Stars in Our Eyes: TCM's Big Night

Appearances by Liza Minnelli, Debbie Reynolds, Kim Novak, Mickey Rooney, and silent film star "Baby Peggy" helped Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne make the 2012 TCM film festival the cable network's most successful yet.

More than 25, 000 classic film buffs from around the world descended upon Hollywood for the third annual festival for the opportunity to see movies such as Casablanca and Singin' in the Rain on the giant screen at the historic Graumann's Chinese Theatre. The festival is also a favorite with LGBT fans, who reveled in seeing iconic performers such as Minnelli and her Cabaret costars Joel Grey and Michael York, who attended the April 12 gala premiere of a remastered print of their Academy Award-winning 1972 musical. Other films of LGBT interest include the beloved 1939 George Cukor-directed comedy The Women, 1958's Auntie Mame, the hit 1976 thriller Marathon Man from the late gay director John Schlesinger, and 1988's Moonstruck. Iconic actress Kim Novak made a rare public appearance to place her handprints and footprints in cement in front of the theatre and to help introduce a screening of 1958's Vertigo, before which she was interviewed onstage by Osborne.

During the closing night screening of Woody Allen's Annie Hall, Osborne announced the festival had exceeded expectations and a fourth edition will be held during Spring 2013, as well as a second annual TCM cruise that will take place this December.