THE LION ROARS AGAIN (1975)

One of the many great things about Turner Classic Movies are the little shorts that air between films. Recently they showed THE LION ROARS AGAIN.

This is about the 1975 International Press Conclave. Press from around the world gathered at the MGM Culver City Studios to hear about the studio’s upcoming films.

1975 was a very different time. The President of the studio stood in front of the journalists at the podium with a cigarette in his hand. There were no laptops or cell phones to be seen. And, the buffet looked like it was made up of tomatoes and meat loaf.

Among the highlights, the journalists toured the set of the in production LOGAN’S RUN. There, they had a fashion show of the costumes for the film. The male model who wore Michael York’s costume? It was none other than David Hasselhoff!

Gene Kelly announced THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT 2. Fred Astaire and other MGM stars appeared at lunch to talk with journalists about it.

Next up was a look at a film called ALL AMERICAN GIRL that was just about to go into production. It was to be directed by Jerry Schatzberg and starring Stockard Channing. I didn’t think this was ever made, but it turns out, not only was it made, but it has already been featured here as a “Forgotten Film” under its other title, SWEET REVENGE.

There was a trip to a Beverly Hills Country Club where George Burns sang to promote THE SUNSHINE BOYS. And a Western set promoted the little known today Western HEARTS OF THE WEST with Jeff Bridges and Andy Griffith.

The night ended with a screening of the John Milius film THE WIND AND THE LION, with the cast and other luminaries (including Francis Ford Coppola and Richard Pryor) in attendance.

THE LION ROARS AGAIN is a time capsule of the way junkets used to be done. There were no internet critics, no one blogging each and every moment. Instead, there was just this 16mm film, preserved for the ages.