The 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day Five

All too soon it was Sunday, the final day of the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival.

After my busy six-film Saturday, I didn't mind the prospect of "only" seeing four films on Sunday, but I was also sad, as I always am, knowing that my wonderful "movie vacation" would soon come to an end.

I was one of the first people to line up for A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935), which I'd chosen thinking that the silvery cinematography would look good on a big screen. Indeed it did!

As sometimes happens at the festival, although I wasn't initially very interested in seeing the movie, it turned out to be one of the high points of the festival! I was completely entranced; the film's look and mood envelops the viewer in a way I just don't think is possible on a small TV screen.

My next film, and the only digital presentation of the day, was MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939). I had seen the film multiple times over the years, including on a big screen years ago, but it had been quite a long time since my last viewing so it felt quite fresh to me. The number of impressive character actors in that film is simply mind-blowing! The film still feels powerful and relevant all these years later.

Before the film I had a lovely chat with Victoria Mature, who happened to sit next to me. We had met briefly at last year's Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival. Before MR. SMITH we enjoyed discussing our mutual love for Deanna Durbin! I'm looking forward to her introduction of one of my favorite Victor Mature films, KISS OF DEATH (1947), at this year's Arthur Lyons Festival just a few days from now.

After MR. SMITH it was time for a final trip to the Egyptian Theatre for BULL DURHAM (1988), which I chose because it's a Kevin Costner baseball movie which was being shown in 35mm.

Prior to the film Ben Mankiewicz interviewed director Ron Shelton and actor Tim Robbins. Shelton then sat right across the aisle from me during the screening of the movie.

Although I saw the film when it came out, and once on home video in the years since, it had been a very long time since I'd seen it, and I'd somehow forgotten just how many tasteless scenes were in the movie. There's some good stuff in the film, but not enough to offset the negatives for me. I think in the future I'll stick to Costner's other baseball films, FIELD OF DREAMS (1989) and FOR LOVE OF THE GAME (1999).

Then I hurried back to the multiplex for my final film of the festival, the "TBA" film BLESSED EVENT (1932), which was repeated Sunday due to its popularity earlier in the festival.

I find this film with Lee Tracy as a newspaper gossip columnist a lot of fun. It features a host of great character actors plus Dick Powell in his film debut as Tracy's nemesis, a radio crooner.

The movie was presented by Bruce Goldstein of the Film Forum, who followed the movie with a presentation on what various local governments censored from the film. The audience agreed that after the censors were done, only a few minutes must have been left of the movie in Manitoba and Saskatchewan!

Finally it was time for one more trip to Club TCM at the Hollywood Roosevelt, to take last admiring looks at Robert Osborne's poster collection and, most importantly, say farewell to many friends.

It's always sad to say goodbye to kindred spirits who share my appreciation for classic films, but the good news is that the 2019 Festival will be here before we know it!

Many thanks to TCM for another stellar festival. Until next year!