Restored Metropolis To Headline TCM Film Festival

When Turner Classic Movies (TCM) launches the first-ever TCM Classic Film Festival in April 2010 in Hollywood, the spectacular events will include the world premiere of a newly restored edition of George Cukor’s music-filled 1954 drama A Star is Born; the North American premiere of a restored version of Fritz Lang’s 1927 science-fiction silent masterpiece Metropolis; and a 50th anniversary screening of the influential French classic Breathless, the film that launched Jean-Luc Godard’s career.

The more than 50 presentations during the festival will include introductions to provide context about each film. Among the first of many special guests scheduled to participate are filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich and film critic Leonard Maltin. The festival will also feature a special presentation of Stanley Kubrick’s landmark film 2001: A Space Odyssey, including a discussion with Oscar-winning visual effects artist Douglas Trumbull, who was responsible for contributing to Kubrick’s vision. In addition, TCM weekend-daytime host Ben Mankiewicz will take part in introducing films during the festival.

The premiere of A Star is Born will serve as the opening night event for the TCM Classic Film Festival on Thursday, April 22, 2010. This is the first major restoration of A Star is Born since 1983. TCM will screen a version of A Star is Born that was digitally restored by scanning original negatives. The result is much better picture quality of all elements of the 1983 restoration, with deeper and richer color than ever before. A Star is Born, which earned Oscar® nominations for Judy Garland and James Mason, is part of the festival’s overall theme as a celebration of Hollywood history.

TCM’s screening of Metropolis will mark the first presentation of the new restoration of the film in North America. Due to the sensational 2008 discovery of a 16mm negative in Buenos Aires and its current restoration, Metropolis can now be shown with 30 minutes of additional footage that has been unseen since the 1927 Berlin premiere. This nearly complete copy of Lang’s 204-minute original now stands as the authoritative version of the film, according to the Murnau Foundation, which holds the copyrights on all of Lang’s films. The newly reconstructed Metropolis features extensive scenes that flesh out many of the supporting characters, fill in previously jarring gaps in the plot and provide additional back story. The music score for Metropolis will be provided live by the Alloy Orchestra, a three-man musical ensemble that will be celebrating its 20th year of writing and performing live accompaniment to classic silent films.

TCM, in partnership with Rialto Pictures, will present a beautiful new print of Jean-Luc Godard’s New Wave classic Breathless, which in 2010 celebrates the 50th anniversary of its American release. Breathless was a U.S. art-house sensation that strongly influenced filmmakers of its era. The movie paved the way for the “new” Hollywood of the late 1960s and ’70s, revolutionizing American filmmaking and changing the direction of the industry.

“The TCM Classic Film Festival is shaping up to be a truly amazing event, with rare cinematic treats and many chances to hear from classic film stars and knowledgeable experts,” said TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne, who will serve as the official host for the festival. “This is the kind of celebration classic film fans have been dreaming about for years, and everyone at TCM is proud to bring that dream to life.”

As part of the festival, TCM is partnering with Vanity Fair magazine to commemorate the publication of Vanity Fair’s Tales of Hollywood, from Penguin Books and edited by Graydon Carter. Special panels will feature writers from the magazine, along with actors and filmmakers who will tell behind-the-scenes stories of many of Hollywood’s greatest films. In addition, Vanity Fair will co-present a special opening-night party for top-tier passholders and Hollywood VIPs.

The TCM Classic Film Festival, which is set to take place in Hollywood April 22-25, 2010, will be a landmark celebration of the history of Hollywood and its movies, presented in a way that only TCM can, with major events, celebrity appearances, panel discussions and more. The four-day festival will also provide movie fans a rare opportunity to experience some of cinema’s greatest works as they were meant to be seen — on the big screen. TCM will announce additional special events, guests and programming in the weeks and months ahead.

The central hub for the festival will be Club TCM, located inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Roosevelt, which served as the site of the first Academy Awards® ceremony, will be the official hotel for the festival. All passholders will be allowed entry into Club TCM, which will include a festival lounge, panel discussions, social events, a boutique and poolside screenings. Event locations include Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre.