CINECON CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS IN PERSON TO THE BIG SCREEN AT THE HOLLYWOOD LEGION THEATER OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND!

Golden Age of Hollywood Entertainers Mitzi Gaynor, George Chakiris, Jimmy Hunt and Patty McCormack to be Honored at Cinecon Legacy Awards

5-Day Festival Features Over 30 Films Made Between 1914 and 1964

FULL CINECON SCHEDULE

After two years of Cineconline, the renowned classic film festival CINECON, returns in person at a new venue, The Hollywood Legion Theater (2035 Highland Avenue) in Hollywood, across the street from the Hollywood Heritage Museum. Now celebrating its 58th year, Cinecon is dedicated to showcasing unusual films that are rarely given public screenings. Boasting over 30 films made between 1914 and 1964, the festival will take place over Labor Day Weekend in the heart of Hollywood, September 1 - 5, 2022.

On Thursday, September 1st, the festival will open in grand style with a gala reception in the lobby of the Hollywood Legion Theater at American Legion Post 43, followed by a special screening of ANYTHING GOES (1956) courtesy of Paramount Pictures. The film stars legendary Emmy ® winning and Golden Globe® nominated actress, comedienne, and musical star Mitzi Gaynor. Ms. Gaynor will be making a rare public appearance to accept her Cinecon Legacy Award from friend and virtuoso performer, Michael Feinstein.

Among the rare films scheduled for Cinecon 58, is KING OF THE CIRCUS (1924) featuring international star Max Linder. There has not been a complete print of the film since its initial release, so this is its U.S. premiere. OUR HOSPITALITY (1923) with the great silent comedian Buster Keaton will also be seen in a beautiful new restoration, so Keaton fans will see it like they’ve never seen it before! Both movies are courtesy of Lobster Films. From SONY/Columbia comes director Budd Boetticher’s teenage drama YOUTH ON TRIAL (1945), which features past Cinecon honoree Cora Sue Collins, who is slated to introduce the film.

Musical fans will be treated to a screening of the rarely seen Republic Pictures opus HIT PARADE OF 1943 (1943), an early starring vehicle for Susan Hayward. Lillian Gish joins Norman Kerry in the romantic drama ANNIE LAURIE (1927) and audiences will be given a double dose of Claire Trevor in STAR FOR A NIGHT (1936) and THE MAD GAME (1933) co-starring Spencer Tracy. Chinese American Hollywood Star Anna May Wong will be saluted with big a screen showing of ISLAND OF LOST MEN (1939). 

Some of the silent films planned for viewing this year include the 1923 version of Victor Hugo’s immortal classic THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, which will feature live musical accompaniment by Jon Mirsalis. Cecil B. DeMille’s FOOL’S PARADISE (1921) will give audiences a sampling of one of the great director’s earlier offerings starring Conrad Nagel and Dorothy Dalton. Fans of Tom Mix will appreciate OUTLAWS OF RED RIVER (1926), a hearty western adventure from the Fox Films catalog, courtesy of one of our new festival sponsors, Walt Disney Pictures.

This year’s exciting line-up of early sound films includes the musical creampuff HIS BUTLER’S SISTER (1943) starring soprano Deanna Durbin in one of her best roles. MY LIPS BETRAY (1933) offers up Lillian Harvey in an obscure comedy co-starring John Boles. Action serial lovers won’t want to miss a new restoration of the chapter play THE KING OF THE KONGO (1929) which features a very young Boris Karloff. And the festival is pleased to present several new restorations from the Republic Pictures catalog (courtesy of Paramount Pictures), SCATTERBRAIN (1940) a musical comedy starring Judy Canova, Alan Mowbray and Billy Gilbert, plus SWEET AND LOW (1948), a dazzling Technicolor short with the Will Masten Trio featuring a young Sammy Davis, Jr. Plus, much, much more!

And that’s just a small portion of highlights. Over 30 features, shorts, cartoons and serials are scheduled for this year’s festival, all courtesy of major studio archives and libraries.