How to Stream Your Own TCM Classic Film Festival at Home
As I write this, Hollywood Blvd is half closed as workers prepare the red carpet for this weekend’s TCM Classic Film Festival, and classic film fans both local and far-flung are meeting up, checking out the social opportunities at Club TCM, and getting ready for a weekend of classic film fun. This year is the 10th annual TCM Fest, so the celebrations feel extra celebratory this year.
The bad news if you’re not in Hollywood right now, you’re missing out on one of the greatest experiences a classic film fan can have: seeing favorites and obscurities on the big screen with great special guests at the friendliest film festival around. The good news is that since all of these films are older, it’s relatively easy to see most of them at home, and in fact several of them are available on various streaming services. It’s not the same as being here, but at least it’s a taste of what you’re missing.
See more about the festival at the TCM Film Festival site and the full programming guide here.
Stream It
All of these films are, as of this writing, available on various streaming services. Some of them are on Amazon Prime channels, cable on-demand services, or ad-supported internet services.
Raiders of the Lost Ark – Watch on Netflix
The movie ranked #4 on Flickchart needs no introduction from me. It surprised me quite a bit to see it’s streaming on Netflix, so if you haven’t watched it in a while, jump on that before it’s gone. What would you get if you saw it at TCM Fest? Well, besides seeing it in the giant and historic TCL Chinese Theatre, you’d get a discussion with Ben Burtt and Craig Barron, who worked on sound and visual effects on the film. Ranked #4 by 88843 users.
The Shawshank Redemption – Watch on Hulu
Another high-ranker on Flickchart, and another serendipitous streaming opportunity for fans of the film. This inspirational prison break film has been atop the IMDb Top 250 for a while, so bring on the cross-platform debates — is it the best film of all time, or just the fifth best? What you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: a discussion with director Frank Darabont. Ranked #5 by 84704 users
Do the Right Thing – Watch on DirecTV or Starz
Spike Lee’s best-known (and maybe best) movie still packs a punch 30 years later, with its hard-hitting and controversial take on racial and ethnic violence in New York’s Bed-Stay neighborhood. It’s not on any of the major streaming services, but if you’ve got DirecTV or Starz, you’re all set. What you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: a discussion with the film’s costume designer Ruth E. Carter, its casting director Robi Reed, and Spike Lee’s sister Joie Lee, who acted in this film and others, and is also a writer. Ranked #314 by 7284 users
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg – Watch on the Criterion Channel
One Jacques Demy’s seminal musicals, homaging the golden age of Hollywood musicals from the perspective of the French New Wave. With wall-to-wall music by Michel Legrand that will stick in your head long after the film is over, this story of young love remains heartfelt and moving. You can see it (along with other Demy films) on the newly-launched Criterion Channel. What you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: the chance to see Catherine Deneuve on the big screen with hundreds of other adoring fans. Ranked #351 by 769 users
Escape from Alcatraz – Watch on Amazon Prime or Hulu
Prison break movies are a pretty solid subgenre, and this one doesn’t disappoint, with an attempted escape from the prison to end all prisons. It’s hitting its 40th anniversary this year, and it’s just as tense as ever. What you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: a discussion with the film’s screenwriter Richard Tuggle and with Hollywood Reporter editor Benjamin Svetkey. Ranked #798 by 4409 users
Winchester ’73 – Watch on Starz
Of the excellent cycle of westerns directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, this may just be the best. It’s certainly the most well-known, and that’s for a reason. It follows the titular gun through several owners, with James Stewart continually trying to catch up to it. This film and others like it worked against the “white hat” hero of earlier westerns, with flawed heroes who could be brutal and make mistakes. What you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: an introduction from film historian Jeremy Arnold, author of TCM-published The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter. Ranked #825 by 604 users
Broadway Danny Rose – Watch on Amazon Prime or Hulu
A lesser-known but not lesser-quality Woody Allen film, starring himself and Mia Farrow in a story of a show business manager who’s a bit on the rocks. Shooting in black and white in 1984 is a very intentional move, and it gives this story a timeless, sentimental feeling. What you’d get if you watched it at TCM Fest: a discussion with casting director Juliet Taylor, who has cast nearly all of Allen’s films (and if there’s one thing you can say for Woody Allen, his films always have great casts). Ranked #909 by 1183 users.
