The 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day 4

Saturday was the most hectic day of the festival with countless movies, and apperances by Michael Douglas and Peter Bogdanovich

The official TCM festival halfway point saw me living life strictly in the Chinese Multiplex. All four movies I took in were in one of the three theaters inside, so it made traversing remarkably easy. I also eschewed the world of ’30s and ’40s classics in favor of the ’70s and ’80s. (Blasphemy, I know.)

The day started with my first ever viewing of 1979’s The China Syndrome. Starring Jane Fonda, my second fest film with her, and Michael Douglas, this was a landmark film in ’79. Released just two weeks before the real-life nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island, the film is terrifying and heartbreaking. Jack Lemmon deserved all the awards that year! Following the film was a conversation with Douglas himself; a lead-in to his hour-long discussion taking place later that day. Douglas limited the discussion to the film, but mentioned how the film was a test case for him. He ended up leaving the popular Streets of San Francisco television series to do the film, kickstarting his acting career. I was bummed to miss the lengthier discussion, but hearing him talk in some capacity was amazing.

Michael Douglas is a tough act to follow, but the day’s second movie was just as worthy. I’ve seen Peter Bogdanovich’s The Last Picture Show (1971) several times. It’s a fantastic tribute to classic Hollywood filmmaking as well as a painful coming-of-age tale. Bogdanovich arrived to discuss the film, opposite Illeana Douglas. The director is a true film-lover and is a wealth of stories and classic celebrity imitations. I’d easily listen to him all day if I could.

Though I had hoped to see Bye Bye Birdie (1963), I needed sustenance in order to get through the rest of the day. At 5pm was the screening I’d planned my entire festival around: King of Hearts (1966). This little-known 1966 French/English film is absurdist comedy writ large, with a healthy dose of political commentary. However, the film wasn’t necessarily what enticed me to the screening. Introducing the film was actress, and star of the film, Genevieve Bujold. I’ve adored Bujold since I saw her in Anne of the Thousand Days (1968), so I knew this was an opportunity to appease the young girl in me. Bujold was genuinely overwhelmed at how many people came to see her, citing TCM’s power as the source. (Honestly, so many people I spoke to said they attended for her specifically.) It was magical just being in her presence.

After coming some French farce it was time to get back to the laughs. The night’s final film was the Zucker brothers spoof movie Top Secret! (1984). This Val Kilmer-starring send-up of James Bond movies is all kind of silly fun. The references aren’t nearly as dated in comparison to other Zucker films. Both David and Jerry Zucker introduced the film alongside Jim Abrahams, and their shtick is solid. Watching all three talk is a high-wire act with each anticipating the other’s moves. It’s like watching a Three Stooges routine without the eye gouging.

It’s hard to believe there’s only one day of the festival left!

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