Leslie Caron to appear at TCM Classic Film Festival

Leslie Caron will be on hand for the opening night of the 2011 TCM Classic Film Festival, featuring the world premiere of the 60th anniversary restoration of the Oscar-winning musical classic "An American in Paris" (1951). Caron is the latest high-profile talent signed for this year's event, which takes place April 28 - May 1 in Hollywood. Also lined up for the festival are Kevin Brownlow, Roger Corman, Shirley Jones, Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds, who will join the previously announced Mickey Rooney.

The multi-faceted TCM Classic Film Festival will be packed with more than 50 screenings, including special introductions, guest appearances, panel discussions and more. TCM will honor songwriters George and Ira Gershwin throughout the four-day event, beginning with the screening of the restored "An American in Paris," which co-starred Caron. The Gershwin tribute is also slated to feature "Girl Crazy" (1943), presented by Mickey Rooney.

Powell is set to appear at a screening of the tune-filled "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954), as well as the musical romance "Royal Wedding" (1951). Reynolds is on tap to help introduce a screening of the memorable musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" (1964). Jones will help introduce "Carousel" (1956).

Filmmaker Corman, who celebrates his 85th birthday in early April, is set to introduce a special screening of his cult classic "The Little Shop of Horrors" (1960). And Brownlow will introduce Erich von Stroheim's silent drama "The Merry Widow" (1925), with the Dutch composer Maud Nelissen, performing the North American premiere of her original score live with a 10-person orchestra.

Also newly added to the TCM Classic Film Festival slate is the world premiere of the 60th anniversary digital restoration of "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951); the West Coast premiere of the newly restored "La Dolce Vita" (1960), presented in partnership with The Film Foundation and Gucci; and a screening of "Shall We Dance" (1937), which will be part of the festival's Gershwin tribute.