"Put the Blame on Mame"--Day 4 of the 2013 TCM Classic Film Festival

(I clearly started writing this a few months ago, but I finally finished it today, stay tuned for more posts about events from a few years ago.)

Hello party people!  I've been inspired by this week's exciting 2016 TCM Classic Film Festival Announcements and have decided to try to finish my on the pulse coverage of previous film festivals.  I've decided to start with the final day of the 2013 festival.  It is kind of strange to think that these events took place 3 years ago.  Anyway, here we go, Day 4, filled with femme fatales, intrigue and some laughs...

The first movie of the day was, Gilda (1946) directed by, Charles Vidor and starring Rita Hayworth and Glen Ford.  It screened at the Egyptian Theater and was introduced by Debra Winger.  Ms. Winger's introduction was short and sweet and to the point.  She shared her love of the film and for Rita Hayworth's performance.  She even quoted the line from the film, "If I'd been a ranch, they would've named me, "The Bar Nothing."

The film was beautiful, engaging and so wonderfully dark.  The plot is convoluted and the performances are stellar, and it was an amazing treat to get to see Rita Hayworth in all of her silver screen beauty.  It was worth it alone for the 'Put the Blame on Mame' scene.

2nd chance to see Libeled Lady!! And then a mad dash to catch Max von Sydow and 3 days of the condor #tcmff pic.twitter.com/xOGPLJhE0g

— Diane (@diandapanda) April 28, 2013

Next up was Libeled Lady (1936) at the multiplex.  This was one of the TBA screenings, aka a second chance screening so I was grateful to have another opportunity to see it on the big screen.

Libeled Lady is one of my favorite romantic/screwball comedies and look at that cast!   It was introduced by the one, the only Scott McGee

@BBunny1940 introducing Libeled Lady, woo! Long live screwball comedies #tcmff pic.twitter.com/Y6JjajQqM5

— Diane (@diandapanda) April 28, 2013

Seeing screwball comedies in a packed theater is one of the best ways to see them.  Sharing the laughter and the ridiculousness is an absolutely wonderful experience.  It was also a joy to see this cast on the big screen.  While watching this film I realized that the full effectiveness of some actors and actresses are much ore evident when they're seen on the big screen.  For this movie and this screening that happened with Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow.  There are times when you see a classic film actor or actress in a movie on a DVD at home and their screen presence just doesn't fully come through, that is until you see them on the silver screen.  The subtlety of their performance and their nuances don't always shine through on the smaller screen at home.  That's not to say that Powell and Loy weren't also stellar, but their performances still manage to come through on TV screens, and and even more so in the theater.

Next up on the final day of the festival was a complete shift in both genre and tone, Three Days of the Condor (1975) starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, and Max Von Sydow.  The screening was introduced by Robert Osborne and included a conversation with the amazing Max Von Sydow before the screening.

Hearing Mr. Von Sydow speak was very engaging, he touched on many of the movies in his career.  I pretty much just enjoyed listening to his sultry voice and to just be in his presence.

The final film for the day and for the festival was The General starring Buster Keaton.

I was back in Grauman's Chinese theater and joined again by my cousin (who had also been at the screening of Airplane).  This was such a great way to end the festival.  It was introduced by Robert Osborne and the final screening before the theater was going to be renovated.

I absolutely love seeing silent films in these big theaters, with live orchestras, and with a huge audience.  There is nothing like hearing a packed theater laughing at Buster Keaton's hijinks.

Here are some shots of the theater:

It's even more interesting to take a look at these photos now.  Not only because this was 3 years ago, but because I've been in the renovated theater for the las 3 festivals and this feels like a major blast from the past.

Alright, well that does it for me for Day 4 of the 2013 TCM Classic Film Festival.  That's one more complete festival down, 3 more to go!  I'm going to try to tackle these posts while I have some downtime this summer.  Tune in next time.