SueSueApplegate

Maven, she looked fabulous! And that red dress was a stunner! I loved her glamorous attitude, too! Such a lady! Izcutter, thank you for the encouragement!

The very first person I met at the Vanity Fair party was sweet Margaret O'Brien, pictured here with Jane Powell and Dickie Moore. She looks lovely, and her little black dress with the puffy sleeves and emerald-cut neckline was the perfect showcase for her jewelry suite, the big spangly earrings and pendant were divine. Powell and Moore were also very gracious to all fan passholders, and posed for several more private photos, as did O'Brien. Mark Hill, the party photographer, was everywhere snapping away, and he is a nice young man with a great eye for composition and lighting. I was about 20 feet from the camera when he snapped the photo inserted at the beginning of this report. These two lovely ladies are so petite, and definitely some of the favorites at the VFP. As I walked through the entrance to the party, it was obvious that the one-level venue for the Vanity Fair fete was much more spacious and inviting than it seemed to be in 2010, and that was a wonderful party, too, but the air didn't circulate as well as it did in the Kodak building, and perusal was much more difficult last year due to the crush of suits and velvet inching towards a favorite celeb sighting. VIP areas in 2011 were centered in large sectional sofa areas with plenty of room to circulate and spot favorite film personalities who had obviously been persuaded to exit their "swankiendas" for a night of fun, film, and foie gras.... Jane Withers, Anne Jeffries, and Ann Rutherford are seen in one of those VIP areas with a young man who was keeping them company. Jeffries' puffy, ruffled collar and waterfall earrings made a lovely frame for such a photogenic face, the original Tess Trueheart. It seems Ann Rutherford and Anne Jeffries are great friends who often travel to parties togethers, and enjoy dressing in the same sartorial shades... Here the girls are in one of my favorite shades of peach... I was able to sit and chat with Jane Withers, who really is a ball of fire. She and I compared cocktail rings and she enjoyed my large-carat aquamarine dinner ring encircled with small brilliant cut stones. I asked her if she wanted to try it on, and then she started telling me about her cocktail ring that had graduated tiers of gold topped with a huge bevy of individually mounted diamonds. Each golden tier of the mounting, she related, represented an important event in her life, and she went on to discuss how proud she was of all of her grandchildren. A fun gal, and a ten on the SCHMOOZE list... Just as I finished chatting up Ms. Withers, Anne Jeffries and Ann Rutherford were getting ready to leave, but I heard Ann Rutherford finish her conversation about *Gone With The Wind* and say "Thank God we had a good print of that film." So I would surmise Ms. Rutherford is indeed interested in the important work of all film preservationists. More later...

Dear Izcutter, I am missing all the fun, films, discussions, and camaraderie, and I appreciate all your hard work here on the boards and with the Laugh-O-Grams! They were wonderful. Major withdrawal symptoms here in the Lone Star State!

Lynn, all your recaps are wonderful. I am so glad you took detailed notes and wrote them all down for us to read and relish.

Jackie, thanks for all your insight and inspiration!! Maven, you were perfectly petite and adorable. I noticed nothing undone, untied, or untoward in your personal attire! (Yes, I know modesty is a virtue!) I will never forget the look of sheer incredulity in your eyes when you spotted Marge Champion! (It was one of my favorite moments from the TCM Film Fest 2011, and I was so happy I was there to see it!) She was so sweet to you! BTW, Jackie and Mave, you know what happens when others encourage me...just like sweet Betsy...more of the same coming down the pike!

Dearest Countess, Bronxie, and King, Thank you for all the kind words! Bronxie, that post-Mardi Gras find in the byways behind Bourbon St. were a treasure trove of great antiques and gently used fashion finds...I was so lucky Mom knew where to "prowl" for purchase.. I still have her antique Drexel dining set found on one of those forays from those wonderful, halcyon days when they threw real glass beads from the floats.... Countess, to be in the company of such a wonderful lady for some of our TCM 2011 experiences...a joy! And what a wonderful intro you made with RO! Likewise for Ms. Tracy! Kingrat, your stalwart confidence and kind words to me only highlight your other wonderful abilities (like making missed discussion panels and film screenings revive in graphic technicolor).

David, I so enjoyed meeting you. You have such a great sense of humor!

