Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne opened the press breakfast by telling us he was from a small town with one movie theater. What do you do growing up in a small place? Watch movies, he said with a smile.
Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne opened the press breakfast by telling us he was from a small town with one movie theater. What do you do growing up in a small place? Watch movies, he said with a smile.
TCM’s Festival has one (two-fold) mission: preserve movies while introducing new generations to classic films.
The TCM festival this month had wonderful showings of classic films of all genres in their big-screen glory. A festival highlight was an Audrey Hepburn showcase, including one of her best films, “Sabrina.” The festival’s theme was fashion in the movies, and Audrey Hepburn (”Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) set a new standard for fashion, thanks to eight-time Oscar winner Edith Head’s designs.
There was so much to take in. I did have a chance to interview Hollywood Director Norman Jewison (”Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Hurricane,” “Jesus Christ Superstar”). Now in his 80s, Jewison doesn’t miss a beat.
Jewison is most known for the 1967 Best Picture Winner “In the Heat of the Night.” It has the “famous” scene where Sidney Poitier plays a police officer sent to the South during the peak of racism in America.
In the movie, he slaps a white man. This changed American cinema.
Jewison told me, “The sad thing is, it only brought some tolerance — not change.” Another wonderful insight Mr. Jewison shared was, “Film is changing because everyone is impatient. We can’t wait for a good movie, keep the same phone, accept how times are. We’re always evolving and it’s why good movies are going away.”
He also said, “When we made movies, we did it to tell stories. The opening box office, the gross, the money lost, didn’t matter.”
One highlight of the festival for me was a festival attendee I met, Sumaya Quillian, 17. In these times of YouTube, the iPhone 6 and whatever new fad is coming our way in the next seven minutes, it was an honor to meet a teenager who loves Audrey Hepburn movies.
We live in crazy digital times. We must keep the old films alive.
• Paul Booth of Lihu‘e is a Kaua‘i Community College graduate, film producer and consultant. He can be reached at pkb_1@hotmail.com.
