TCM Classic Film Festival 2012--Opening Day On Air and On the Red Carpet for CABARET

The TCM Classic Film Festival officially kicked off last Thursday at the Roosevelt Hotel and what excitement.  The relative calm of the day before was gone and replaced with the feverish energy of 25,000 fans flooding Hollywood and Highland for four full days.  Being part of this festival is an experience like no other.  Each one feels like you're strapping into a roller coaster...though you have a sense of where the wild ride will take you, you're never quite sure of all the unexpected twists and turns.  This constant rush of adrenaline gives you something of an out of body experience that is enhanced further by food and sleep deprivation as you make it your mission not to miss any festival favorites.  It's as if you're floating through it all much like falling in love, which makes sense since that's what separates this festival and its festival goers from any other--genuine passion. 

First on the agenda Thursday was meeting the incredible people behind the network at Club TCM in the hotel's famous Blossom Room.  Producer and podcast host Scott McGee introduced TCM's new General Manager Jeff Gregor along with VPs Sean Cameron (Studio Production), Pola Changnon (Production), Charlie Tabesh (Programming), Richard Steiner (New Media), and Tom Brown (Original Productions) to the appreciative audience.  This was quite the stage for our Q & A time with them...the Blossom Room happens to be the location of the very first Academy Awards.  Fans shouted out that it cost a mere $5 to attend the ceremony there.  Honestly, the history of Los Angeles never ceases to amaze me.  When you're as big a classic cinema fan as I am, this kind of setting always gives me goosebumps.

Adding to the excitement was the fact that I was then invited to be interviewed on air by the great TCM host Robert Osborne.  Since the festival's theme was Style in the Movies, that's what we discussed in front of the audience...from my earliest exposure to classic film (including film noir greats The Thin Man and Double Indemnity) to my biggest influences in costume design and style.  Of course I spoke of the life changing moment twenty years ago when I saw Edith Head's work in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window for the very first time.  As my friends and fans know, that laid the foundation for almost everything...from the way I dress to the very existence of GlamAmor today.  I also added my appreciation for the iconic style of TCM's April Star of the Month Doris Day, which was particularly evident in the outfit I chose for filming (above).  I will be sure share the interview just as soon as the video is ready.  It was heaven.

Not long after the interview, we in the media headed across the street to Grauman's Chinese Theater to set up for the opening night premiere of Cabaret.  I chose a great spot on the red carpet--right next to the TCM stage where hosts Robert and Ben Mankiewicz would both hold their interviews with the stars.  Even so, I was still sitting among the notorious paparazzi of Los Angeles and literally fighting a throng of photographers who make their living from these types of events.  One even climbed the railing hitting me with all his equipment to try and take my spot!  Not that I could really blame them--style icons Liza Minnelli, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint, and Debbie Reynolds all walked the red carpet along with Woody Allen alumni Tony Roberts and Michael Murphy, and many others.  There were also younger celebrities there as well such as Rose McGowen, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Jordana Brewster.  Photographers were screaming at celebrities and running back and forth to try and get their shots, which made the entire experience quite the challenge.  I was even the subject of one such moment...1927's Wings star A.C. Lyles approached me on the red carpet and showed he still had the moves at a frisky 93-years-old.  The photographers couldn't get enough.

But it was Patricia Ward Kelly, widow of Gene Kelly, who was my favorite throughout the festival for her impeccable style.  We first bonded on the red carpet over her vintage alligator handbag (since I have the same one).  But it was her custom-made suits--by L.A. based designer Ali Rahimi for Mon Atelier--paired with gloves that made every one of her appearances special.  Patricia was there to introduce Singin' in the Rain Saturday night (which coincidentally was our weather report) and I was lucky enough to talk with her twice over the course of the festival.  Since both of our styles are so classic, we couldn't help but connect and have a genuine appreciation of one another.  Saying of my style, she gave possibly the greatest compliment--"Gene would definitely approve!"  Soon I'll be going to visit her and her talented team to discuss influences, inspiration, and all things style.  Couldn't be more thrilled!

As you'll see from the photos below, the red carpet was tented in anticipation of the oncoming rain.  In fact, the threat of thunderstorms loomed so large that the evening's poolside screening of High Society was moved inside the Blossom Room.  No matter...nothing could dampen the fun when Frank Sinatra's daughter Tina joined us and gave a champagne toast to the incredible style of the movie.  A great way to end our first day with still so much to look forward to at the festival.  Stay tuned here for even more coverage and check out GlamAmor's YouTube channel for a video playlist of TCM's daily recaps and clips of my favorite festival films.  Cheers!

