The 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day Three

Day Three of the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival, April 19th, was the first full day of movies - and a busy day indeed, as it was the only day on which I saw five films!

I started out in the best possible way, with a 35mm screening of William Wyler's charming THE GOOD FAIRY (1935) at the Egyptian Theatre. Margaret Sullavan and Herbert Marshall lead a marvelous cast of character actors.

I'd never seen THE GOOD FAIRY theatrically, and it was wonderful seeing it with an appreciative audience. The timing of the film also let me out in time to make it back to the Multiplex in time for one of my most anticipated screenings!

THE GOOD FAIRY was introduced by Alicia Malone and director William Wyler's son David. I've been fortunate to see David introduce films in the past, including his father's A HOUSE DIVIDED (1931) at the 2016 Festival, and he's always interesting.

I then hurried down Hollywood Boulevard to the Chinese Multiplex, where I was in plenty of time to get a ticket to see a DCP print of THEM! (1954) hosted by special effects experts Craig Barron and Ben Burtt.

Burtt and Barron's presentations are always festival highlights, and THEM! was no exception. One of the interesting bits of info shared by Burtt, who specializes in sound effects, was that the ant noises included the sounds of tree frogs chirping mixed in with bird calls.

There was even a surprise appearance by former child actress Sandy Descher, who screamed for us in person, as she does early in the movie. It was grand fun.

There was also a special recorded message by former child actor Richard Bellis, who plays one of the boys rescued from the tunnel near the end of the movie.

Next up was a DCP screening of IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU (1954) introduced by Alicia Malone and actress-comedienne Julia Sweeney:

IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU was a spontaneous choice on a day which - like all the others! - had many hard choices. I hadn't seen the film, which stars Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon, since it was on local commercial television when I saw a teenager. It had been so long since I last saw it that it was almost like seeing a new-to-me movie.

That was followed by my first time to see John Ford's THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND (1934), a much more intense experience. Part of the reason I took the opportunity to see this 35mm screening was I had just read a good biography of the movie's star, Warner Baxter.

The film was introduced by Dave Karger and costar John Carradine's son Keith. I found listening to Carradine discuss his father yet another remarkable festival experience. The film itself is a tough watch, but I was glad to check another Ford film off my viewing list.

The last film of the day was a DCP print of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) back at the Egyptian Theatre, introduced by Ken Jennings of JEOPARDY! fame. I'm not sure how he ended up being recruited as a festival host, but his intro was fine.

I had rediscovered IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT at the 2013 festival, being reminded how good it is and how much I love it after not having seen it for many years. I saw it again at UCLA in 2019 and was delighted to revisit it in 2024! It's a movie more than worth seeing three times (or more!) in a decade.

Coming soon: Day Four.

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