The 2014 TCM Classic film Festival is now in the books. Festivities didn't stop for Sunday, the final day of the event.

Things got off to a brilliant start at the TCL Chinese IMAX Theatre, where Fiddler on the Roof was screening at 9 a.m. Despite only getting a few hours of sleep after Freaks, it was important to me to get to see Fiddler on the big screen, considering how important the film is for my family. Just seeing “Sunrise, Sunset” on a big screen was a moving experience. It was the only three-hour epic I saw during the festival and it was worth getting up for.

After the film, Leonard Maltin spoke with director Norman Jewison, composer John Williams and casting director Lynn Stalmaster about the making of Fiddler. Jewison discussed how it was important for him to make the film in Eastern Europe and why it was necessary to capture Topol's more realistic performance of Tvye than Zero Mostel's Broadway-style performing. He also gave a funny anecdote about getting violinist Isaac Stern, whose representatives thought might actually be performing on a roof. Jewison had to assure them that this was not the case. He was just going to record solos.

After a break, I made sure to see the great Alan Arkin, who spoke at The Heart is a Lonely Hunter after he taped a special for the network. The film itself was heartbreaking beyond reason, but Arkin was in high spirits. He had things he was going to say, no matter what Ben Mankiewicz may have been asking. Arkin shared his thoughts on the Oscars and awards, since he has one for Little Miss Sunshine. While he was reluctant to call it an “out of body experience,” he complained about the actors who celebrate their wins too much. He said that holding an award in the air and shoving it in front of your peers' faces was like “crapping on their brothers.” Arkin spoke much longer than the time allotted him before the film had to roll, but no one cared. He was passionate and personal and engaged with the audience.

The last movie of the festival for me was The Lady From Shanghai, Orson Wells' 1947 film noir classic with Rita Hayworth. It was the first screening of Sony's new 4K digital restoration and it looked gorgeous. A perfect way to end the festival.

In just four days, I saw 14 films – some new to me, some I've always wanted to see and others I had never even heard of before seeing them on the schedule. Overall, this is one experience I won't soon forget and I met some amazing, wonderful people. It was hard to say goodbye at the after party. If you have even an iota of interest in classic movies, this is the event you must go to.

On Tuesday, we'll have more coverage of the festival, including a look at the Jerry Lewis handprint ceremony.

images courtesy of Daniel Levine