2016 #TCMFF: Saturday, The Second Full Day

Saturday the second full day of the festival offered some really great films. Fortunately, the choices were easier (for me) than on Thursday. The movie I chose to see in the morning was Bambi (1942). I only saw Bambi once before in the movie theater, but I love classic Disney. They always remind me of my youth growing up. My older sister always took me to the movies and we saw just about every Disney movie released or re-released between 1962 and 1970. Those were good times. Movies are like music, when viewed they can bring back past memories and emotions.

Donnie Dunagan was the voice and model for Bambi.

Author and filmmaker William Joyce interviewed Donnie Dunagan, the voice of Bambi, before the movie. Dunagan was an absolute delight. He charmed us with his stories about working at Disney (he also posed for Bambi’s facial expressions) when the studio facilities were brand new and how he squirted a grumpy Disney executive in the back of the head with his water pistol. According to Dunagan, he was the only Disney employee who didn’t like kids; he said everyone else was so nice to him. Dunagan went on to explain that being the voice of Bambi has given him many opportunities to meet people. He told the story of a young handicapped girl in a wheelchair brought to meet him by her parents. Dunagan introduced himself and he asked what her name was. She replied, “you can call me Flower if you want to.” Okay, we knew we’d be crying somewhere during Bambi, but we hadn’t counted on getting misty during the introduction. Joyce did a wonderful job interviewing Dunagan, carefully not making the interview about him (Alec Baldwin take note.).

Dunagan stayed around after the movie was over. I got to shake his hand and have him say, “enjoy your life!” What a treat; I will never forget that experience. Oh, the movie was good too!

Carl Reiner was interviewed by Illeana Douglas.

Next I was off to spend “An Afternoon With Carl Reiner” and the screening of Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982). The movie, a homage and spoof of film noir movies from the 1940s was a hoot. Hearing the entire audience howl with laughter inside the Chinese Theatre was contagious. Starring Steve Martin (looking so young) and Rachel Ward (looking so beautiful), the film was a technical marvel, splicing pieces of famous films noir starring the likes of Alan Ladd, Barbara Stanwyck, Ray Milland, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, Burt Lancaster, and Ava Gardner, to name a few. I enjoyed it more this time then when first released since my depth and knowledge of classic films is much deeper.

After the movie, Reiner was interviewed by Illeana Douglas. Reiner talked about his early career as a writer and performer and how The Dick Van Dyke show came about. He had some great stories, including how he chose Mary Tyler Moore to play Van Dyke’s wife Laura in the classic sitcom. He reminisced about working on movies like The Thrill Of It All with Doris Day and James Garner and The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming with Eva Marie Saint (who would introduce the film Sunday afternoon) and Alan Arkin, in his first major film role. It was great to be able to see this living comedy legend in person.

Phil Silvers, Peter Lawford, Gina Lollobridgida, and Telly Savalas in Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell

The next set of movies presented itself with some more tough choices: Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968), The Big Sleep (1946), The War of the Worlds (1953), which was newly restored, and The Yearling (1946), featuring Claude Jarman Jr. I had seen all of the movies before, except Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell. I really wanted to hear Jarman talk about what it was like working with Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman, but I opted to see Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell with Gina Lollobrigida. Lollobrigida at 87 is still beautiful and vibrant. She talked about how she never intended to be an actress (she studied art), but started out playing bit parts for money, which she needed and then being offered lead roles in Italian films, and then finally making it to Hollywood. The movie was delightful and what a cast: Lollobrigida in the title role, Shelley Winters, Peter Lawford, Phil Silvers, Janet Margolin, Lee Grant, and Telly Savalas! Lollobrigida kept the movie moving smoothly with great comedic skill and charm. Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell, according to the TCM Film Festival guide was the uncredited inspiration for the musical Mamma Mia! Once again, the great Chinese Theatre was filled with riotous laughter watching some of the greatest talents from the mid-20th century. What a joy!

Deborah Kerr and Yul Bryner in The King and I presented in Cinemascope 55

Next up was the restored version of The King and I (1956). I think the last time I saw this movie was at least 30 years ago. The movie was introduced by Rita Moreno who talked about how she was cast and what it was like working on such a big budget film with stars Deborah Kerr and Yul Bryner. The Cinemascope 55 restoration was perfect. This was another movie on the Chinese Theatre’s great screen and it looked amazing. After the movie ended, I sprinted to the multiplex to get in line for Midnight (1939), one of my favorite screwball comedies.

The cast of Midnight; did I mention I didn’t get to see this one?

