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Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: April 26th, 2010, 9:09 pm
by Lzcutter
Moira,

King and I went to Fragments on Sunday morning (though if I had known that Cleopatra was the 70mm roadshow version, I might have opted for that) and I saw the cartoons on Saturday night.

I'll be posting about the whole weekend in the Film Festival thread.

Christi got me to the airport this morning and she wanted me to let you guys know she is going on more of a holiday with a drive up the California coast. She still has stories to post but it will likely be after she returns from her "holiday".

Either way, I know we all look forward to reading about her wild and zany weekend.

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: April 26th, 2010, 9:32 pm
by mongoII
I had a wonderful time reading all about the festival. I want to thank all those that contributed the up dates each day for those of us who couldn't attend.
Thanks again. It was swell.

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: April 26th, 2010, 10:20 pm
by Lzcutter
Joe,

Stay tuned! There are more reports to come. I had the opportunity to meet Kingrat on the opening day and I know he will be posting as well about his adventures (and he had some good ones!) in the next few days.

I just need some serious sleep.

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: April 28th, 2010, 12:27 am
by Sue Sue Applegate
NOTE: Double post on the TCM FILM FESTIVAL THREAD APPEARS IN BLUE:

I have to reiterate the statement kingrat made earlier. If you have the opportunity to see the restored versions of Wild River, Metropolis, or
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, please do so. (I only mentioned the restored films I had the opportunity to see.)

The colors in Pandora, and its panoramic views were such a tribute to Jack Cardiff, who also filmed The African Queen. Ava looked radiant as usual, but seeing this film in an actual theater made the perspectives so vibrant, and even the out-of-focus backgrounds behind the close-ups of the actors were vivid. Those opening shots of Tossa del Mar, the sleepy little fishing village on the coast of Spain, are stunning. When Pandora makes her lover run his car over the cliff, Angela Allen said it was done only once in a great shot of the whole sequence and even the bubbles in the ocean, as the car sinks, effervesce on the screen.

There is a long pan up the mountain that ends in Ava's face leaning over the cliff in delight. An amazing shot, and I enjoyed visiting with kingrat at this screening.

Moraldo, here's an update just for you:

Luise Rainer, who almost wasn't able to fly out to the coast due to the volcanic ash from Iceland, took the only flight out before the airports were shut down again. She was demure, sweet and spoke about how she acted from within usuing her feelings to convey the truth of her characters, especially Olan in The Good Earth, and Anna Held in The Great Ziegfeld. That same day, she had broken her hearing aid and Robert Osborne, ever the gentle, classic soul, took the suggestion from an audience member and wrote his questions down for her to read. Rainer spoke of her great love for her first husband, Clifford Odets, and how sad she was that this marriage didn't work out. But five years later, she stated she married a lovely Englishman with whom she spend many wonderful years until his death. This lovely, energetic centenarian ended her interview reminding everyone of the goodness of the human soul, and stating how wonderful life can be. She received a standing ovation on her arrival and departure and was heavily guarded and protected. This interview will be aired on TCM sometime in the future.


I was so happy to be able to meet members of TCM City and SSO at the Festival.

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: April 28th, 2010, 1:44 am
by Lzcutter
I'm started to feel rested! Look for me to begin posting about my adventures tomorrow evening!

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: June 3rd, 2010, 1:02 am
by Sue Sue Applegate
O.K. So it's taken me a little longer than I thought it would to resuscitate and organize my notes.
Here goes....

Festival--Day One--Sue Sue Is So-So Stressed!

It usually takes me at least two cups of coffee before I can conjugate verbs in English, and I began rushing to get ready in the morning so that I can be "on the set" for my fan perspective interview with Tim at 9:00, which was to take place in the penthouse suite of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where once upon a time, Gable and Lombard took up residence.

Lynn tells me to "get moving." It was my turn to rule the powder room.

I hear the mambo music playing from my Razorphone. It was the TCM crew in charge of my interview. Would it be all right if they changed me from 9:00 a.m. to Noon? Of course not. I was so nervous, I didn't care if it took place at all. I was shaking, but I had just talked to someone in charge of something at TCM!

