Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, et al. to Appear in 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival

Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Debbie Reynolds and "Baby Peggy" Diana Serra Cary, along with film noir leading ladies Peggy Cummins, Rhonda Fleming and Marsha A. Hunt are the latest stars scheduled to appear at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival.

Also announced today, the festival will feature the North American premiere of a new 75th anniversary restoration of Jean Renoir's powerful POW drama Grand Illusion (1937), widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. And the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra will provide a live musical accompaniment for a screening of the silent Douglas Fairbanks fantasy-adventure The Thief of Bagdad (1924).

Minnelli and Grey are slated to join TCM's own Robert Osborne to kick off the four-day, star-studded event with a gala opening-night world premiere screening of the 40th anniversary restoration Cabaret (1972), the film for which the two stars took home Academy Awards. Reynolds will make her second appearance at the TCM Classic Festival, appearing at the world premiere screening of a new 60th anniversary restoration of Singin' in the Rain (1952). Reynolds will also appear at a 50th anniversary screening of How the West Was Won (1962), which will offer festival passholders the rare opportunity to see the epic western in all its Cinerama glory at Arclight Cinema's Cinerama Dome.

Cummins, Fleming and Hunt and will each appear at screenings of film noir classics, presented as part of a celebration of The Noir Style. And Cary, who was one of Hollywood's top child stars during the silent era, will join filmmaker Vera Iwerebor for the U.S. premiere of Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room (2010), Iwerebor's fascinating documentary chronicling Cary's life on and off the screen.

In addition, the festival's celebration of Style in the Movies will include an extensive tribute to one of the most stylish actresses in cinema history: Audrey Hepburn. Presentations will include Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957) and the world premiere of a new 45th anniversary restoration of Two for the Road (1967).

The 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival will take pace Thursday, April 12 - Sunday, April 15, 2012, in Hollywood. Passes are on sale now through the official festival website: www.tcm.com/festival/.

The following is a roster of newly added screenings and appearances:

Opening Night

Cabaret (1972) - World Premiere 40th Anniversary Restoration, featuring appearances by Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey*
One of the most acclaimed films of its era, Bob Fosse's Cabaret stars Oscar?-winner Liza Minnelli as an American singer looking for love and success in pre-World War II Berlin. Joel Grey, who is currently co-starring in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes, earned an Oscar as the ubiquitous Master of Ceremonies. And Michael York co-stars as a young English teacher whose eyes are opened by what he experiences. Fosse also earned Oscar gold for directing this perfect showcase for his unique choreography and imaginative visual style.
* schedule permitting

Style in the Movies - The Noir Style
Presented by Eddie Muller, founder of the Film Noir Foundation, this collection explores the unique style of film noir, known for its often-shadowy black-and-white photography and stylistic set design.

Raw Deal (1948) - Featuring an appearance by Marsha Hunt
Noted for its extraordinary cinematography by John Alton, this gritty Anthony Mann thriller stars Dennis O'Keefe as a man in prison for another man's crime, Claire Trevor as the gun moll who helps him break out of jail and Marsha Hunt as the social worker who wants to reform him. Raymond Burr and John Ireland co-star.

Gun Crazy (1950) - Featuring an appearance by Peggy Cummins
Long before Bonnie and Clyde rattled moviegoers came this ruthless tale of a gun-toting husband-and-wife team. Peggy Cummins and John Dall star, with a script by blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo (credited to Millard Kaufman).

Cry Danger (1951) - New restoration, featuring an appearance by Rhonda Fleming
Shot in only 22 days by former child star Robert Parrish, this gripping film noir stars Dick Powell and Rhonda Fleming in the story of a man trying to clear his name after being sentenced for a crime he didn't commit. Cry Danger has been restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, in cooperation with Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., and funded by the Film Noir Foundation.

Audrey Hepburn: Style Icon
The TCM Classic Film Festival pays tribute to one of the most beautiful and stylish actresses ever to grace the screen with this collection of films showcasing Audrey Hepburn.

Sabrina (1954)
Audrey Hepburn is the chauffeur's daughter caught in a love triangle between tycoon Humphrey Bogart and his playboy brother William Holden. Billy Wilder directed and co-wrote this offbeat romance, based on the play Sabrina Fair.

Funny Face (1957)
Fred Astaire is a fashion photographer who turns Audrey Hepburn into a chic model in this highly stylized musical featuring memorable Gershwin songs. Kay Thompson co-stars, with impeccable color cinematography by Ray June and John P. Fulton.

Two for the Road (1967) - World Premiere of 45th Anniversary Restoration
Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney star as a quarrelsome couple reminisce about their relationship during a drive in southern France in Stanley Donen's insightful drama. Henry Mancini wrote the score. The 4K digital restoration of Two for the Road was completed by Twentieth Century Fox in collaboration with The Film Foundation.

Additional Events & Screenings
The Thief of Bagdad (1924) - Featuring live accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra Douglas Fairbanks considered this lavish fantasy to be his personal favorite, and it's easy to see why when one watches the gymnastic and charismatic star in action. Fairbanks stars as a thief in love with the daughter of the Caliph, with Raoul Walsh directing.

Grand Illusion (1937) - North American Premiere of 75th Anniversary Restoration
Jean Renoir directed this extraordinary World War I drama about a small group of French officers held captive. Considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made, Grand Illusion features memorable performances by Jean Gabin, Pierre Fresnay and Erich von Stroheim.

Singin' in the Rain (1952) - World Premiere of 60th Anniversary Restoration, featuring an appearance by Debbie Reynolds
Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen's delightful musical about Hollywood's transition to talkies features Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor, along with the scene-stealing Jean Hagen and the sensuous Cyd Charisse. This movie will be presented in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Gene Kelly's birth.

How the West Was Won (1962) - Presented in Cinerama and featuring an appearance by Debbie Reynolds - Event sponsored by Arclight Cinemas and presented at Arclight's Cinerama Dome
The panorama of the American West is presented in its glory with a memorable Cinerama presentation of this epic adventure from directors John Ford, Henry Hathaway and George Marshall. This multi-generational tale stars Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, George Peppard, Debbie Reynolds, Carroll Baker, Carolyn Jones, Eli Wallach, Robert Preston, James Stewart, John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Walter Brennan and many more.

Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room (2010) - U.S. Premiere, featuring appearances by "Baby Peggy" Diana Serra Cary and filmmaker Vera Iwerebor
This intimate portrait of one of the last survivors of Hollywood's silent era features the 92-year-old star speaking openly for the first time about her life and experience as a child star. Diana Serra Cary's sudden rise to fame and fortune as Baby Peggy had a severe impact on her family life. The frustrations of her father, the naivety of her mother and the jealousy of her senior sister created a love/hate relationship between the young star and those around her. But she reserved her greatest anger and resentment for the Baby Peggy persona itself. Now with the discovery of her lost films, Cary has seen her childhood talent through fresh eyes and slowly reconciled with her younger self.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

To post a comment, you must register and login.