In the modern era — or rather, the post-VCR era — audiences have grown up with an amazing library of films at their fingertips. Gone were the days of staying up until 1am on a Tuesday to see Bringing Up Baby on television (which I did back in the early 80s); instead, you could trot on down to the video store to pick up your choice of classic film for the evening. And that’s speaking as a 40-something; there’s a whole new generation used to DVDs of everything available for 24-hour shipping, and now even more and more multitudes of films available for purchase and download. Haven’t seen a movie? Is it on iTunes? As we go further into the new century, more will be available at our fingertips, as we sigh heavily at the download time and meditate on Carrie Fisher’s prescient observation that instant gratification takes too long.

What that means for classic movies is that we rarely, if ever, seek them out in the way they were meant to be presented: on the big screen. Back before television co-opted the viewing audiences — and even during the early years of TV — movies were meant to be big, and that meant a big screen. It also meant a communal experience, the promise of glamour, and a destination experience — a movie wasn’t something you just happened upon, it was someplace you went, with excitement, with a purpose, to take in fully and enjoy.

The first-ever TCM Classic Film Festival, being held this Thursday through Sunday, aims to bring back that sense of excitement, that sense of bigness, to classic movies over a four-day period in — where else? — Hollywood, California. With films ranging from silent classics to nascent films of the 80s independent movement, it presents a smorgasbord of offerings, complete with actors, writers, and filmmakers on hand to lend insight and, of course, glamour. Herewith are some of the screenings that I’m most excited about — you can find out more about the festival in our special section.

• A Star Is Born: The opening night film on Thursday April 22 promises a return to old-style Hollywood glamour with a showing of major stars who will be seen throughout the festival, and a restored version of the Judy Garland-James Mason classic.
• Neptune’s Daughter: What better place to see the seminal Esther Williams flick than poolside — at the Hollywood Roosevelt, no less?
• 2001: A Space Odyssey: Special effects master Douglas Trumbull will be on hand to introduce a 70mm presentation of the Stanley Kubrick flick, and will preside at the “A Cinematic Odyssey” panel.
• Sweet Smell of Success: The first appearance of legendary leading man Tony Curtis at the festival.
• Imitation of Life: For Douglas Sirk fans, the screening of this is a can’t-miss, with appearances by its two Oscar-nominated stars, Susan Kohner and Juanita Moore.
• The Producers: Don’t be stupid/Be a smarty/Come and join the Nazi party! Well, come join Mr. Mel Brooks!
• Breathless: The mere idea of having leading man Jean-Paul Belmondo on hand leaves us in the titular state.
• Midnight Cowboy: Remember when Best Picture winners were daring adventures into cinema? Film writer/historian Peter Biskind and star Jon Voight will introduce the film.
• The Treasure of the Sierra Madre/Crimes and Misdemeanors/The Proposition: The Huston family dynasty gets a three-film treatment, with Anjelica Huston and Danny Huston present.
• The Graduate: No plastics, but instead writer Buck Henry on hand.
• The Good Earth: 100 year old (!) Oscar winner Luise Rainer is slated to attend; she’s also the first actor to win back-to-back acting Oscars.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — see our special section and visit the official TCM Classic Film Festival site to find out more. We’ll be blogging from the event, and posting photos as available!