I can't decide what to wear. I didn't want to be to spangly-bangly, or flashy-trashy, so I went with my black Misook outfit with the long pants, shell, and jacket with stripes across the shoulders and the little blue-flowered buttons.

But before I could don the outfit, I had to delve into make-up. My hands were shaking so much by the time my foundation had been set with translucent beige powder, that I couldn't draw a straight line with my liner pencil. Then I sneezed, and my eyeliner drooped below the lid. I repaired that line, and then I tried applying mascara, and curled the lashes a little, and sneezed again. Little black marks that looked like bird tracks appeared beneath my lower lids.

Start over. Take makeup remover and remove the tracks, reapply the translucent powder, and start all over with the
mascara. Curl the lashes. Make some more. I feel another sneeze coming on so I pull by eyelids all the way open so that the little tracks don't make their appearance again. I survived the sneeze with no black birdy tracks, so I proceed to do some more curling.

I'm shaking. I tell Lynn, "I'm shaking so much I can't do my make up!"
Her calm voice reminds me that all will be well. Just hurry up and get ready.

I apply the powder blush, cinnamon peach. I put too much on one cheek. It made me look like one side of me
was taller than the other, so I grab a kleenex and smudge some off, and dab a little more translucent powder on it.

I puffled and fluffed my hair a little, and clipped it back with a tortouise-shell- colored clamp. Then I put on my suit, and started to refluff the coif. It was just then that I noticed that one of my nails had chipped, so I reached for the Sally Hansen #230, Hot Cocoa, for a quick repair.

And then we hopped into the car, and Lynn navigated while I tried not to run over any pedestrians. I also was voted by the California Welcome Centers as the tourist driver most likely to be honked at.

Mambo music emanates from my cell. It was Kelli calling to organize the fan perspectives. Can she move me back to 11:00? By this time, I wanted to chicken out all together.

We arrived at the Penthouse Suite and were greeted by the lovely Kelli, a sweet young lady who helped to prep me for my interview. And there were several other folks there who were very nice, but I was so nervous, I forgot their names. I was offered a Diet Coke before my interview, but wished it had been a triple margarita on the rocks with salt on the rim and stability in the stem. No such luck.

I was shaking again.

Lynn spoke some words of encouragement, and I was able to keep my knees from knocking together.

I was introduced to Tim, the fan perspectives interviewer, and we all walked upstairs. O.K. They walked upstairs, and I leaned against the mirrored walls while putting one foot on a step and then another foot on the step above that one.....until I feel like I had crawled up to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, but instead ...the entire crew for the shoot was atop the roof of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Lynn was able to stay and watch my interview, and luckily I was able to see her and her "thumbs up" signs of encouragement. Tim, the director, gave me hints about questions I might like to answer. All I could think of was "the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true" and then a crew member wanted to put a mike on me, and I asked him if he had a medical degree to be able to do that.

When he slipped the cord up the back of my jacket, I said " Oooh, that feels pretty good." The crew guys laughed, but I was still shaking inside.

A man walked up to me and told me where my mark was, and I was supposed to stand there without moving or shaking. Uh-huh. They let me sit my Diet Coke down on the rooftop close to my mark. I was already drying up. Then I was so nervous, I did my impression of Katherine Hepburn or Doris Day or somebody singing "Que Sera, Sera."

Then Tim presented ideas about my interests in classic film, and I tried to speak something that made sense. I was not ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille.

All of a sudden we were finished, and they all thanked me, and they all had been laughing. Lynn said everything went well.
So one day interested viewers might see the finished product on Turner Classic Movies fan perspectives.

Then we went to the festival studio headquarters, and I saw HIM. Robert Osborne. Tah-Dah!

He was so nice to everyone.

Lynn was there to help introduce "The Magnificent Ambesons" with Robert Osborne, and she was so calm, cool, and collected. They both had a nice on-camera conversation about the film and I think, the festival.

I was still so nervous, so Lynn can probably fill in the gaps in my saga if she has a mind to. That is where I met two ladies
from where I live in Texas, and none of us could believe we were all there together at the festival.

