Yes, you can attend a major Hollywood event - complete with some big time, former 'name above the title' movie stars - & stroll down a genuine Tinseltown red carpet, to boot.
And you don't need to be on the 'A list' to snag a seat. Just some advanced planning & - oh, yes - a fist full of ready, 'A list' like ca$h.
Cable's Turner Classic Movie channel is having their 3rd Classic Film Festival right in the heart of Hollywood April 12 -15. Passes go on sale this Wednesday, November 9.
The list of films will make any 'Golden Age' fan swoon.
Opening with the world premier of the 40th anniversary restoration of 'Caberet' (has it really been 40 years?) & including other restorations like 'All Quiet On The Western Front' (1930) - arguably the best anti-war film ever made, 'Casablanca' (1942), 'Wings' (1927) - winner of the 1st 'Best Picture' oscar (& still some of the best aerial footage ever filmed) - & -as part of the 100th birthday celebration of Gene Kelly - 'Singing In The Rain'.
Yes, you can see all of these - and more - on TV for free. But cinema purists - & TCM accountants - believe they only place to see these gems is on a big screen.
And what big screens they have.
All films are scheduled at these Hollywood iconic palaces: Grauman's Chinese (you know, the place with all the stars cement hand/footprints), Chinese 6, Egyptian & Music Box theatres.
And as MGM used to brag: they'll be more stars here then there are in heaven.
Ok, the list hasn't been finalized (nor published) - and most haven't carried a film for at least a couple of decades or so - but at past fests ex-celluloid super stars like Kirk Douglas, Julie Andrews, Jon Voight, Jane Powell, Martin Landau, Luise Rainer ( the 1st to win back to back Best Actress awards for 'The Great Ziegfield' & 'The Good Earth') & even Mel Brooks - plus dozens of others - have shown up.
So you'll have more old star encounters than Captain Kirk & the crew of the Enterprise.
Plus there's a Club TCM in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. It's loaded with special events, lectures, programs, history (it's the site of the 1st Oscars) & plenty of 'popping in' stars to hang out with.
And don't forget the scheduled uber Hollywood parties, a chance to meet TCM's 'film know it all' host Robert Osborne & your red carpet walk.
Of course - like I said - all of this yesteryear movieland glamour doesn't come cheaply.
In fact, TCM prices this as if we all have the salaries of the 'A list Golden Agers' - when they were the 'toasts' of the studio system.
There are 4 levels of passses:
1. The “Matinee” Festival Pass includes all film programs at all festival venues, admission to Club TCM events and panels at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and a commemorative festival program.
However, this is only good for anything that happens before 6pm (hence the 'Matinee' moniker) & you won't be walking on anything red.
Except - maybe - for all the red ink on the 'post due' bills you didn't pay to invest in this pass.
Cost: $299 per. Ouch, but it does get worse.
2. The “Classic” Festival Pass: access to all film programs at festival venues any time of day or night, access to all Club TCM events, Friday and Saturday evening passholder gatherings, poolside screenings, an opening-night welcome reception at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the closing-night event and the ever present commemorative festival program.
Better.
BUT THIS DOES NOT include admittance to the opening night red-carpet gala screening at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre nor the Vanity Fair opening night party.
So still no red carpet caresses for your tootsies.
Hey, what do you expect for a mere $499?
3. The “Essential” Festival Pass: all privileges available to “Classic” passholders, plus entry to the opening-night red-carpet gala screening of 'Cabaret' at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and official TCM Classic Film Festival collectibles (What? - a picture of TCM owners laughingly carrying their pass profits all the way to the bank?).
But, finally feet meet a red rug - for $599.
Then there's 'mother' of all passes:
4. The “Spotlight” Festival Pass: all privileges available to “Classic” and “Essential” passholders, plus entry to an exclusive Vanity Fair opening-night party following the red-carpet gala screening of Cabaret at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre; priority
entry to all events; meet-and-greet events with TCM friends hosted by Robert Osborne; and an official TCM Classic Film Festival poster signed by Osborne.
Yahoo! The poster alone is worth double the pass price for true fans. It's...ahem... $1,119.
No, that wasn't a misprint - $1,119!?! - & that doesn't include plane nor hotel costs.
Nor a happy ending date with Debbie Reynolds.
But 'true fans' probably are the only one's who can afford these ducats.
And you know who I mean.
The ones who spent zero cash during the other 51 weekends of the year because they were watching old black & whites on the tube while masterbating to their WW2 Betty Grable pin up.
Or - more likely - to last year's Osborne signed poster.
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