Obscure Hollywood Logo
TCM, The War of the Worlds

TCM Classic Film Festival

2016

Introduction

The 7th annual TCM Classic Film Festival, held in the heart of Hollywood, featured a choice of special presentations, panels, and films. The special presentations included the screening of The Freshman (1925) poolside at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, a trivia challenge So You Think You Know The Movies, and a showing of selected Hollywood Home Movies. Panels included discussions of dogs in the movies and the art of film music. 78 films were shown over the three days of the festival. Almost every film was introduced by interesting and knowledgable guests.

The festival as a whole encompasses not only films and special presentations, but also the look and feel of Hollywood. The headquarters of the festival is in the venerable Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (1926). The venues included Grauman's Chinese Theatre (TCL Chinese Theatre) and Grauman's Egyptian Theatre. Across the street from the Chinese Theater, The El Capitan Theatre exclusively screens Disney films. Impersonators, posing for pictures, enhance the street scene.

In three days at the festival, we saw fifteen films: A House Divided (1931), Horse Feathers (1932), Law and Order (1932), Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1934), When You're in Love (1937), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Lassie Come Home (1943), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Brief Encounter (1945), I've Always Loved You (1946), The Band Wagon (1953), The War of the Worlds (1954), Private Property (1960), The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966), and Carry On…Up the Khyber (1968).

Hollywood Boulevard & Orange Street

Day and night the streets around the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Orange St are crowded with tourists, locals, impersonators, vendors, and automobiles.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
El Capitan Theatre
El Capitan Theatre
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

Posters

Each year the festival displays a unique set of themed posters. This year, the posters pictured costumed actors in classic films. Cut-outs of scenes from classic films were set up in the Chinese Multiplex Lounge. Pass holders could join each scene.

TCM Poster
TCM Poster
Pride of the Yankees
TCM Poster

Festival Guests

Ben Burtt, Craig Barron
The War of the Worlds: Ben Burtt (sound designer), Craig Barron (visual effects artist)
Ann Robinson, Edith Head
The War of the Worlds: Ann Robinson models an unused costume with designer Edith Head.
Randy Haberkamp, Lassie
Lassie Come Home: Randy Haberkamp (Director of Preservation for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) and Lassie (10th generation).
Ted Donaldson, Jeremy Arnold
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Ted Donaldson (acted in film at age 10) and Jeremy Arnold (film historian)
Eva Marie Saint
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming: Eva Marie Saint (actor)
Susan Stroman
The Band Wagon: Susan Stroman (Tony Award-winning director and choreographer)
Eddie Muller, David Wyler
A House Divided: Eddie Muller (author), David Wyler (producer, son of William Wyler)
Tara McNamara, Jennifer Grant
When You're in Love: Tara McNamara (film commentator, TV host), Jennifer Grant (actor, daughter of Cary Grant)

Further Reading

TCM Classic Film Festival, 2012

TCM Classic Film Festival, 2013

TCM Classic Film Festival, 2014

TCM Classic Film Festival, 2015