Another disappointment: Midnight was sold out! There wasn’t anything else I really wanted to see so I consoled myself the only way I knew how. I had a late sit-down dinner. I tweeted my disappointment and when I saw tweets from those mentioning Bonnie Hunt’s introduction to the movie, I wanted to scream, but I somehow managed to control myself. I’m so mature. Still I managed to see four movies. Not bad at all!

Sunday is the last day (boo, hoo) of the festival. Will my Friday strategy pay off? Check back and see.

Films seen after three days:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Brief Encounter
The More The Merrier
The Conversation
It’s A Wonderful Life
The Manchurian Candidate

Bambi

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell

The King and I

*Picture of Carl Reiner and Illeana Douglas courtesy of Kristina Dijan

2016 #TCMFF: The Festival Begins
2016 #TCMFF: The First Full Day
2016 #TCMFF: Sunday, The Third Full (and Last) Day

The Ten Commandments on the big screen

I wasn’t going to see Cecil B. DeMille’s production of The Ten Commandments on the big screen presented by Turner Classic Movies, Fathom Events, and Paramount Pictures. I’d seen it a dozen times on TV and thought it might not hold up in the 21st-century. On almost a whim, I decided to go and was glad I did.

At the bus stop, I met a woman who was also going to see the movie. We talked about it on the way there and chatted about the other classic movies we saw on the big screen recently. At the theater, I met a member of my film club and a neighbor. The audience was quite diverse. There were old folks with walkers and canes, parents with small children, and single folks, like me.

During the introduction of the film by TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz, we learned that we were going to see The Ten Commandments in its original road show version—overture, intermission, entr’ act—which was the way many movies were shown back in the day when I was a kid. The lights went down and the overture played the stirring score by Elmer Bernstein and I was hooked.

Moses and Rameses, two princes of Egypt

The epic directed by the legendary DeMille was his last film; he died three years after the film’s release. Sure there are parts of the film that are stilted and a bit hokey by today’s acting conventions, but I found most of the film very powerful. I was surprised at how emotionally I reacted to the movie. The plight of a people in bondage, living under a cruel leader, eventually finding freedom and redemption, still resonate—at least it did with me. It was like Sunday school come alive. I found myself remembering Bible verses and the stories from the book of Exodus.

Anne Baxter as Nefritiri

I always used to make fun of Anne Baxter’s uttering of the line, “Oh Moses, you stubborn, splendid, adorable fool!” But for some reason, it didn’t seem so campy on the big screen. And I must say, Baxter’s performance as Nefretiri—one of the most sought after roles of the 1950s—is all in. She really brought the Egyptian queen to life. The other performances were equally strong. Charlton Heston as Moses is impressive and he has the physical stature necessary for such a role. Yul Brynner is equally impressive as the vain and power-hungry Rameses II. Both have genuine screen presence and the commanding voices to match. Edward G. Robinson is properly sinister as Dathan. Yvonne DeCarlo—years before she became a TV icon on The Munsters—as Sephora and Moses’ wife is radiant. Then there’s John Derek as Joshua and Debra Paget as Lilia. Derek seems saddled with the most stilted spiritual sounding dialogue, but again, somehow on the big screen, it worked for me.

The scenes in Egypt were impressive, especially the Exodus. The sheer number of extras involved in that scene is staggering; I can’t imagine how difficult it was to get all of that on film. Did they get it in one take? I doubt it. The film employed a lot of blue screen and matte backdrops. Sometimes these devices were noticeable and obvious, but at other times not so much. With the parting of the Red Sea scene, the blue “halo” from the rear screen process photography gave it a “miraculous” look.

Moses confronts Rameses

The restoration that Paramount did in 2010 is near perfect. The film looked brand new and I can only imagine what audiences in 1956 though. Of course, 1956 was a simpler time and scenes that we think are corny or campy today weren’t back then. But the size and sheer spectacle of the production must have been extraordinarily impressive. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards (it won one for Best Visual Effects) and was the top-grossing film of the year. It still ranks high on the list of all-time movie moneymakers, coming in at number seven when grosses are adjusted for inflation.

If you’ve never seen a movie like The Ten Commandments on the big screen, you should. It really makes a difference.

There’s another screening of this classic film this Wednesday. Click the link to see if it’s showing in your area.

Backstory: Many top actresses were considered for the role of Nefritiri, including Audrey Hepburn Ann Blyth, Rhonda Fleming, Colleen Gray, Vivian Leigh, and Jane Russell. For the role of Sephora, the stars considered were Anne Bancroft, Linda Darnell, Grace Kelly, Barbara Hale, Patricia Neal, Ruth Roman, Jean Peters, and Barbara Rush.