The 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day Five

All too soon it was April 21st, the final day of movies at the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival.

My four-film day started off with a DCP showing of the world premiere of the restoration of LAW AND ORDER (1932), introduced by Brendan Connell Jr. of the Academy. I really enjoyed this gritty film, one of three Westerns I saw at the 2024 festival.

I wrote at some length about my experiences seeing all three Westerns, also including WESTWARD THE WOMEN (1951) and THE SEARCHERS (1956), in my Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp column and invite readers to click over and check it out.

Next up was THE BIG HEAT (1953), which I'd seen a few years previously at the 2017 Noir City Hollywood festival. As is sometimes the case, I chose it as it worked best for me to be in place later in the day for an important screening - plus it's a terrific film!

THE BIG HEAT, starring Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame, was shown in a DCP print, introduced by Eddie Muller and Mario Cantone.

The world premiere of the 70mm restoration of THE SEARCHERS (1956) at the Egyptian Theatre was one of the most highly anticipated screenings of the festival. I had toyed with the idea of seeing CHINATOWN (1974) at the Chinese Theatre, but in the end I couldn't stay away from one of the greatest Westerns - greatest movies - ever made. And as seen below, it drew a huge crowd, here waiting in the Egyptian forecourt.

As I wrote in my Classic Movie Hub column, seeing the restoration on the Egyptian's huge screen was a profoundly moving experience.

THE SEARCHERS was introduced by director Alexander Payne, seen below, with Patrick Wayne in the audience to watch his father and his younger self in all the movie's restored glory. (Press photo of Alexander Payne courtesy of Turner Classic Movies.)

As I have many years, I ended the festival with a silent movie with a live orchestra. Buster Keaton's SHERLOCK JR. (1924) was introduced by Jacqueline Stewart accompanied by the short THE GOAT (1921). Both shown in DCP format with live music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, and they were delighful. There were a couple moments in THE GOAT which found me laughing out loud.

Although I wasn't at this screening, I also want to share these absolutely great TCM press photos of Billy Dee Williams at the festival, looking great at 87:

Williams introduced his films LADY SINGS THE BLUES (1972) and THE BINGO LONG TRAVELING ALL-STARS AND MOTOR KINGS (1976). He'll always be "Lando Calrissian" for some of us!

I also particularly regretted not seeing a favorite actress, Diane Lane, at the festival; there are so many options at the festival it's impossible to do it all! Below, a TCM press photo of the charming actress, who chatted with Ben Mankiewicz on Saturday prior to a showing of A LITTLE ROMANCE (1979).

All too soon it was time for the closing night reception, held in Club TCM and also poolside, where I snapped legendary Disney animator Floyd Norman:

A packed crowd to say goodbye inside Club TCM:

The 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival is coming April 24th through 27th. Please visit this post for complete details; as new announcements are made they will all be linked at the bottom of the post. Stay tuned for complete coverage!

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