Classic Movie Picks: June

Each month, I scour the Turner Classic Movies Now Playing guide for upcoming films that I can't miss. The highlights are posted here for your reading and viewing pleasure! (All listed times are Eastern Standard, check your local listings or TCM.com for actual air times in your area. Each day's schedule begins at 6:00 a.m.; if a film airs between midnight and 6 a.m. it is listed on the previous day's programming schedule.)

6/10: 8 films starring Judy Garland
6:15 AM - Listen, Darling (1938)
7:30 AM - For Me and My Gal (1942)
9:15 AM - Girl Crazy (1943)
11 AM - Presenting Lily Mars (1943)
12:45 PM - The Clock (1945)
2:30 PM - The Pirate (1948)
4:15 PM - Summer Stock (1950)
6:15 PM - I Could Go On Singing (1963)
All morning and afternoon you can watch Judy Garland go from spunky girl singer to cinematic grande dame. My personal picks would be For Me and My Gal, her first film with Gene Kelly (and Kelly's first film, period) which tells the story of a song-and-dance team within a wartime setting, and The Clock, directed by Garland's first husband, Vincente Minelli. This film was made right after their wedding and through the story of a G.I. (Robert Vaughn) who falls in love during an all-too-short leave, Minelli gave his new bride a tour of "his" New York.

6/11: 100th Anniversary of Jacques Cousteau's Birth
For most people, even today thirteen years after his death, Cousteau is the best-known figure in marine science and conservation. He made over 120 television documentaries featuring his adventures under the sea and passion for preserving aquatic life, 18 of which TCM will air in a 20-hour marathon. Also on June 11, is the TCM premiere of the documentary Jacques Cousteau: The First 75 Years (1986) directed by John Soh.
On Friday nights throughout the month, TCM will pay tribute to Cousteau's passion with sea-themed films by other directors, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953), and The Deep (1977). Get the full list here!

6/19: Starring Jack Carson
8 PM - A Star is Born (1954)
11:15 PM - It's a Great Feeling (1949)
12:45 PM - Two Guys From Texas (1948)
2:15 AM - The Hard Way (1942)
4:15 AM - The Male Animal (1942)
Jack Carson is a familiar face to classic movie fans, often appearing when the script calls for a big-headed, blustery foil or friend to the lead character. His role as a former college football star who deliberately annoys English professor Henry Fonda in The Male Animal is the quintessential example of the Jack Carson character. This persona is again in full effect in It's a Great Feeling, which gives Jack the perfect role - "Jack Carson" - opposite frequent co-star Dennis Morgan (also as "himself") and a young Doris Day as an unknown ingenue. The 8 p.m. showing of A Star is Born is the TV premiere of the newly-restored print which was shown at the TCM Classic Movie Festival this April. It also stars Judy Garland, in one of her most acclaimed performances, and James Mason. I'd say definitely check out Star, Great Feeling, and Two Guys (again paired with Dennis Morgan); if you can stay up late that night, watch The Hard Way and The Male Animal. More info here!

6/28, 10 AM: Too Many Wives (1937)
6/29, 12 PM: Too Many Husbands (1940)
So which is a worse dilemma, too many wives or too many husbands? Perhaps the answer lies in these two films. In Wives, "an heiress and a dog-catcher go searching for a priceless stamp," which is good enough for me, but where do the wives fit in? (Look for Jack Carson in a small role!) In Husbands, "a woman decides to try life with two mates." I'm guessing it doesn't work out, but maybe this film shows that poly-amory can work for some people...

6/29, 8 PM: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
If you are jonesing for new episodes Mad Men (would that be a "January Jones?"), I suggest getting your fix with this zany musical set in the business world of the 1960s starring Bert Cooper himself, Robert Morse.
BONUS PICK: 10:15 PM, Heart & Soul: The Life of and Music of Frank Loesser (2006)
Learn about the musical genius behind How to Succeed... and many other Broadway hits.