Many of us have been sheltering at home or self-isolating for almost a month now and while gamers might be thriving under these conditions filmgoers often long to watch movies with a bunch of strangers in the dark at a cinema. For us escaping the realities of life usually involves going OUT to a movie and enjoying the comfort of having other people laughing or crying with us as we watch stories unfold on the big screen.
One of the best escapes is the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood where classic film lovers can congregate with other like-minded souls. But with the coronavirus banning gatherings of any kind the festival has had to move its events to its cable channel. While this is sad news for those of us who look forward to an annual pilgrimage to mecca, it is good news for all those who have never been able to attend the festival.
From April 16 to 19, TCM will host an online film festival complete with introductions, some culled from past TCM Classic Film Festivals, as well as celebrity interviews and behind-the-scenes tidbits.
Charles Tabesh is senior vice president in charge of programming at Turner Classic Movies and a programmer for the festival. He previews the Home Edition of the film festival, and then in the second half of the podcast Nora Fiore, author of the Nitrate Diva blog, provides a list of the best screwball comedies to watch while in quarantine. She highlights some well-known classics ("It Happened One Night," "My Man Godfrey") as well as some under-appreciated gems ("The Stand-In," "True Confession").