Working Girl – Watch on DirecTV
You get a two-fer with Juliet Taylor on this one. In addition to casting most of the Woody Allen films, including Broadway Danny Rose (see above), she also cast this paean to the working woman and basically made Melanie Griffith a star. You can check this out on demand if you’ve got DirecTV, and if you saw it at TCM, you’d see Juliet Taylor again. Ranked #2360 by 3670 users
Hello, Dolly! – Watch on DirecTV
One of the last great Hollywood studio era musicals, directed by one of its brightest stars (Gene Kelly only directed a few films solo, this being one of them), and starring one of the leading actress/singers of the New Hollywood era, Hello, Dolly! is something of an anachronism — a giant, glorious, indulgent anachronism. What you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: a discussion with superfan Christopher Radko, whose love for the film led to him create a community festival near its filming location, and who wrote a lavish book about its filming. Ranked #2786 by 841 users
Sleepless in Seattle – Watch on Tribeca Shortlist
One of the touchstone romantic comedies of the 1990s — a golden era of modern romantic comedy — this one gets some pushback these days as part of a general pushback against romantic comedies, but that’s pretty unfair. It’s a sweet, funny, and occasionally sharp film from Nora Ephron, perhaps the best romantic comedy writer/director of her era. I’m not entirely sure what Tribeca Shortlist is, I think you can get it as a “channel” on Amazon, but if you have it, you’re all set. What you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: a discussion with the film’s producer Lynda Obst, and with Rita Wilson, who plays a supporting role in the film and is also married to Tom Hanks. Ranked #2846 by 24169 users
Indiscreet – Watch on Viewster
It seems there’s something scandalous going on every time Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman share the screen. Either they’re Notorious (the 1946 Hitchcock film) or Indiscreet. Any pairing of these two is worth watching, especially when Stanley Donen, seeking to reinvent himself as the musical comedy declined, is in the director’s chair. Viewster is an ad-supported service, which isn’t ideal, but sometimes to see great films you gotta do what you gotta do. Here’s what you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: an introduction by Hollywood historian Cari Beauchamp, author of several books about the early days of the industry and expert on the studio system era in general. (Cari always has great stories, I just want to put that out there.) Ranked #3057 by 232 users
When Worlds Collide – Watch on IndieFlix
1950s science fiction is a special breed of great, featuring practical effects, nuclear paranoia, sometimes suspect acting, and often grandiose ideas. This one actually eschews the paranoia and focuses instead on the promise of science to escape a coming collision between earth and another heavenly body. It’s a solid film, not to be missed for fans of ‘50s sci-fi. What you’d get if you saw it at TCMFest: a discussion with the film’s star Barbara Rush and TV personality Dennis Miller. Ranked #3900 by 224 users
Love Affair – Watch on Amazon Prime/IndieFlix/Viewster/TubiTV
Though its remake An Affair to Remember is better-known, this original star-crossed lover story is probably the better version, featuring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer as a couple who meet on board a ship and fall in love despite existing engagements, and then plan to meet up in a year’s time if they still want to be together. It’s a little less melodramatic than its remake, and a bit more grounded. There are a number of ways to watch it online, most prominently Amazon Prime, but also on some free ad-supported services as well. What you’d get if you watched it at TCM Fest: a discussion with actress Dana Delany. Ranked #5291 by 115 users
It Happened Here – Watch on Fandor
One of the most obscure films at the festival, and yet also one of the most intriguing-sounding, this is an alternate history of the 20th Century in which the Nazis invaded Great Britain. The film was made by Andrew Mollo and Kevin Brownlow, now a highly acclaimed film historian, who started developing it when they were just teenagers. Their work was supported at the time by such heavyweights as Stanley Kubrick and Tony Richardson. If you’re a Fandor subscriber, you can check out this interesting-sounding film right now. What you’d get if you saw it at TCM Fest: a discussion with Kevin Brownlow (he’s a frequent introducer for TCM Fest, and it’ll be fun to see him on the other side of the mic) and John Bailey, renowned cinematographer and current President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Ranked #27367 by 7 users
Open Secret – Watch on IndieFlix
This film is so obscure I had to add it to Flickchart when I was preparing this list, but it’s a film noir so it would certainly be popular with Flickchart users if it were more well-known. Like several other films of the late ’40s, it also deals with anti-Semitism, and is more frank than usual with its content. IndieFlix subscribers can check it out now, which may be about the only way to see it legally. It has no special guests listed for TCM Fest, but will certainly be introduced by a TCM staffer with great tidbits of info about the film. Ranked #22766 by 1 user
Rent It
Almost all of the films above are also available for digital rental through the usual services — iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Microsoft Video, etc. Not all are on every service, so if it’s not on your favorite, check the others. The films listed below are only available for digital rental; they are not on any subscription streaming services, but can be viewed digitally for a nominal fee.
