Last week, the schedule dropped for the TCM Classic Film Festival (TCMFF) April 30–May 3, 2026. As usual, I'm doing my picks in NCAA tournament format brackets. I mostly list films (not Club TCM programs, etc.). Most years, I've only caught bits and pieces of Club TCM events. Last year for the first time, I went to a Club TCM program for the first time from start to finish, an interview with Guillermo del Toro. It was awesome, and there's one, maybe two, that will lure me back this year. So, without any further adieu, let's look at the matchups.
Thursday
Early Evening
Most years, my first choice would be the special opening night screening, but that is not included on my Classic pass (didn't make Media this year, though it wouldn't have got me in either). The thing is as much as I'd like to see Jane Fonda, I'm not a big fan of Barefoot in the Park. In the top bracket, I love both Modern Times and Auntie Mame, but I love Auntie Mame a lot more. In the lower bracket, I've never seen Grease 2, but as is usually the case with the poolside screenings, they're timed so that they straddle the early and late evening blocks. Though Modern Times and Grease 2 would be doable, I'm not motivated enough by Grease 2 to skip the next block. This leaves Out of the Past and The Ozu Diaries. Out of the Past just exudes coolness, and beats out Auntie Mame (mostly because I saw it in the theater several years ago).
Late Evening
Here, I really have almost no interest in Days of Heaven, but would gladly see any of the others. My first choice is Blonde Venus, but it's in the dreaded House 4. I only have 45 minutes to get there, and in Theater 4, that might not be good enough. I'm going to try, but half expect not to make it. If I do miss it, I could easily switch to either of the others with a slight edge going to The Fortune Cookie.
Friday
Morning
Mid-Day
I think I have to go with So Glad We Had This Time Together: An Interview with Carol Burnett here. I do have time to get food here, but I'm worried that if I don't get there early, I'll be standing in the back. Probably, whatever fast food is convenient, and then get in line as early as possible afterwards.
Afternoon
Here, I'm going with Strangers on a Train all the way. Father of the Bride is good and so is Dangerous Liaisons, but Strangers on a Train is Alfred Hitchcock good. Plus, I don't think I've ever seen it on the big screen, not unless you count seeing it in a college film class on 16 mm. Yes, I'm that old.
Early Evening
This block all comes down to Ace in the Hole vs. That Thing You Do! Ace in the Hole is an absolutely amazing film. That Thing You Do!, I saw it on VHS when it first came out, and I remember liking it. I saw it again on TCM, maybe a year or so ago, and was really surprised how good it was. The edge here goes to Ace in the Hole. All things considered, it probably is the better movie. I'm guessing That Thing You Do! won't fill up the Chinese IMAX. I might try to do fast food on the break here, and then if Ace in the Hole is full, go to That Thing You Do! Now, if Tom Hanks were here, that would be a whole different ballgame.
Late Evening
The Thing from Another World is tempting, but I would have to miss the intro and first part of the movie. Plus, I have seen it on the big screen before. The Princess Comes Across sounds charming. If I were to switch gears here, I probably would switch gears big and pick this Carol Lombard/Fred MacMurray movie, even though I give the edge to Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In the bottom bracket, both Shane and Pal Joey are good movies, but Gaslight sails past them easily and goes on for the win.
Midnight
I usually don't have the energy for the midnight movies, but Vanishing Point was I think my first movie boobies, when my brother took me at about 11. Nostalgia is probably going to prevail here. Plus, I really want to see Edgar Wright. He was supposed to introduce Night of the Living Dead 7 or 8 years ago. He couldn't make it, because Trump (45) was being a prick on immigration. Fortunately, we shouldn't have to worry-- oh wait. Dammit, Trump (47).
Saturday
Morning
This is a bit of a weird case. I'm a big science fiction guy, so normally, it would be The Day the Earth Stood Still all the way, but it I ordered swag for A Place in the Sun. If you have followed me long enough, you can probably guess what it is, but I'm not saying. I would feel stupid getting swag for a movie and then not seeing it. A Place in the Sun wins.
Mid-Day
In the top bracket, Swing Time would be an easy winner, but the combination of Phantom Lady and The Bamboo Blonde could let you steal extra time for a real meal. That said, I don't think it's enough to keeping me away from A Face in the Crowd.
Afternoon
Every now and then you get a block where there really is only one choice. Throw in the writer of one of the coolest songs ever, Rainbow Connection, Paul Williams, even more so. The Muppet Movie all the way. Then again, if I skipped this block, I could get a real meal. I was reviewing my picks in prepping this, and it dawned on me that I hadn't set aside time for a real meal anywhere. As much as I want to see The Muppet Movie and Paul Williams, I may need to get something to eat here that is not wrapped in plastic and paper.
Early Evening
In the top bracket, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Stranger on the Third Floor is a much harder matchup than you can imagine. Victor/Victoria is one of those films that I had a chance to see on the big screen, but didn't take it. My mom and my sister asked if I wanted to go see it when it first came out, but I was at an age where I was too cool to go to a movie with my mom and sister. I've kind of regretted it ever since. Also, it's a great movie. I've seen it fifteen or twenty times, and still find it laugh-out-loud funny, even when I'm watching it by myself, and that's pretty rare.
Late Evening
This has to be my hardest dilemma of the festival. Notorious weighs in as my fourth favorite Hitchcock movie behind North by Northwest, Rear Window, and Shadow of a Doubt in that order if you're counting, Robocop is not nearly as good as Notorious, but I do love it. Having two of the stars including the main villain goes a long way. I'm going to go with too close to call on this. Right now, I'm leaning toward Notorious, partly because as much as I love Robocop, I always thought it was gorier than it needed to be.
Midnight
I really don't think I'm going to have the energy for a second midnight movie. I might just sneak in for Mario Cantone's intro, provided I can get there on time.
Sunday
Morning
Another very tough matchup. I love both The Bad News Bears and The Best Years of Our Lives for completely different reasons. I'm thinking of just waiting to see what I feel like come Sunday morning. Slight edge to The Bad News Bears, it being in the Chinese IMAX. Also, it gets out earlier, and that might mean something real for lunch, depending on how the next block works out.
Mid-Day
I'm not a huge fan of Jerry Maguire. It's a decent movie, but I never seemed to think it was anywhere near as good as everyone else did. That leaves Trouble in Paradise, or possible some combination of food, a TBA movie, and/or Paul Williams in Club TCM.
Afternoon
As much as I would really love to see Craig Barron and Ben Burtt do their thing for The Towering Inferno, I think want to see Rope more. When I was I college in the 1980s, they re-released the Hitchcock vault movies, it is the one I most regret not seeing back then. To this day, I still haven't seen it on the big screen. Realistically, there are a couple art theaters that do Hitchcock-tober every year in San Diego. I'm sure I could find Rope there, but it wouldn't be the same as seeing it at TCMFF with a big audience. Also, it would give me a chance to see Stand by Me or maybe a different TBA film if the timing works out.
Evening
The problem with this block is anything I do here would cut into time at the closing night party, and I really love the party. Also, my wife is not attending this year, but she is driving up sometime Sunday, and this would give us time to have dinner.
That's it. Those are my picks for this year's TCM Film Festival. I hope you enjoyed it. See you all in a couple of weeks.
