TCM will launch its 2012 Classic Film Festival with a brand new restored print of the 1972 Best Picture nominee, Cabaret. A fitting tribute to the iconic film upon its 40th anniversary. The red carpet event is sure to include many of the film’s stars such as Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, and Michael York.
Turner Classic Movies third edition of its Classic Film Festival is to be held Thursday, April 12 - Sunday, April 15, 2012. Passes are on sale now, so don’t wait as last year the top tier passes sold out fast. And if you’re going to go you might as well have as much access as possible to all the special events at hand.
As glamorous as the festival has been in the past the upcoming year should have some added oomph as the central theme of the 2012 festival is “style in the movies”. From fashion to architecture to production design, and everything else, the theme will highlight the influence movies have had on popular styles as well as the impact fashionable trends have had upon the movies. And with this in mind TCM has made a very apt selection for its opening night gala with the oh, so glamorous and iconic Bob Fosse musical, Cabaret.
One of the most acclaimed films of its era, the Best Picture nominee from 1972 garnered Liza Minnelli an Oscar for her seminal portrayal of Sally Bowles, an American singer looking for love and success in pre-World War II Berlin. A very young and dashing Michael York co-stars as the main lover interest, and the insanely talented Joel Grey walked away with his own Academy Award for his unforgettable turn as the Master of Ceremonies of the Kit Kat club. Included among the picture’s other 8 Academy Awards is one for Bob Fosse as Best Director, which indeed is a true tribute to Fosse’s unique choreography and imaginative visual style considering he beat out Francis Coppola (The Godfather), John Boorman (Deliverance) and Joseph Mankiewicz (Sleuth) for the year’s highest honor in directing.
In honor of the special occasion a brand new 40th anniversary restoration of Cabaret will grace the screen upon the festival’s opening night. Of course, Robert Osborne, TCM’s official host, will be on hand to introduce the world premier print in what is sure to be a tremendous start to the four-day, star-studded festivities. As part of TCM’s ongoing commitment to supporting film preservation the Classic Film Festival will showcase a number of other premier restorations, including an 85th anniversary restoration of the very first Academy Award Best Picture winner, Wings, a world premiere of a new restoration of All Quiet on the Western Front (Best Picture of 1930), the world premiere of an 80th anniversary restoration of a Clara Bow talkie, Call Her Savage, a 70th anniversary restoration of Casablanca, and a world premiere of a 60th anniversary restoration of Singin’ in the Rain. All truly not to be missed screenings.
And don’t forget the inevitable slew of special guest appearances. Last year’s festival included appearances by Julie Andrews, Alec Baldwin, Drew Barrymore, Warren Beatty, Leslie Caron, Kirk Douglas, Chris Isaak, Angela Lansbury, Hayley & Juliet Mills, Peter O'Toole, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Richard Roundtree and many, many more. That list doesn’t even include the hosts and historians who appeared to make special pre-film introductions, such as Donald Bogle, Kevin Brownlow, Leonard Maltin and of course, TCM weekend host, Ben Mankiewicz.
Passes for the TCM Classic Film Festival are available at four price levels, and the number of passes will be limited, especially for top-level “Spotlight” passes. The first level, and least expensive pass is the “Matinee” Festival Pass which goes for $299, then comes the “Classic” Festival Pass at $499, then the “Essential” Festival Pass for $599, and finally the “Spotlight” Festival Pass (the one with all the bells and whistles) goes for $1,199. I caution you not to wait to buy your passes as this is a very popular event, and the top level passes tend to sell out quickly. Since launching in spring 2010, the TCM Classic Film Festival has quickly established itself as a destination event for film lovers. Last year there were more than 25,000 attendees from all over the country and around the globe. For complete details and up to the minute updates about the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival.
I’ve been to the TCM Classic FIlm Festival the past two years, and based on what I’ve seen, who I’ve met and what I’ve done during those two festivals I don’t intend on missing out this year. I only hope that I’ll be able to do and see everything I want. But I already know that with so much going on all at the same time that that’s just not going to happen. I will say that with such great programming I look forward to the pain of deciding between screenings, and the torture of missing out on what’s happening in the theater next door.