AND SO IT BEGINS... TCM FEST 2012

Well, the day (or the morning, I guess) has finally arrived. Fueled with a tiny breakfast of an egg and a 5-Hour Energy Drink, and operating from the meager benefits of the tiniest sliver of sleep, I’m off to the 2012 Turner Classic Movie Festival in Hollywood this morning. There’s some bitter irony to the festival being kicked off yesterday, the very same day of the publishing of the L.A. Weekly’s cover story on "The Death of Film," but there will be time to digest and dissect that later. Right now, it’s time to pack the kids lunches, take ‘em to spring break camp and head over the hill. Hopefully last night’s stress-out journey into Hollywood to pick up my press credential before the press office in the Hollywood Roosevelt closed was a mere blip in what looks to be, despite the Los Angeles weather this morning, a warm cruise on the sea of Hollywood history. (As I raced with my daughters through the lobby of the hotel my oldest became excited when she spotted and recognized Robert Osborne. Me, I almost bumped into Jeffrey Wells…)

Much more later, of course. Here’s my projected schedule for the weekend. (All links are to descriptions of the films and events that can be found at the festival’s online headquarters.)

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FRIDAY

COVER GIRL (1944)

RAW DEAL (1948)

BABY PEGGY: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM (2010)

VERTIGO (1958)

LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN (1948)

PHASE IV (1974)



SATURDAY

WHO DONE IT? (1942)

LONESOME (1928)

RETOUR DE FLAMME: RARE AND RESTORED FILMS IN 3-D

DR. NO (1962)

THE BLACK CAT (1934)

SECONDS (1966)


SUNDAY

BLACK NARCISSUS (1947)

TROUBLE IN PARADISE (1932)

CALL HER SAVAGE (1932)

RIO BRAVO (1959)

THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1924)

As I said, much, much more to come. Gotta go get in line now!

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