I also developed a crush on one of the crew members and struck up a very casual conversation, and informed him,
by the way, that every hotel room comes with its own "Do Not Disturb" sign. Lynn, then pulled me away,and we went to Room 828 in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel to unpack. I wanted to collapse from all the nervous energy
and adrenalin. And I did.



Our next move was lunch at the In and Out Burger with friends from TCM City and the SSO. More later, O.K.? :lol:

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: June 3rd, 2010, 6:31 am
by pvitari
More OK! ;)

You must have the memory of an elephant -- I barely remember what I was doing in between movies, except for that free morning where I walked at least a mile or so up and down Hollywood Boulevard looking for certain actors' stars so I could take a pic. :)

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: June 3rd, 2010, 6:02 pm
by Sue Sue Applegate
My son loved it when I sent him a picture of The Simpsons star on the Walk of Fame, but he was bowled over when I sent him a video of me with the Samuel L. Jackson lookalike hugging me in front of Grauman's and saying "You've got one cool Momma!" That was so much fun!

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: June 3rd, 2010, 9:27 pm
by Birdy
pvitari -
Well, don't leave us hanging! Whose star was so important? (or did I miss that somewhere...)

Sitting on pins and needles.
Birdy

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: June 7th, 2010, 3:42 pm
by Sue Sue Applegate
After regrouping and sprucing up our looks, Lynn and I donned our badges again and bounded out to the elevator to meet with our friends from TCM City downstairs in the spacious lobby area across from Club TCM, which hadn't officially opened yet.

Several regular posters at TCM CITY walked a few blocks from the Historic Hollywood Roosevelt to have the classic burgers, fries, and traditionally delicious chocolate shakes at the In and Out Burger, and they are great! We don't have that franchise in Texas, but we should. Service was quick and we all settled in for lunch in the booths directly across from the cashier to chow down and to chat up.

I almost dribbled catsup from my fries on my blouse because I was laughing, and talking so much,
and asking questions. ( I was still pumping adrenalin from the filming of the fan perspectives in the a.m.)
Then somebody spilled their coke.

Everybody was chatting about the schedule, and we were discussing the films we have chosen to see, and how much fun we knew we were going to have. Some remembered snippets:

Would Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz present a film together?
How about Robert Osborne and Alec Baldwin?
Would Louise Rainer be able to come because of the airport being shut down in the UK due to the
volcanic ash?
What about Jean Paul Belmondo?
Is anybody going to see Pandora and the Flying Dutchman ?
We all have to go to Singin' in the Rain.
Did you see that guy with the bad toupee who kept talking to himself?
What kind of souvenirs do you think they will have?
I'm going to get another chocolate shake.
Fragments, for sure.
North by Northwest ? Of, course.
Imitation of LIfe ? No, too many costume changes!
Well, I'm going.
Sunnyside Up on Thursday night. I'm not missing the inflating bananas.
The Story of Temple Drake on Saturday.
What are you wearing to the premiere tonight?
I want to see Joan Crawford's home movies at Club TCM.
Are you going to Casablanca tonight?
Yes, round up the usual suspects...
Hahahaha..
We had our compliementary coifs today.
I didn't have time to go to the salon.
Isn't it great? It was free.
Well, I'll come by before we leave for the meet and greet and help you with the upsweep.
Big hair is important to me.
I don't know which earrings to wear.
We're wearing our vintage.
The sparkly jacket or the Chinese dress?
Then there's Playtime with Tati on Saturday.
Is that an event at Club TCM?
No. Haven't you ever heard of the French Buster Keaton?
Sorry. I'm more of a professional tourist than a professional film historian.
I just think you are a professional....
Hahahah.....
I can't miss Wild River. One of Lee Remick's favorite performances.
Supposed to be one of Clift's best.
How am I going to go to the premiere of A Star is Born and see Neptune's Daughter, too?
Well, I'm not missing Norman Lloyd.
Oh, the Aqualilies are going to perform. I don't want to miss that.
Me, neither.
Camp and damp. No. Definitely not me.
Hahahahaha.....
Esther and Betty will be there. It's going to be so much fun!
Don't miss The Stuntman on Saturday.
See you tonight at Grauman's.

