2025 Turner Classic Movies Film Festival: What movies will I see?

Turner Classic Movies Film Festival Plan – Subject to change

Planning for the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival (TCMFF) is always tough. The way movies are scheduled means you have to make tough choices. Often, you are disappointed that a movie that you really love is scheduled at the same time as another movie you really love.

Here is my schedule (subject to change) at this moment in time.

Thursday April 24

7-8 p.m. Teacher’s Pet (1958) – I’ve never seen this film, and I’m excited to see it on the big screen with an audience. And for this night only, it doesn’t conflict with any other movie I’d like to see.

Clark Gable and Doris Day in Teacher's Pet

10 p.m. – 12 a.m. If I can stay awake, I may see Hud (1963) in the Egyptian Theatre. It’s been years since I’ve seen this film and never in the theater, so this could be fun.

Friday April 25

9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Thunderball (1965) starring Sean Connery as James Bond. Screening in the Chinese Multiplex House, and Luciana Paluzzi will be at the post-screening. Cinderella (1950) is screening at the El Capitan Theatre at 10 a.m. I’m tempted to go see it because I haven’t seen it since my older sister took me to see it when I was a kid and the El Capitan is a really beautiful theater. I’ll probably end up seeing the Bond film. Odd decision between Thunderball and Cinderella, but that’s how it goes at the TCMFF.

12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. This is a toss-up. The Time Machine (1960) and Babe (1995) are both scheduled at the same time. The Time Machine is in the small Chinese Multiplex Theatre 4.

3 p.m. – 5 p.m.; 3:15 p.m. -5 p.m.; 3:30 – 5:15 p.m. Three movies that I would like to see, but I have to choose one. In order of show times it’s: Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Enchanted Cottage, and Edge of the City (1957). Which movie would you choose?

6:30 p.m. The Lady Eve (1941) is a movie I have to see on the big screen with an audience. It’s one of my favorite Preston Sturges films, and it stars two legends of the screen: Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.

Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck in The Lady Eve

9 p.m. – 11:15 p.m. Now, Voyager (1942); 9:15 – 10:45 p.m. Lili (1953) Another toss-up and two completely different movies. I may just flip a coin on this one. It might be tough getting into Lili since it’s screening in Theatre 4.

Saturday April 26

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Ben-Hur (1959) is being presented in a world premiere restoration in the Chinese Theatre. I can’t think of a better theatre to see this Academy Award-winning epic. If I see this film, that means I’m giving up a chance to see two other movies. I would like to see Daisy Kenyon (1947) at the Egyptian Theatre in a nitrate print.

3:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. To Be or Not To Be (1942) is screening at Theatre 4 so it could be tough getting into this one, but I’m going to try. This Ernst Lubitsch comedy is one of the best of the era.

9 p.m. – 11:15 p.m. A Guy Named Joe is a movie I wanted to see as soon as it was announced. The film stars Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne, with a star-making turn by a young Van Johnson. It’s in Theatre 4, so I’ll have to get in line early.

Sunday April 27

Sunday can be a crap shoot with the TBA movies being revealed. As of this moment, I don’t know what I want to see. Nothing is a must-see for me, although there are some movies I’d like to see on the big screen, like Splendor in the Grass (1961) at 11:45 a.m. in Theatre 1. I may go see the silent version of Beau Geste (1926) in the Egyptian Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Choosing which movies to see is tough, and if past years are any guide, I’ll change my mind when I get to LA.