
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 15, 1994                   TAG: 9412160006
SECTION: SPECTATOR                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AMC SCHEDULES 29 CLASSICS IN OCT. 21-23 FESTIVAL

The American Movie Classics cable TV channel almost always presents a lively and inventive selection of older films, shown without commercials and in the best versions available.

Oct. 21-23, the channel goes a step further with its second Film Preservation Festival.

The featured directors and stars are Cecil B. DeMille, John Ford, John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Gene Autry.

Among the 29 films on the schedule are the restored 124-minute version of DeMille's ``The Sign of the Cross'' (the 1932 version was judged too sexy and steamy for re-release in 1944 and so was trimmed); ``Gunga Din,'' with the restoration of the character of Rudyard Kipling, who was deleted in the theatrical release; and the full 170-minute ``premiere'' print of ``For Whom the Bell Tolls'' which has been shortened twice for theatrical releases since 1943.

For western fans, though, the biggest news is two versions of John Ford's ``My Darling Clementine.'' Ford's telling of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral stars Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp, Victor Mature as Doc Holliday, Walter Brennan, Linda Darnell, Cathy Downs and Ward Bond.

The Museum of Modern Art and 20th Century Fox have made a new print of the original release, and the studio has found a pre-release version of the film that hasn't been seen since 1946.

That version, 10 minutes longer than the theatrical release, was shown only to sneak preview audiences. It contains less background music and a different ending, one that preview audiences didn't like, ergo the shorter version that moviegoers are familiar with.

The purpose of the festival is to raise money for preservation and restoration through The Film Foundation, so expect to see the 800-number for donations on prominent display. It's a worthy cause, particularly when it comes up with discoveries like this ``new'' ``Clementine.'' The pre-release version will be broadcast Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.; the theatrical version at 4:00 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 23.

By the way, Oct. 22 is for John Wayne fans, beginning with ``The Big Trail'' at 11 a.m., followed by ``Stagecoach,'' ``Fort Apache'' and ``She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.''

Warm up the VCR.

by CNB