And then it was time to leave to perk up our looks, our outfits, and our outlooks, not to mention tweak our schedules.

Club TCM opens at 4:00...

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: June 16th, 2010, 2:41 pm
by Sue Sue Applegate
Day one-Part 3

All the gals in the lunch bunch had an hour and a half to spruce up our looks and make final style decisions for the "Meet and Greet" when Club TCM finally opens its doors to the swankienda. Fekkai, the style salon, had generously offered free hairstyles to anyone holding passes to the TCM Film Festival.

How gracious! But unfortunately, I didn't have time to take advantage of the generosity of Fekkai.
However, some of the ladies from the lunch bunch had earlier visited the salon to the stars of TCM at Fekkai and sported new "do's."

And as I had expressed my frazzled fears about how to arrange my locks, one of my friends who had already graced the Fekkai salon offered to help me.

Since I was planning to attend the Grauman's premiere of *A Star is Born*, I had chosen to wear my full-length Chinese formal with the mandarin collar. Decisions yet to be made included selecting the appropriate jewelry, shoes, and hairstyle.

I was still, however, suffering from periodic bouts of adrenalin rushes, silly spurts of inappropriate laughter, and indecision over which films to attend on the official TCM Film Fest Schedule as aftershocks of my earlier fan perspective interview in the a.m.

Madamoiselle, my kindly volunteer personal stylist, was scrupulously perusing my down do and we had mutually decided to upsweep.

Mlle: I need your comb.
Me: Comb. o.k. haha (inappropriate laughter)
Mlle: The hairpins
Me: Oh, yes, hahahahah (more inappropriate laughter due to delayed adrenalin)
Mlle: Your head is shaking..
Me: I'm still nervous from this morning...ahahahahaha
Mlle: Why?
Me: If my son sees my fan perspective and doesn't like it, it will be something else he will add to his arsenal of verbal volleyballs dating back to the time I accidentally left him in the produce aisle at the grocery store...
Mlle: (LOL) Relax. He's mostly away at college now, isn't he? Give me another hairpin..
Me: Yes. But don't forget about cellphones...
Mlle. So what shoes are you going to wear?
Me: I can't decide between the mid-level heel or to go all the way with the complete high heel. And I'm not talking about my ex-husbands...
Mlle. HAHhahahahhah...but why are you so confused?
Me: Well, I am already about nine feet tall...
Mlle. When I can't make up my mind like that, I usually choose something that makes me feel good.
Me: Then I'll go all the way. So my official premiere look will be the "Chinese tower of power" stance..
Mlle: hahahahaha...

So, thanks to the Madamoiselle I had a lovely upswept "do" with little oriental flowers tucked and anchored with Goody hairpins, and she steered me toward the approprate earrings-- a pair of rhinestone-studded inverted fleur de lis bobs and my black beaded bag with the swag... done. Finally.

And one of my friends here at TCM City emailed me last week and told me that viewers of TCM can see the final creation in the Chinese dress with the Mandarin collar and simple rhinestone earrings and black beaded purse walking into the premiere of A Star is Born on the TCM promo for the restoration of *A Star is Born*.


I'm in the last few seconds of the promo. I'm walking into the theater from the lobby.

Next: CLUB TCM OPENS, *A STAR IS BORN* PREMIERE, and BETTY AND ESTHER BY THE POOL!

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: June 22nd, 2010, 12:32 am
by Sue Sue Applegate
Here is a link to the TCM Promo for the Restoration of A Star is Born. It's a most informative film highlighting the importance of film preservation and how A Star is Born has been transformed for its new DVD Release. (And yes, I ordered one. It's supposed to be on the way.) But there is another reason I enjoy this promo so much, besides its being timely, informative, and historical. I'm in it! Toward the very end of the promo, you can see a tall woman in a formal Chinese dress with a Mandarin collar carrying her turquoise coat as she walks into the actual theater at Grauman's. That's me!

