(OUTscene America) TCM Classic Film Festival: From Liza to Debbie Reynolds, my opening night on the red carpet!

 

by Greg Hernandez


Last night’s big red carpet kickoff of the TCM Classic Film Festival at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was a star-studded affair and it was a thrill to be there.

Liza Minnelli was the star attraction as her film Cabaret was kicking things off and such Hollywood legends as Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint and Robert Wagner lit up the red carpet.

‘I’m always glad to be here,” Miss Reynolds said to me.
Famed film critic and historian Leonard Maltin said it’s an occasion to really cherish these legendary stars: “You have to value the fact that they’re here and alive and well. We can thank them in person instead of thinking about it 10 or 20 years from now.”


“I was raised watching classic film, my father was really into it,” she explained. “We were the dorky family that got excited because Laurence of Arabia was being re-released. I always had a love for it. I think actors should always know their history.”

I wish I could say I have an interview with Liza Minnelli but those interviews were reserved mostly for television reporters. We print and online folks way down at the end of the red carpet had to make do with maybe a wave or a smile from our favorite star in some cases.
Take for instance Liza. By the time she was in front of me, I decided to try and engage her even though she was being rushed in my handlers.

So I said: “Liza! I loved you on Paula Deen’s show!”


I managed to get several shots of Liza and I will tell you that she is looking great! She’s 66 and she looks healthy and happy.


Maltin, who is hosting 10 different events during the festival, shared with me why he thinks the TCM Festival has exploded in popularity since its debut three years ago.

“They are doing what no one else has done, they are doing this on a grand scale,” he said.

“We’re spoiled here in LA because we’ve got The Academy, we’ve got the UCLA Film Archive, the New Beverly Theatre, we have all these wonderful outlets for seeing classic films and revivals. Most cities don’t. So a lot of the people who are here have flown in from all over the country to be here. It’s like going to sports fantasy camp or rock and roll fantasy camp. This is movie buff fantasy camp.”