The Godfather Part II (1974) – ranked #8 by 64685 users
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) – ranked #37 by 1425 users
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – ranked #128 by 24889 users
Nashville (1975) – ranked #274 by 1712 users
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) – ranked #371 by 817 users
A Woman Under the Influence (1974) – ranked #404 by 692 users
From Here to Eternity (1953) – ranked #504 by 2003 users
Day for Night (1973) – ranked #522 by 715 users
Escape from New York (1981) – ranked #529 by 11505 users
Marty (1955) – ranked #535 by 923 users
Gone with the Wind (1939) – ranked #542 by 32093 users
Holiday (1938) – ranked #587 by 478 users
The Sound of Music (1965) – ranked #800 by 64093 users
When Harry Met Sally… (1989) – ranked #843 by 27969 users
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) – ranked #1018 by 1239 users
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) – ranked #1044 by 708 users
The Defiant Ones (1958) – ranked #1254 by 614 users
Dark Passage (1947) – ranked #1255 by 553 users
Sergeant York (1941) – ranked #1395 by 580 users
Wuthering Heights (1939) – ranked #1497 by 573 users
The Bad Seed (1956) – ranked #1656 by 468 users
Out of Africa (1985) – ranked #1981 by 2555 users
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) – ranked #2140 by 249 users
My Favorite Wife (1940) – ranked #2349 by 262 users
Love in the Afternoon (1957) – ranked #2477 by 364 users
A Raisin in the Sun (1961) – ranked #2518 by 349 users
High Society (1956) – ranked #2531 by 456 users
Mad Love (1935) – ranked #2702 by 231 users
Steel Magnolias (1989) – ranked #2985 by 3074 users
Father Goose (1964) – ranked #3083 by 342 users
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947) – ranked #3087 by 282 users
Ocean’s 11 (1960) – ranked #3442 by 1221 users
A Patch of Blue (1965) – ranked #3667 by 152 users
Tarzan and His Mate (1934) – ranked #4140 by 143 users
The Clock (1945) – ranked #4686 by 85 users
Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) – ranked #4851 by 423 users
All Through the Night (1942) – ranked #6702 by 70 users
Double Wedding (1937) – ranked #7006 by 55 users
Mogambo (1953) – ranked #7301 by 141 users
Samson and Delilah (1949) – ranked #7497 by 233 users
The Little Colonel (1935) – ranked #9913 by 96 users
Cold Turkey (1971) – ranked #10742 by 85 users
The Opposite Sex (1956) – ranked #18925 by 20 users
The Student Nurses (1970) – ranked #29544 by 20 users
Out of Luck
As always, TCM Fest shines the light on several obscurities that are hard to find through normal means. These may be on DVD but are not currently available via any digital distribution, subscription or rental. The chance to see films like this on a big screen with an audience is honestly the draw for many of us to TCM Fest — I bring them up in a post like this a reminder that even though many of the films that play at TCM Fest are easy to see via other means, some are not. Two outliers that aren’t obscure but also aren’t available digitally right now: Star Wars and Disney’s Sleeping Beauty; both of these should make their way to Disney+ later this year. Because most of these are so obscure (enough that I know little about many of them), I included TCM’s brief descriptions.