Preparing for the exciting premiere event at the Turner Classic Film Festival 2011 encouraged me to organize my outfits early. I knew that Leslie Caron would be introducing *An American in Paris* with Robert Osborne, so I wanted to create an unusual outfit to honor stylish stars and have fun with playing "dress up." An homage to Edith Head, Adrian, and Orry Kelly would be a great idea for next year's "glam film fez fun." Flashback: When I was in 2nd and 3rd grade, we lived in the wonderful city of New Orleans, and for playtime, my Mom would haunt the resale shops after Mardi Gras to find my sister and I clothes for our "dress up" tea parties with neighborhood kids, and she would also look for ball gowns that she might use for her social events that she attended with my Dad. The most stunning "playwear" in my recollection was a lovely rose pink satin, scoop-necked ball gown with full skirt that had sculpted silk roses made from the same pink satin material as the gown, and they were appliqued to the neckline, waistline, and shoulders of the bodice. High heels, Mom's discarded lipsticks, translucent powder, eyebrow pencil, and Voila! Grown-up as I could be at 7! So I wanted to create a special outfit for 2011 because my love for fashion compelled me . I decided on one of two dresses, a pink chiffon number with beaded bodice, or a V-necked black velvet number, with a Ginger Rogers cape made of graduated flocked netting with a black satin sash, and after seeking expert advice from one of my personal fashion savvy friends, I chose the black velvet number. I was almost ready to start trimming and hemming my cape, when my dear pal offered me the use of an emerald-shaped vintage pin with graduated baguette rhinestones, and I decided to use the black flocked netting with sparkles as a stole with the pin as it's focal point. Black Claudette Colbert pumps were the tootsie toter of choice so I added some vintage rhinestone buttons set in silver to the black satin bands criss-crossed on the instep. Then I made a little graduated ruffle that underscored the silver buttons. When loveslilacs arrived to assist with the upswept "do" I was contemplating, she was impressed with the entire ensemble. With her approval, I knew it was the right choice. Then all of my friends and I went to the Club TCM Meet and Greet at 5 p.m. It was so much fun meeting new friends from all over the world, and seeing pals and acquaintances from last year's festival. Sam and Becca, Tony from Missouri, Stephanie from New Jersey, Antoinette from Ohio, Jonathan from Scotland, Tracy and James from Lafayette, Paula from Oakland, Paula from Georgia, Theresa from New York, Milt and Sue and Mike and Fran from "Joisey," Theresa from Florida, Emberly from Austin, Ben and Bruce from Chicago, and many more... Then we all walked over to Graumann's for the Gala Premiere of An American in Paris where Robert Osborne and Leslie Caron were having a short discussion before the screening. Ms. Caron, who also was scheduled to have a book signing of Thank Heaven, her 2010 autobiography, reminisced with Mr. Osborne and stated that at the time she was filming *An American in Paris* with Gene Kelly, she didn't realize that it would still be celebrated and revered so many years later. Ms. Caron's energy and enthusiasm for her standing ovation and audence reception was evident in her manner and gratitude. After such a lovely beginning, the curtains opened up and the film began. The colors were so brilliant and the scenic design and art direction created such a vibrant palette of images that it seemed as if every frame were an oil painting. The score sounded lovely, and the audience applauded when it began and when it ended. After the excitement of the premiere, we all walked over to the Vanity Fair party with me in my black velvet gown with the fluffy, sparkly stole, Colbert heels, and vintage beaded bag...I was a legend in my own mind, and that of a few tourists who were taking pictures of me on the runway. It was so much fun and the festival had barely even begun. Let the schmoozing begin!

> Please promise me you'll include Since You Went Away in the train fest. This Selznick beauty features two of my favorite train scenes: Jennifer Jones' farewell to Robert Walker (how fitting, since they were divorcing at the time of filming) and the singing/dancing soldiers on the train to D.C. as the family goes to (unsuccessfully]) rendez-vous with their father. > And No Man of Her Own and Some Like it Hot and Twentieth Century... okay, you're right -- the possibilities are endless. The ultimate train farce....*Some Like It Hot*...a man pretending to be a woman drinking gin with a woman who is only ultimately in love with somebody who pretends to be Cary Grant... and other great train scenes, Jack, are just like you said in *Since You Went Away* . Yes, I adore a 2012 Train Theme... So let's send for the porter so I can unlock the top bunk where Cary Grant is waiting for me! _.................................................................................................................................._ _......l............l............l.............l...........l.........l.........l..........l.........l.........l..........l.......l...._

