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Like most impatient people, I simply hate waiting in lines. However, such a seemingly frustrating activity was one of my biggest pleasures at the TCM Classic Film Festival.
Along with the plethora of films available at the fest, movie buffs also had the chance to listen or catch a glimpse of actors  Ann-Margret, Dustin Hoffman, Peter Fonda, Julie Andrews, and Christopher Plummer – just to name a few.
But it’s not only the stories of the filmmakers and actors that make the TCM Classic Film Festival such a special experience. This year, I had the chance to share my lifelong movie love with fellow film buffs while waiting for the Lawrence of Arabia and Nightmare Alley screenings.
I met three people while waiting for Lawrence of Arabia. There was Fran Sabatini, a lifelong film and theater fan, who still makes weekly movie jaunts with his nephew. Dallas native Leilani, brought photos of her grandmothers to the trip so they could also share, in spirit, her filmgoing adventure.
“It’s so much more than just the movies,” said John Diamond, a Washington D.C. based writer who penned The CIA and The Culture of Failure. “It’s the programming. The guest stars. And the fellow movie lovers. There’s nothing like being in a big movie house, watching a great movie, with other people who love movies.”
While waiting for Nightmare Alley, I met a Glendale, Ca. lawyer who has attended the TCM Classic Film Festival for over four years. Though he obviously loves watching great movies, meeting Hollywood’s biggest stars was just as important (he made sure to catch Sophia Loren at this year’s fest).
PH: Christian Pierce
Below is a brief audio clip I recorded during the Lawrence of Arabia screening at the Egyptian Theater. A big thank you to John Diamond, Leilani, and Fran Sabatani , for sharing their thoughts on the TCM Classic Film Festival.
