A Preview of Cinecon 2024
August 28, 2024
The summer has flown by, and it’s almost time for Cinecon 2024, a five-day extravaganza of super rare classic films and special guests! I have been incredibly busy the last few months with a project I hope to share soon, which has limited my time on the blog. (I’ve been active on the Pre-Code Instagram account; check that out HERE if you don’t follow already!)
That said, I’m hoping to attend one day of Cinecon this year. As per usual, the whole schedule looks amazing, stacked with movie after movie that I've never heard of. (I think I recognized three or four titles out of over 40!)
So without further ado, below are some of the films I hope to catch and the ones I’m bummed to be missing at Cinecon 2024.
THURSDAY 8/29
Winds of Chance (1925)
A love triangle set during the Gold Rush co-starring Ben Lyon, Anna Q. Nilsson, Viola Dana, and Victor McLaglen certainly sounds intriguing! It’s also always a treat experiencing a silent film on the big screen with live music. That said, this movie starts at 9pm, and it runs over two hours long, which is way, way past my bedtime.
FRIDAY 8/30
Rare Vitaphone Shorts
“Not seen on TCM and not available on home video!” is a surefire way to pique my curiosity. I’d love to catch this presentation of rarely-seen shorts, including an early Red Skelton appearance in The Broadway Buckaroo (1939).
Crooked Alley (1923)
There are no ratings for this crime flick on IMDb, which is an indication of how rare a film is. Plus, Crooked Alley runs 50 minutes and stars Laura La Plante, two elements that sound good to me.
Myrtle Gonzalez Tribute
I’ve never heard of Myrtle Gonzalez, a Mexican-American silent actress who sadly passed away during the 1918 flu pandemic. This tribute features a few of her shorts, and some of her family members will be in attendance, as well. What better way to learn about a previously unknown-to-me star?
Below the Surface (1920)
Deep-sea diving, con artists, seduction, blackmail—oh my! All this in a one-hour silent film—sounds like non-stop drama, and I am here for it. (Maybe.)
Forced Landing (1935)
I’m usually not one for airplane drama, but this mystery sounds fascinating. Suspicious circumstances strand a group of survivors in a closed hotel… where everyone has a gun?! Heck, I’d be interested in seeing Toby Wing in a serious role (I assume), but the crazy plot of this 66-minute B-movie also has my full attention.
Ladies of Leisure (1926)
“Rich, spoiled Marian pressures Eric to marry her. Her brother is in love with her friend Mamie, but a scheming ex-husband tries to blackmail her. Mamie is saved from suicide by Eric, who's in a compromising position when he brings her home.” When the IMDb summary reads like this, you know it’s going to be DRAMA. And all in 57 minutes!?
SATURDAY 8/31
The Twin Titans of Terror!
Learning more about Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff from author Julian David Stone, who has done extensive research on both actors, sounds like a marvelous start to a Saturday. Sign me up!
Kinecon at Cinecon
It’s a treat seeing rare, live TV moments captured on film (kinescope). In the early TV era before videotape, so much was lost—and often, what has survived has been on kinescope. I always enjoy watching these extraordinary clips, and Cinecon is really the only place I’ve ever seen them.
Song of Arizona (1946)
Westerns aren’t really my thing, so why do I have a Roy Rogers Western on my list? Because child star Tommy Cook will be in attendance and chatting after this movie. There are fewer opportunities to hear stories from classic film stars in person, so if I end up attending Cinecon this day, I definitely won’t miss this movie and special presentation!
The New Interns (1964)
I've heard of this film (but never seen it!), and as an added bonus, co-star Stefanie Powers will be in person. I’m sure she has some fantastic stories from her long career to share with the audience. Plus, The New Interns co-stars Barbara Eden, George Segal, Telly Savalas, and more, so Powers probably has many tales just from this film alone!
SUNDAY 9/1
Film is Dead. Long Live Film! (2024)
I have a wedding to attend this day, so I definitely won’t be able to make Sunday at Cinecon, but this documentary about film collectors sounds captivating. Especially when you think that these are oftentimes the people who find and save lost movies!
The Kid from Cleveland (1949)
A film about baseball wouldn’t usually land on my must-see list, but this George Brent-starrer also features Russ Tamblyn, who will be on hand afterwards to chat. I’ve heard Tamblyn on a few occasions, and he has great stories, so I bet this will be a very entertaining conversation (and hopefully a fun movie!).
The Lady Wants Mink (1953)
I’ve long been a fan of Ruth Hussey, so seeing her star in a comedy with Dennis O’Keefe and Eve Arden would be a pleasure. And it also sounds slightly chaotic because apparently her character buys live minks to raise and grow her own coat?! Insanity.
MONDAY 9/2
Lancer Spy (1937)
A spy drama with George Sanders, Dolores Del Río, and Peter Lorre? Yes, please. And I actually think this is the day I’m most likely to attend Cinecon!
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The Harvester (1936)
As an Ann Rutherford fan, I’m morally obligated to watch any movie she’s in—and this is one I have never seen! Better yet, it also stars Cora Sue Collins, who will be on hand for a conversation after the movie. I’ve watched Collins in many films from the early 1930s, but I haven’t seen her in a larger part in the mid-30s; I’m excited to watch her in an older role and listen to some of her tales. I’ve had the opportunity to hear her speak on several occasions, and it’s always a pleasure to be in her company.
The Flower of Doom (1917)
What a dramatic title! And it certainly seems like this murder mystery lives up to its name. The Flower of Doom is a super rare silent movie, and while from the summary it seems like it will contain some pretty racist stereotypes of Chinese people, I’m thankful we still have the chance to watch these films, even if they are problematic, over a century after they were originally made.
The Bride Wore Crutches (1940)
“Reporter (Ted North) witnesses a bank robbery, finds the robbers, joins them and… This impresses his girlfriend (Lynne Roberts).” OK, this isn't the best written IMDb summary, but it captures my attention. Is it a comedy? Drama? Mystery? All of the above? I’m excited to find out!
Nobody’s Fool (1936)
Edward Everett Horton and Glenda Farrell STAR in this movie. Say no more.
Hotel for Women (1939)
I’ve never heard of this B-movie with Ann Sothern and Linda Darnell about a woman whose boyfriend brushes her off only to come back once she’s become a model—and has a million other men interested in her. It sounds like a great comedy to me, but apparently, it’s a drama. Either way, Hotel for Women seems like a fun way to end another Cinecon filled with rare classic movies!
thanks for stopping by!
I See a Dark Theater is a website dedicated to classic movie-going—and loving—in the City of Angels. Whether it's coverage on screenings, special presentations, or Q&As around Los Angeles that you're looking for, or commentary on the wonderful and sometimes wacky world of classic cinema, you've come to the right place for a variety of pieces written with zeal, awe, and (occasionally) wit. Enjoy.