Each August in the remote mountain town of Telluride, Colorado, the audience-friendly Telluride Film Festival honors outstanding artists in the world of cinema. TCM's tribute recalls past honorees, beginning with animator Chuck Jones, who directed the feature-length animated fantasy, The Phantom Tollbooth (1969), based on the popular children's book. Maverick British director Ken Russell, honored in 2001, is represented by The Boyfriend (1971), a visually stunning homage to the age of the Art Deco musicals that stars '60s model Twiggy as an aspiring chorus girl; actress Gloria Swanson, a 1974 honoree, demonstrates her rarely seen comedic skills in Father Takes a Wife (1941). Tea and Sympathy (1956), a once-time controversial play and taboo-shattering film, puts the spotlight on cinematographer John Alton, honored in 1993; The Andromeda Strain (1971), a disturbing sci-fi thriller about a deadly virus, is a showcase for director Robert Wise, honored in 1979. Composer Elmer Bernstein, honored in 1992, is represented by his stirring score to Cahill, U.S. Marshall (1973), starring John Wayne. The equally celebrated Clint Eastwood, honored in 1990, for his double talents as actor and director, is prominently featured as a victim of vigilante justice in Hang 'em High (1968). Joel McCrea, honored in 1982, appears in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller, Foreign Correspondent (1940).

Actress Janet Leigh, honored in 1984, is represented by her work in Orson Welles' eccentric film noir masterpiece, Touch of Evil (1958), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), a highly unusual depiction of the famous detective (Robert Stephens) and his colleague Dr. Watson (Colin Blakely), is one of the moost underrated movies in the long career of Billy Wilder and set designer Alexander Trauner; the latter was honored at Telluride in 1985.

TCM will also be airing Richard Schickel's documentary, The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor (2002) in honor of the silent-to-sound-era director who was a Telluride honoree in 1976. Comedy Producer Hal Roach will be represented by the Harold Lloyd two-reeler, Among Those Present (1921) and Oscar®-nominated actor Peter O'Toole steals the show in My Favorite Year (1982), which was inspired by Errol Flynn's infamous appearance on a live television show. O'Toole was honored at Telluride in 2002.

In addition to our two nights of programming devoted to past Telluride honorees, TCM will also be posting daily reports from this year's 30th Telluride Film Festival in our Movie News section so be sure to check in and see who's getting honored this year and what films are generating the best buzz among the festival-goers. For more information about the festival, how to get tickets and other details, visit the TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL web site


by Jeff Stafford