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?o_c ... cid=333749

Day One, Part 4

So I donned more lip gloss, squared my shoulders, marched in the the elevator, and descended into the arena! Everyone who had a pass couldn't wait for CLUB TCM to open. It was across the hall from the lobby and the Festival Store was located right in front of CLUB TCM. When it opened, there were actually 2-3 maitre'd's who would check passes and say nice things like "You look very lovely" etc.

That was a nice touch.

When you walked into CLUB TCM, there was a dance floor with tables and chairs, and all around the room were photos of Hollywood Stars and a screen with film clips running on the wall behind the stage. There were plenty of comfy couches and chairs and folks met their friends there for snacks and drinks before and after the film showings.

It was so much fun in there! You could see all kinds of people who had come from all over the world to be a part of the TCM Film Festival. There were even some kids who flew in from Poland to be a part of it! Everybody wanted to know where someone was from, what your favorite movies were, and what you were planning to attend on the schedule.

I visited with so many people, and I know I couldn't remember all their names. The enjoyment of the moment was what everyone was interested in. I must have met a hundred new people that night, but none of them were rude, officious, or just plain old "stuck-up." If they were there, I didn't see them or meet them.

For snacks they had little beef empanadas, mahi mahi munchies, tabouli salad, bruscietta, oriental egg rolls, and much more...

The waiters were very friendly, and the bartenders were busy, but kind and accomodating.

Passholders would visit about the movies they were going to see and movies they looked forward to.
Several members of TCM City were there and it was wonderful to meet the "faces" behind the names.

But then it was time to go to the Premiere of A Star Is Born, which is one of my favorite films because of the songs Judy Garland sings.

Since it was the first night premiere, all goodies at the concession stand were FREE!!!
I ordered my filmgoing usual, a large diet coke, a small popcorn, and chocolate-covered peanuts.

And as I walk in, I am seated off to the left of the screen, and strike up a conversation with Bruce from D.C., and we talk about the film, and how much fun we are already having at this festival. Discussing aspects of the restoration before the introduction was also helpful and a young couple joined in the conversation.

Robert Osborne introduced the film and practially got a standing ovation. Everyone was so thrilled to see him looking his usually dapper self.

But when the curtain went up, the star was really the beautiful restoration. The colors were so vibrant and the sound was so crisp.

Never in my memory can I remember the sound in a theater being so fresh. No scratchy recordings, no bleeps or blips, just clear tones of voices, songs, and all so accessible. This was the first classic film I had seen on a large screen in many years, and after I had been so nerve-wracked all day, it was a wonderful moment of peace to realize that I was going to see one of my favorite scenes and hear one of my favorite songs and see one of my favorite film stars in one of her most brilliant moments on screen. Ever.

From where I had been sitting, I could hear several Ooohs and Aaaahs when there were closeups. And I loved how people clapped for the film. It was a joy.

Next: Esther and Betty, the Aqualilies, and more...

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: July 4th, 2010, 2:43 pm
by Sue Sue Applegate
DAY ONE, PART FIVE

After I saw Judy Garland sing "The Man That Got Away" in A Star is Born at Grauman's Chinese Theater, I quietly slipped away in the back of the auditorium so that I could attend the poolside screening of Neptune's Daughter at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and I wasn't the only passholder who did that. I just didn't want to miss this event as well as the premiere.

The evening was cool, and even though I was wearing my coat, I was chilly. As I was making my way through the large crowd, I found my vintage-clad friends, Countess De Lave and her sister, Miss Lilacs. We all sat at a table and ordered something tasty and warm. I had coffee with B&B. All around the pool area by the bar, several toasty fires were blaring in metal "kivas" to keep everyone warm.

The lights made by the fires and the illumination on the palm trees reflected in the pool water made lovely shadows that sort of twinkled everywhere, depending upon where someone was seated. Up above the pool area, the large column of rooms of Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel was visible, bathed in a sort of amber light.

The screen was at one end of the pool, by the shallow end, and the synchronized swimmers, the Aqualillies, had just begun to arrive.

Genevieve McGillicuddy, the director of the festival, steps on the stage and welcomes everyone, followed by applause, and then she introduces Ben Mankiewicz, and he then greets Betty Garrett and Esther Williams on stage followed by more applause.