Entering the atmospheric Club TCM

and greeted by the glamorous Joan Crawford

Clips from classic cinema shimmered on the screen including Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (above)

and Audrey Hepburn in her iconic Givenchy gown from Sabrina

Givenchy's vintage copy of Audrey's Sabrina gown decorated Club TCM

and enthralled the audience with its diminutive size and intricate detail

Audrey was also found in the beautiful photography that adorned Club TCM 

along with Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman (in Edith Head in Hitchcock's Notorious)

 The audience gathers to meet the panel of talent who runs TCM

Meet TCM (left to right): Scott McGee, Sean Cameron, Pola Changnon, Jeff Gregor (above)

and Charlie Tabesh, Richard Steiner, and Tom Brown

Back in the lobby for my interview on air with the great Robert Osborne

before heading over to Grauman's Chinese Theater to cover the red carpet of Cabaret

On the Red Carpet:  1960s pink shortsleeve dress, 1960s black leather purse,

J. Crew black patent leather skinny belt, Nine West black patent leather peeptoe pumps,

vintage pearl drop earrings, vintage pearl necklace (doubled as a bracelet)

Cabaret star and style icon Liza Minnelli being interviewed by TCM host Robert Osborne

Cabaret star Joel Grey with his daughter--Dirty Dancing's Baby--Jennifer Grey

Hitchcock heroines Tippi Hedren and Eva Marie Saint

Spitfire Debbie Reynolds interviewed by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz

Woody Allen alumni Tony Roberts and Michael Murphy

My festival favorite was Patricia Ward Kelly, widow of Gene Kelly,

who shows the ladies how it's done with her stylish suiting by Ali Rahimi

William Wellman Jr., son of Wings (1927) director William Wellman (above),

and frisky and flirtatious Wings star A.C. Lyles

Festival passholders also dressed up and walked the red carpet...

here's friend and fellow blogger Kay Noske working the scene in vintage

Heading back to the Roosevelt Hotel to see Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra in High Society

Tina Sinatra with Ben, who tried on a little of Frank's style in introducing the film

Coming up next on the TCM Classic Film Festival coverage--

Friday interviews and Kim Novak's premiere of Vertigo!

Cinema Style File--Alfred Hitchcock Style in 1959's NORTH BY NORTHWEST

It's no secret that I absolutely adore Alfred Hitchcock.  Together with his talented production team, he created a style so strong and sublime that I often long to live my life within one of his movies...though perhaps without the death-defying suspense.  This is particularly true of my adoration of his regular costume designer, Edith Head, who was perhaps the single greatest influence on my personal style.  When I saw 1954's Rear Window for the first time decades ago, I recall it resonating within me. "That," I remember saying, "is how I always want to dress."

1959's North by Northwest is another of Hitchcock's best, from both the standpoint of style as well as story.  It's all a case of mistaken identity, so once we pass the credits ending with Hitchcock's charming cameo missing a bus, we are engaged in a ride that's unrelenting until the final cliffhanger--literally--on Mount Rushmore.  That climax is only one of two iconic moments in the movie, too.  Even those who have never seen North by Northwest know of the ever suave and sophisticated Cary Grant being chased by a crop-duster in the middle of nowhere, a scene originally created by Hitch's talented screenwriter, Ernest Lehman.

One of the things I love about the style of this movie is how controlled the overall palette is.  It starts with the cinematography of one of my favorites, Robert Burks, who gives the film a slight dustiness that's echoed in the locations and action.  It is also echoed by the costumes, having the men dressed in shades of gray throughout and even much of the women's wardrobe is in grays, browns, and black as well.  Interestingly, Edith is not entirely responsible for the wardrobe in this film.  Though her established style was certainly kept in mind, costume designing duties were apparently split between Savile Row and Hitchcock himself.  British label Kilgour (and possibly Los Angeles label Quintino as well) collaborated with Cary on the design of his classic suits, which he kept after shooting ended.  And bursts of color on the cool blonde, Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), were the result of a shopping spree with her director at Bergdorf Goodman.  This includes the radiant red floral silk dress--an inspiration for our current springtime floral trend--and orange wool ensemble as Eve fights for her life at the end of the picture.

Whether you've never seen North by Northwest or you've seen it a million times as I have, I know you'll enjoy this collection of stylish stills from the film.  Not surprisingly, several outfits strongly influenced choices in my own modern wardrobe...even without my hero Ms. Head at the helm.

Cary Grant's advertising exec, Roger Thornhill, rushing with his secretary to his next New York meeting

Sophisticated leader of the espionage ring, Phillip Vandamm (James Mason)
mistakes Roger Thornhill for another spy and tries to drive him off a cliff after plying him with alcohol

The chase begins at the Plaza Hotel and works its way to the train to South Dakota

Lucky--or unlucky?--for Roger, he has Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) looking out for him

Love love love the lines of this smart black suit and
leather purse with an emerald pendant to help bring out her eyes

Eve gives directions for a date with doom while dressed appropriately all in black

The signature dress of North by Northwest, Eve entices in this nearly off-the-shoulder red floral silk dress

Wearing a smart blue-gray dress, brown purse, and pearls,
Eve pulls off an elaborate ruse to help Roger get away

Even the cars are lovely to look at in Hitchcock movies

Often mistaken for actual architecture,
production designers were asked to create a house in the vein of Frank Lloyd Wright

Even while frantically figuring out how to get away from the spies,
Eve looks incredible in an orange wool suit and scarves

The finale of North by Northwest closely resembled another of Hitchcock's--Saboteur--

that was also about espionage and characters who clung for their lives off the Statue of Liberty

Roger's inspiring words to get Eve to hang on..."You can do it, Mrs. Thornhill."