The first 22 films, and several guests, announced for this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival look to bring the funny to sunny Los Angeles.
In early April film fans descend on Los Angeles for four days of fun, friends and classic movies. The 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival is my favorite event of the year and after they announced the first 22 films they’re screening, my excitement has hit 11.
This year’s theme, entitled “Make ‘Em Laugh: Comedy in the Movies” will contain all manner of films to tickle your funny bone. Writer and director Peter Bogdanovich will be honored with two film screenings – the 1971 Academy Award-winning The Last Picture Show and 1972’s What’s Up, Doc? Other guests announced include Genevieve Bujold introducing a US premiere restoration of King of Hearts (1966) and Fred MacMurray’s daughter Kate before a 70th anniversary restoration of The Egg and I (1947).
If you’re a fan of silent comedy the famed Alloy Orchestra will perform during a presentation of Harold Lloyd’s Speedy (1928). Composer and musician Stephen Horn will be on-hand with musician Diana Rowan accompanying a screening of 1925’s Stella Dallas – not quite a comedy, though.
Other world premiere restorations include the Danny Kaye comedy The Court Jester (1942) and the 3D film Those Redheads From Seattle (1953). The Great Nickelodeon Show and Beyond the Mouse: The 1930s Cartoons of Ub Iwerks will also debut.
And just in case you aren’t excited enough the network also announced screenings of the Cary Grant classic Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), The Palm Beach Story (1942) and Twentieth Century (1934). Pre-Code gems like Red-Headed Woman (1932) and The Front Page (1931) are also seeing screenings.
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There are several more titles I didn’t include but I’m already salivating for April. I’ll admit last year’s initial lineup didn’t intrigue me, but I’m flush for choice and we still have two months left. There’s something fantastic for everyone this year, and more announcements will arrive in the coming months. You can learn more about attending the TCM Classic Film Festival by visiting their website.
The TCM Film Festival takes place Apr. 6-9 this year.