And when Ben sees that Esther Williams is in a wheelchair, he quietly moves an extra chair out of the way. A very considerate act of kindness to accommodate the ladies. Esther and Betty are smiling and acting very happy to be at the Festival. Esther claims that "Everything sounds better under water," and Betty, who seems to be having a cold, has a little hoarseness in her speech, and states that she can't hear everything, but if if someone says something bad, she'll find out about it and "whack you later." Cute. Spunky. I like it.

Even though Esther Williams was in a wheelchair, she seemed in good health and quite perky. She was wearing a red sequined full-length sheath and sparkled when she spoke. Still a feisty gal, Esther still has her bathing suit business because the Aqualillies were sporting her little red swimsuits and she made note of it. The lovely synchornized swimmers had a great show, doing some of the same Esther Aquatics we've known and loved, and they received a large round of applause.

Betty Garrett was so cute, too, and seemed quite energetic. Esther left shortly after the film began, and so did Betty.

But after the movie started, and the double duets of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Esther and Ricardo Montalban, and Betty and Red Skelton came on, Betty stepped back out on her patio from her private cabana and was watching this sequence wistfully. As many of the viewers around the area saw her standing there, they turned and gave her a round of applause, and as she teared up, she smiled sweetly and disappeared again into her suite.

Lots of folks were wearing their coats because, baby, it really was cold outside! But the Hollywood Roosevelt had several huge fireplaces warming everyone up. I was still in my full-length Chinese dress with the mandarin collar and stretched out on one of the deck chairs and finished sipping my coffee and brandy while I enjoyed Ricardo, Betty, Esther, and Red up on the silver screen at the end of the pool. I was able to be with my new friends, Kyle, Countess De Lave, Miss Lilacs and one of my dearest acquaintances, Lynn, for this wonderful close to a great first day at the festival.

But I still had one more event to attend. The Vanity Fair Party!

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: July 4th, 2010, 2:45 pm
by Sue Sue Applegate
DAY ONE, PART SIX

The excitement of attending the Vanity Fair party is electric. Everyone I encountered who attended seemed to experience it and feel it.

Wearing my full-lenth black satin Chinese formal with the Mandarin collar and clicking my high heels all the way down Hollywood Boulevard, I felt my heart beating faster with each step. I was following Countess De Lave and friends as we drew closer to the entrance of the club, and we all were speaking about how much fun we knew it would be.


As we were entering, the first celeb sighting was Eva Marie Saint and her escort (hubby?). She looked lovely and was very gracious. She was exiting as we were entering and was wearing a lovely creme-coloured outfit and carrying a clutch bag. Folks were genuflecting to her and appreciating the fact that she was able to attend on her way out.


When we had stepped inside, I found my date, Bruce, clasping a glass of white wine, and chatting with another passholder from the East. The crowd was already huge, and I could hear the buzz of voices all around...the screening was..he looks so..they haven't arrived yet...he's over there..the waiter is coming..care for a snack?..look at that hair..she's ravishing...
(I like to imagine they were talking about me!)

The first floor of Kress' s was packed with folks swarming around in a sort of circular motion that eventually led them around to the table where Robert Osborne and Diane Baker were holding court. Mr. Osborne was sitting in a seat in the booth most closest to the milling crowd, and Miss Baker was seated next to him. I had already visited with Mr. Osborne earlier, shortly after my fan perspective interview, and I introduced myself to Miss Baker who looked stunning and exhibited
a kind of serene patience and wonder at all the excitement, seemingly happy to be a part of it, and happy to visit with her fans. Very approachable and affable.

Right before I introduce myself to someone famous, or someone in a position of authority that I am not acquainted with, I always remember a story my cousin told me about Louis Jourdan. It gives me courage.

My cousin was visiting Hollywood for the first time in the 1980's and was staying at a hotel in Beverly Hills. As he was leaving the valet parking area, Louis Jourdan stepped out to wait for his car. My cousin walks over to him to speak, and he says, "Oh, Mr. Jourdan, you're the first movie star I've met since I've been in Hollywood." Mr. Jourdan looks at him with that droll expression of boredom so common to viewers of Gigi, and says in his French-accented English, "I'm so happy for you,"
and walks away to his car.

