A Preview of the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival
April 10, 2025
The 16th annual TCM Classic Film Festival is almost here! TCMFF returns to Hollywood April 24-27, and this year’s theme is Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film.
I’m honored to be covering the festival as a member of the media again, and to say I’m looking forward to it would be an understatement. Just take a look at the full schedule! This year’s event features a number of new-to-me titles, exciting special presentations, and beloved classics. Below is my brief preview of the fest—what I’m hoping to see, what I’m sad to be missing, and everything in between.
THURSDAY 4/24
6:45pm: Moonlight and Pretzels (1933)
This is a pre-Code I haven’t seen before, and I can’t think of a better way to open the 2025 fest! However, this rarely screened Mary Brian-Roger Pryor musical plays in the infamous theater 4, the smallest of the festival. So that means I need to take a few hours off work to get in line early, which I will happily do! (And if I somehow don’t make it in, I’ll be heading toward the Egyptian to see 1941’s Suspicion on that big, beautiful screen!)
9:30pm: Blithe Spirit (1945)
I’ve actually experienced this Noël Coward play on stage (with Angela Lansbury starring, to boot!), but I’ve yet to watch the 1945 film adaptation. This time slot is a toss-up between this and Pat and Mike (1952), a Katharine Hepburn-Spencer Tracy rom-com I also haven’t seen, and to be honest, due to the late start time, I’m not sure I’m going to make it to either. Though I must admit, Mothra (1961), which I didn’t know anything about before writing an article for TCM’s “I Like Big Bugs and I Cannot Lie” programming back in September 2023, would be fun to experience on the big screen with a TCMFF crowd. And it might be bonkers enough to keep me awake late at night… We'll see what will happen!
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FRIDAY 4/25
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9:15am: The Divorcee (1930)
I mean, The Divorcee basically kickstarted the pre-Code period. I’m very excited to begin the first full day of TCMFF with this classic, one I’ve always wanted to witness on the big screen. Plus, it plays at the Egyptian, so I hopefully won’t have to arrive 2+ hours early since this theater seats over 500 fans.
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12pm: Servants’ Entrance (1934)
So, Servants’ Entrance isn’t technically a pre-Code. (The film’s production likely straddled enforcement of the Production Code and it was released a few months later.) But I’m not mad about TCM slotting a rarely seen mid-1930s flick in the Egyptian! One that's new to me, on top of that! I’m happy I *hopefully* won’t have to fight crazy crowds to make it to this program. I’m also looking forward to hearing what former Paramount archivist Andrea Kalas has to say about this movie.
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However, I am bummed that this screening overlaps with Bigger, Sharper, Better: The History of Vistavision in Club TCM. Fest favorite Craig Barron is scheduled to co-present that, and I never try to miss his entertaining presentations.
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3pm: From Across the Pond: Sights & Sounds of the British Film Institute
The last few years I’ve been really enjoying the special programs in Club TCM. This one, which shares some of “the big discoveries, important restorations, and precious rarities that are reflected in the BFI’s rich history,” seems right up my alley!
The only issue is that it’s scheduled opposite the world premiere restoration of The Enchanted Cottage (1945), with James Cromwell, son of director John Cromwell, in attendance. I adore that film, so it’s a hard choice! (But one mostly necessitated by time, because I’m aiming to see a pre-Code in theater 4 after this, and The Enchanted Cottage will likely get out too late to get a low enough queue number for 1932’s Me and My Gal.)
6:15pm: Me and My Gal (1932)
Speaking of… somehow, I think this Spencer Tracy-Joan Bennett Fox pre-Code has eluded me. Suffice it to say, I’m *very* excited to see this new-to-me pre-Code on the big screen. Not to mention, Bruce Goldstein is presenting this, and he usually dives into the Production Code files for his intros, which I love. This is one—screening in tiny theater 4—that I know I’ll need to be in line early for. (And that also means passing up the opportunity to see my favorite film outfit on the big screen in 1941’s The Lady Eve, which is programmed around the same time.)
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8pm: Clueless (1995)
The last block of movies starts and ends a little too late for me this evening. But I love this movie and have always wanted to see it on the big screen. Poolside isn’t quite that, but it will be fun and, more importantly, easy to pop in and out of, as I don’t think I’ll want to stand the entire time.
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SATURDAY 4/26
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9am: Daisy Kenyon (1947)
Nitrate: Check. A movie I've never seen: Check. Wild sound romantic drama starring Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, and Henry Fonda: Check. Yup, yup, yup. Starting Saturday bright and early with a nitrate screening sounds like a plan to me!