Mavester, you know I'm with you on the "Doris Day" day theme... perhaps a screening of one of her personal favorites, *Calamity Jane*...we could have a panel with the author of "Considering Doris Day" and focus on just her music with Tom Santopietro...or a panel discussing her strictly dramatic roles. And Darcy Hettrich, we know you are the woman who can make it happen! (Thank you and your wonderful staff for all that you did for this year!) And lzcutter and Countess, dears, I absolutely adore the transportation theme! Even if it just focused on trains... *Strangers on a Train*, *The Harvey Girls* ("The Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe"), *Brief Encounter*, *Young Frankenstein*, *North by Northwest*, *Murder On The Orient Express*, *Julia*, *The General*, *The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance*, the possibilities are endless....

Now that I'm home, I'm missing all my pals, both from this year and last. It was so much fun!

Ooooh, baby, it's not cold INSIDE with Ricardo....he looks MAHVELOUS... Jose O'Rourke, in *Neptune's Daughter* is soooo suave...This was the film screened by the pool at TCM Festival 2010....Betty Garrett and Esther Williams were interviewed by Ben Mankiewicz and the Aqualillies performed their synchronized swimming routine...

It was great to meet you, David! Were you able to meet wouldbestar?

Wonderful comments, Wolf and Kingrat, that I completely agree with. Meeting and visiting with folks while waiting in line or seated in a crowded theater before a favorite feature begins engenders that sense of community that infused and energized the entire festival. Club TCM was also a "hub" for socializing with such an international crowd. I love to schmooze....

Great idea, fxreyman! Wouldbe, I so enjoy reading about your experiences and remember my Tampa days with great fondness. Thanks for giving us a window to your world! Snacks helped me with my flagging energy as this was a very fast-paced, fun-packed festival!

Many glamorous congratulations on your Maven Milestone!

Thankl you, Fred. I appreciate your interest. And Lonesome, we needed to see you out there! It would have just been more fun! Are you going to enter the next programming challenge? Kingrat was trying to pin me down on that one!

Thank you, cinecrazydc. It was nice to meet you, too. I really enjoyed meeting wouldbestar and chatting with her so much, and enjoyed reading her Festival Love Letter.

Follow this link to a great photo of Robert Osborne and Barbara Rush: /photo.php?fbid=10150231472425396&set=pu.57964955395&type=1&theater!

Thanks for this great notice, kingrat! Have you recovered yet? I'm still at about 75% of my former self that first entered the Hollywood Roosevelt on Wednesday.

I feel very lucky to have been able to participate in the TCM Film Festival 2011 and 2010, and experience great satisfaction that posters who read threads on these boards appreciate my Festival Forums blog. I must have met 30 or more people who read "Sue Sue" and some of them, when they found out who I was, chanted "Sue Sue Applegate" just like in one of my favorite films with Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland, *The Major and The Minor*. I am a freelance writer and college instructor, and that really was a thrill for me to know that there are posters and board members out there on the internet highway who read what I write. TCM staff, Robert Osborne, and Ben Mankiewicz were all very accessible, and I feel that they realize the importance of the support board members continue to provide to the Turner Classic Movie Channel, so I am sorry, ascotrudgeracer, that you did't have such a positive experience, because your experience didn't seem to mirror mine at all. I hope you will have a more enjoyable festival next year if you attend.

It's always a pleasure to talk about a conversation with Angela Allen. Everytime I find out something I never knew. She is an absolute font!

It was so wonderful to meet you! Thank you! Cute closing... And I am so glad you posted about your experiences here.

Thank you, Jackie! I feel the same way about wonderful Angela Allen. Being from the UK, she really knows how to "hold court," and did so for about an hour for several of her fans at the final Club TCM festivities. Great link to more info on Ms. Allen. Cinemave's adventures make stimulating reading. Check it out if you haven't yet, folks!

Yancey, I agree with you on that point. It seems we all tend to "genre-up." And I am so happy to have made some more "new" friends this year. I had so much fun!