Monday, March 9, 2015

TCM Festival details: The Grim Game screening at the Egyptian, March 29


The world premiere of TCM's restoration of Houdini's The Grim Game will happen at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood on Sunday, March 29 at 8:15pm, according to the schedule now available on the TCM Classic Film Festival website. The screening will feature a live score composed and conducted by Brane Živkovic. Restorationist Rick Schmidlin, Dorothy Dietrich, and Dick Brookz will also be in attendance to introduce the film.

While I'm disappointed that the Festival organizers decided not to screen The Grim Game in the larger Chinese Theater (instead they are showing the 1964 Sophia Loren film, Marriage Italian Style), the Egyptian is a nice venue for this film. Built in 1922 by Sid Grauman, it was one of Hollywood's first movie palaces, and the site of the first-ever Hollywood premiere. The exterior and interior walls feature Egyptian-style paintings and hieroglyphics. The theater was restored in 1996 by the American Cinematheque. In 2012 it hosted a Houdini double-feature of Terror Island and The Man From Beyond.

If you wish to attend The Grim Game premiere, you have a few (not great) options. You can buy a festival pass, but even a pass doesn't guarantee entry. You'll still need to line up. Individual tickets are also sold at the door at the time of the screenings depending on availability. Again, because the festival decided to play this in a smaller theater, getting in could be a magic trick. Even I'm not 100% sure I'm getting in.

The festival will also screen the 1953 classic Houdini with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh at the Chinese Multiplex House 6 on March 29 at 4:45pm.

For more information about the festival visit the TCM Classic Film Festival website.

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14 comments:

  1. I just called TCM to upgrade my Palace Pass to a Classic Pass so I could see TGG. And they told me that the Palace pass covers the Egyptian and that I would be in the same line as the Classic Pass holder to get a Q#, which gives me a order in line for going into to see the movie. The lady said that only Spotlight pass holders would have priority; all other pass holders get in the same line to get a Q#. She said to get in line early to get a Q#.
    This is all very confusing. I have a website devoted to TGG since 2011; My dream to see TGG premier is turning into a crap shoot, despite me willing to spend whatever to see it.

    Joe

    Bottom Line: I was told that there was no benefit to upgrading to a Classic Pass.

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    1. Thanks Joe. I've gotten conflicting information from the press office, so I've zapped all mention of what pass covers what. Sounds like any pass will get you in line, so that's good. Still, pricey passes for no guarantee. And I'm still nervous myself about getting in.

      Starting to feel a lot like Hollywood around here. :)

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    2. So my nervousness was all for not. The press gal didn't know or care who the heck I was, but Rick Schmidlin and the higher-ups at TCM took great care of me. I has reserved seats at both screenings. Felt like I had the best seat in the house at The Grim Game. And everyone who tried got in. A happy outcome for all. :)

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  2. Looks like Sophia Loren herself is going to be at that screening of "Marriage Italian Style" at the Chinese, so maybe that will pull enough pass holders away so everyone who wants to get into The Grim Game will be able. This is my hope.

    If you plant yourself in line 2 hours early, Joe, I bet you will be in good shape. The theater sits 618.

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  3. Good luck chaps ! You are our eyes and ears.

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  4. Joe, you of all people should have been comped a ticket for this. John, it would have been great if you could have done your Houdini in Hollywood presentation before the movie (it would have at least assured that you got in). Anyway, i have waited DECADES for this and will definitely be there way early and ready to storm the gates. See you there!

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    1. Looking forward to seeing you there, Bullet. Hopefully inside the theater.

      Yeah, I would have loved to have done my Houdini in Hollywood talk somewhere at the festival.

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  5. I have a Spotlight pass and stand a pretty good chance of getting in. Hope to see you all there

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    1. Spotlight pass...nice. Yeah, I think you are pretty much assured of getting in. Save some seats. :)

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  6. I'm usually in the center of the first row of the balcony. I'll keep a seat warm.

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  7. What a clever idea! When everybody begins to follow Sophia Loren into the Chinese, John and Joe can make a break for it into the Egyptian!

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  8. Hey there!

    Spotlight passes get priority, but at the Egyptian Classic, Essential and Palace all get in after Spotlight is let in. After that is when the standby line ($20 tix) gets let in. The theater managers are really good about letting standby know if they are getting in, and for the most part, not too many people have been turned away from the big theatera. Hope you have a great experience! Queue cards will be passed out at 7:15pm, need to be back in like at 7:45pm, and standby line if space allows can buy tix at 8:00pm.

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    1. Thanks. It looks like everyone who tried was able to get in last night, which was great. It was a packed house and a great film! I'll have a full report soon.

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