12pm: Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)/The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)/Car Wash (1976)
These two blocks are going to be a little touch and go for me. First, Craig Barron and Ben Burtt are doing a presentation for Colossus, a movie I’ve actually never heard of before, alongside the film’s star, Eric Braeden. That’s pretty hard for me to pass up! BUT, there’s also another new-to-me title, The Private Life of Henry VIII, a 1933 British film (so not technically a pre-Code), starting an hour later… in theater 4. My plan is to try to catch the Burtt and Barron presentation for Colossus if that film isn’t sold out, then hop into the theater 4 line and see if I'm lucky enough to get into that film.
If not, I’ll head over to Car Wash, which was on my list the moment it was announced. Comedies are always fun experiencing with a crowd, especially one I haven’t seen before! That said, I have heard of Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and the Pointer Sisters, and this ensemble flick sounds like a ball. (Plus, director Michael Schultz will be in person.) We'll see what happens!
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5pm: Fantastic Footage and Where to Find It: Surprise and Delight from the World’s Film Archives
Another Club TCM presentation that speaks directly to me! As a fan of film archives and libraries, I’m curious what “unseen gems” will be shown here. (And if I see Car Wash, I’m going to have to run to Club TCM to catch the back half of this.)
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6:15pm: We’re No Angels (1955)
Yes, I’m skipping out on a pre-Code, Morocco (1930), in favor of a Michael Curtiz-directed, Humphrey Bogart-starring comedy I’ve never seen. The main reason is that this film is being presented in VistaVision using VistaVision projectors specially installed at the IMAX Theatre. That’s pretty cool. Furthermore, I think it (hopefully?) will be easier to get into than a pre-Code in theater 4—one I’ve watched on the big screen before, to boot.
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9:15pm: Animal Crackers (1930)
OK, Myrna Loy + William Powell (1940’s I Love You Again) vs. Irene Dunne (1943’s A Guy Named Joe) vs. the Marx Brothers (Animal Crackers) is just unfair. But I don’t think I can pass up a Marx Brothers pre-Code with a TCMFF crowd, so… that’s my final answer!
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SUNDAY 4/27
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9:15am: The Big Combo (1955)
For some reason, I get film noir titles mixed up all the time. Though this title sounds very familiar, I don’t believe I’ve seen this Joseph Lewis-directed flick, and what better place to experience a world premiere restoration than TCMFF?
12:30pm: Diamond Jim (1935)
A Jean Arthur film I haven’t watched?! New-to-me titles are always priorities for me at the fest, which means this biopic starring Arthur, Edward Arnold, and Cesar Romero is automatically at the top of my list. Honestly, I don’t even recall hearing much about this one, so I’m very excited! (And a really great TBA better not be screening opposite this.)
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2:45pm: The Talk of the Town (1942)
Two Jean Arthur films back-to-back?! How lucky am I? Talk about this cast: Cary Grant, Ronald Colman, Jean Arthur. Helmed by George Stevens, The Talk of the Town is sometimes zany, sometimes outrageous, but ultimately, it’s a comedy-drama that has a lot to say. It’s been a while since I’ve watched this, and once again, I know it will be a ball seeing it here. Standard disclaimer: This slot will depend on the TBA playing at the same time!
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5:45pm: The Ritz (1976)
The opportunities to be in the presence of classic film stars are few and far between in 2025. So, when legend Rita Moreno was announced as a guest for The Ritz, this film immediately became a must-see for me. I’d never heard of the movie, but my interest was piqued further after discovering that it’s about a “straight businessman (Jack Weston) unknowingly hiding out from his mobster brother-in-law (Jerry Stiller) in a gay bathhouse.” What the what?
This film plays in Theater 1, the largest of the Multiplex but still too small, I fear, for an icon of Moreno’s stature. We’ll see how early I can get in line for this and if I make it in! If I get shut out, the TBA or Beau Geste (1926)—Ronald Colman + world premiere restoration + live accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra—will battle it out!
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As usual, this schedule is very much subject to change; heck, that's half the fun of the festival! I'm taking it easier this year, but there are still a ton of movies, events, and guests that I'm stoked about. For those of you attending TCMFF 2025, what are the films or programs you’re most looking forward to?
thanks for stopping by!
I See a Dark Theater is a website dedicated to classic movie-going—and loving—in the City of Angels. Whether it's coverage on screenings, special presentations, or Q&As around Los Angeles that you're looking for, or commentary on the wonderful and sometimes wacky world of classic cinema, you've come to the right place for a variety of pieces written with zeal, awe, and (occasionally) wit. Enjoy.