So this incident always reminds me that my comments might not be met with the same enthusiasm I feel at the time. It helps me be prepared for rejection...

But Robert Osborne, who makes everyone he meets seem welcome, always was kind and generous with his time to folks I saw him converse with. The general comments about Mr. Osborne as the festival spokesman and TCM onscreen CEO was overwhelmingly favorable.

And meeting Diane Baker was a joy. She stated that she currently is involved in teaching acting, and I told her that I always enjoyed her performances. In Marnie, I explained that I thought the turquoise kimono she wore was lovely, and I always wanted one like it. My aunt, who was a fabulous seamstress, made me a kimono like the one Miss Baker wore in Marnie without even using a pattern. Miss Baker said that she always enjoyed hearing fan stories, and she indeed remembered wearing that lovely kimono. She was charming.

After my lovely visit with Miss Baker, and a short nod to Mr. Osborne who was busy greeting other passholders, I romped upstairs to where my date, Bruce, and friends Countess De Lave, and others were soon to arrive. We had all agreed to meet on the top floor because there were so many people on the ground floor.

On my way upstairs, I ran into Ed Faulker and his wife. Faulkner is a character actor who has worked on many films with John Wayne and episodic television. He was surprised that I had recognized him because he says most folks don't remember who he is. He and his wife are very charming, and Mr. Faulkner currently works in private business, but also continues acting. He expressed the joy he had at working in so many films with John Wayne. They are very sweet folks..Mr. Faulkner can currently be seen in one of the "Words of Mouth" extras on TCM, and I believe it is the one with Director Andrew McGlaglen, son of actor Victor McGlaglen, discussing John Wayne.

As I'm waiting in line to move around to the stairs because of all the partygoers, Alec Baldwin walks by, and I say, "Hi, Alec." And he says, "Hi, how's it going?" and moves along to his next stop to sit down by Robert Osborne, and they have a photo op.

Upstairs, my pals and I found the perfect place to see the whole arena of guests and passholders. It was the corner booth upstairs near the DJ. Waiters kept coming around with drinks, and goodies to snack on. We could see everything happening in the main arena of celeb activity while we were perched in our perfect "catbird seat" booth. Then a photographer from CNN comes and sits with us, takes our photos, and sits down to visit for awhile. He tells us about all the folks he has taken pictures of since the evening began, and others at the festival. Then, after he has a beverage, he has to go downstairs and take more pictures.

As I get up to visit the powder room while we are upstairs, Jaqueline Bisset walks in with her friend from London, and I introduce myself and we talk about London, her visit to LA, how great Jack Cardiff was with his photography of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman which is being screened at the festival, and how hot and humid it is in Houston where she had filmed a movie. She seems very shy at first, but was happy that I had remembered her working and visiting Houston.

Then off to the powder room where I needed to update my look with one of my favorite lip gloss colors, #300, L'Oreal, tuck in a stray hair or two from my upsweep, and readjust my little red flower...

Back at the table, we started requesting our favorites from the DJ, and he was happy to comply, and we all started dancing. More drinks...More dancing. Then the CNN photographer comes back upstairs and tells us Cher had put in an appearance. We all ask what she was wearing. "Some white number," he says.

Then I ran into a tall, good looking man on the stairs who said Hugh Hefner had just been there with some blonde babe. And after way too much wine, I think I said something like, "Oohh, big news flash from 50 years ago." He laughed, but then I felt guilty I had said something like that. Ah, Bacchus...

So I missed Hugh and Cher, but luckily others hadn't and said they were gracious to the passholders who were able to chat with them.....Oh, well. Back to more wine, more snacks, and more dancing to our favorites until the wee hours. We laughed and chatted and danced until the DJ started packing up his equipment, and the wine flowed no more, and little waiters with trays of goodies had abandoned us...

Re: Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

Posted: August 10th, 2010, 12:34 am
by Lzcutter
And guess what a little birdy told me?

A certain Suex2's fan perspective is on tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) at 5:56 EST.

Set your Tivos!