TCM Announces the 2021 Virtual TCM Classic Film Festival Schedule

Last month Turner Classic Movies announced plans for its virtual 2021 festival.

The festival takes place from May 6th to 9th, 2021. Festival films will be shown on both Turner Classic Movies and at the "Classics Curated by TCM Hub" on the HBO Max streaming service.

Today TCM announced the festival schedule; complete details are at the TCM Festival site. For the TCM schedule click here (a concise one-page view is also here), and for HBO Max content information click here.

The HBO Max content will all be simultaneously available for viewing when the festival launches, and according to the festival FAQ that content will also be available to subscribers for a limited time once the festival concludes on the 9th. 

As mentioned last month, the festival will begin on May 6th with WEST SIDE STORY (1961), which will be available on both Turner Classic Movies and HBO Max. In addition to the movie itself, there will be a "reunion conversation" with George Chakiris, Rita Moreno, and Russ Tamblyn.

Here's a look at some additional festival highlights, beginning with the TCM schedule:

*The opening night schedule will include the TCM premiere of the newly restored DOCTOR X (1932), a two-strip Technicolor film just released on a Warner Archive Blu-ray.

*May 7th will feature the world premiere of a Flicker Alley restoration of a film I'm unfamiliar with, THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS (1951), a Columbia Pictures film starring Lloyd Bridges, Carleton Carpenter, Dorothy Gish, and Anne Francis, directed by Robert Siodmak.

*Also on May 7th: The TCM premiere of a recent 4K restoration of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1950) from the original nitrate Technicolor negative. ANNIE GET YOUR GUN will be out on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive on April 20th.

*May 8th will be the TCM premiere of I LOVE TROUBLE (1948). I saw this delightful mystery starring Franchot Tone, which was written by Roy Huggins and plays like a forerunner of Huggins' TV creation THE ROCKFORD FILES, at the 2018 Noir City Hollywood Festival.

*Later on the 8th will be the world premiere of the restoration of THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME (1947), with 15 minutes restored. It will be out on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive the week after the festival.

*On May 9th there will be the television world premiere of a restored version of HER MAN (1930) starring Helen Twelvetrees.

*A highlight of the festival is often home movies from the Academy Archive. Based on that past history, HOLLYWOOD HOME MOVIES: STARS AT WORK AND PLAY (2021), being shown on May 9th, promises to be a lot of fun.

*Close readers of this blog will remember that Ernst Lubitsch's silent comedy SO THIS IS PARIS (1926) has been on early drafts of TCM schedules a couple of times in the last year but didn't end up being shown. This film, which I saw in person at the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival, is now being shown on TCM for real, with a brand-new score by Ben Model. It will be shown May 9th.

*Over on HBO Max, the key program for me is the presentation "Jet Jockeys in Love: The Making of Chain Lightning" with Craig Barron and Ben Burtt, accompanied by a showing of the 1950 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Eleanor Parker. Barron and Burtt's special effects and "making of" presentations, which have included TARZAN AND HIS MATE (1934), IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946), and THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953), are always festival highlights, and it's very exciting they created a program for the virtual festival.

*"Extras" available at HBO Max will include Scott Eyman discussing Ernst Lubitsch, with SO THIS IS PARIS available on HBO Max in addition to its May 9th TCM showing.

*Additional extras on HBO Max include a featurette on John Alton, available in conjunction with T-MEN (1947); an interview with David Wyler regarding his father William Wyler's classic THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946); and "Hollywood in My Hometown: John Ford Country," shown in conjunction with THE SEARCHERS (1956).

There will also be opportunities to participate in limited-capacity Zoom sessions during the festival.

The festival website includes a page of Frequently Asked Questions and information on "How to Fest With Us." And just for fun, there's also the ability to print out a virtual festival pass.

The TCM Classic Film Festival Boutique is now open at the TCM Shop. I've already put in an order for this year's t-shirt and mug.

For those who may be wondering, TCM says in its FAQ that it is planning to hold an "in person" festival again in 2022.

For additional information on the rest of the TCM schedule in May 2021, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in May. I'll have a post on the month's non-festival highlights around the end of April.  (Update: Please visit TCM in May: Highlights for an overview of the month's non-festival schedule.)

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