Magnificent Obsession (1954) – Rock Hudson starts the film as a feckless playboy, but when his carelessness inadvertently costs Jane Wyman her husband and her vision, he turns his life around by studying medicine in the hopes of someday atoning for his behavior, while also secretly helping Wyman adjust to her blindness. [TCM] – ranked #3552 by 149 users
The Killers (1964) – John Cassavetes, Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson and Ronald Reagan star in this crime drama about two hitmen who get entangled in a thrilling mystery after their latest contract raises more questions than answers. [TCM] – ranked #3816 by 233 users
Buck Privates (1941) – In only their second picture, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello moved into star billing for this service comedy, which became Universal’s highest grosser at that time. The duo play a pair of sidewalk salesmen who accidentally enlist in the military while trying to evade a tough cop (Nat Pendleton). When they get to training camp, Pendleton turns out to be their drill instructor. [TCM] – ranked #5622 by 157 users
Desert Hearts (1985) – Donna Deitch wrote and directed this influential and groundbreaking film about a newly divorced professor (Helen Shaver) who finds love and self-assuredness when she falls for a younger free-spirited woman (Patricia Charbonneau) in 1959 Nevada. [TCM] – ranked #6004 by 130 users
A Woman of Affairs (1928) – In this silent film, John Gilbert and Greta Garbo star in their final teaming together as childhood sweethearts whose romance is stifled by family interference. [TCM] – ranked #6678 by 75 users
Waterloo Bridge (1931) – Mae Clarke stars as a down-at-heel chorus girl that turns to prostitution during World War I only to fall for an American soldier (Kent Douglass, aka Douglass Montgomery), knowing her profession will always keep them apart. [TCM] – ranked #8095 by 70 users
Road House – Jean Negulesco helms this film noir following a night club singer (Ida Lupino) who is terrorized by her dominating ex-boyfriend (Richard Widmark) when she dumps him for his childhood friend (Cornel Wilde). [TCM] Presented in 35mm nitrate.- ranked #9352 by 55 users
Blood Money (1933) – With a cross-dressing bit player, jokes about hemorrhoids, a leading lady who’s a masochistic kleptomaniac and wall-to-wall civic corruption this may just be the ultimate pre-Code film. [TCM] – ranked #12014 by 22 users
Merrily We Go to Hell (1932) – Sylvia Sidney stars as an heiress who falls for hard-drinking newspaperman Fredric March. When she gets him to sober up, he writes a hit play and in short order, he cheats with the leading lady while his wife responds by doing a little cheating of her own (with a pre-stardom Cary Grant). [TCM] – ranked #13842 by 17 users
The Dolly Sisters (1945) – Based on a true story, Betty Grable and June Haver star as vaudeville superstars from Hungary who take the entertainment world by storm during the early 20th century in this Fox musical biopic. [TCM] – ranked #15018 by 39 users
The Great K and A Train Robbery – Tom Mix western – ranked #19936 by 2 users
Cinerama’s Russian Adventure (1966) – Re-capture the Cinerama experience with this special screening of the last Cinerama compilation film. [TCM] – ranked #32896 by 3 users
Life Begins at 40 (1935) – Will Rogers is a small-town newspaper editor who ruffles the feathers of the social elite when he helps an ex-convict (Richard Cromwell) who is falsely accused of stealing from a bank. [TCM] – unranked
Night World – A year after they co-starred in Frankenstein (1931), Boris Karloff and Mae Clarke reteamed for this fast-paced underworld tale. The film stars Lew Ayres and features George Raft, all involved in one night at Karloff’s speakeasy. [TCM] – unranked
Santo Contra Cerebro Del Mal – Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, the Mexican wrestler turned actor launched his career as a superhero named Santo (the Saint), by taking on a mad scientist who has discovered the secret of mind control in this action horror film. [TCM] – unranked
Outlaws of Red River – Tom Mix western – unranked
Vanity Street – Columbia Pictures was still considered a poverty row studio when Charles Bickford and Helen Chandler went there to star in this pre-Code romance. [TCM] – unranked