18th in Hollywood, the 15th annual event kicking off with a 30th anniversary screening of Pulp Fiction. John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, and other cast members in attendance. What with the festival’s theme being Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film, the Quentin Tarrentino classic is just one of many selections devoted to the seemingly eternal quest of movie cops in the pursuit of colorful robbers. Billy Wilder’s seminal film noir Double Indemnity will be shown as will Don Siegel’s Dirty Harry, Richard Brooks’ In Cold Blood, Raoul Walsh’s White Heat featuring James Cagney in one of his most iconic roles and the Fritz Lang classic The Big Heat.
However, if crime flicks aren’t your thing, the festival will be offering up an eclectic roster of movies, so much so, only the most hard-to-please film fan would be unable to find something of interest. Light-hearted fare such as Almost Famous, Annie Get Your Gun, Clue, It Should Happen to You, A Little Romance, and Send Me No Flowers, will be screened as will tried-and-true classics An American in Paris, Chinatown, El Cid, Grand Hotel, It Happened One Night and North by Northwest.
Other highlights include:
A hand and footprint ceremony on Friday, April 19th for Jodie Foster in which the two-time Oscar winner will join other screen legends by imprinting her hand and footprints in concrete in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theaters. The actress will be on hand for a screening of Silence of the Lambs later that afternoon.
Billy Dee Williams will attend to discuss his career as well as his new autobiography. He will also be on hand to introduce and participate in Q and A sessions for screenings of The Bingo Long, Traveling All-Stars and Lady Sings the Blues.
Steven Spielberg will be in attendance to host a screening of his sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Director David Fincher, as well as Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman will be present for a screening of Seven.
In the newly renovated Egyptian Theater, 70mm prints of Lawrence of Arabia and The Searchers will be shown.
Mel Brooks will close out the festival with a rare public appearance for a screening of SpaceBalls.
For a complete list of events and a schedule of films to be shown, go to https://filmfestival.tcm.com/
Also, follow Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam on Facebook for live festival coverage.
