by Lani
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.)
9/5: Tribute to Telluride
Since 1998, TCM has been airing an annual 24-hour marathon in honor of the Telluride Film Festival. The films chosen for this marathon are usually an interesting and eclectic mix, and this year's group is no exception. The tribute will include all seven episodes of TCM's Emmy-nominated miniseries Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood, as well as several TCM premieres: Below Zero (1930), Wanda (1970), The Plumber (1979), and Election (1999). (The film festival will take place Sept. 2-5 in Telluride, Colorado.)
9/10: September Spirits
10 PM - The Innocents (1961)
12 AM - Dead of Night (1945)
Tonight's spotlight on actor Michael Redgrave includes two films about ghosts. The Innocents is an adaptation of Henry James's novella The Turn of the Screw and stars Deborah Kerr as a governess who believes the children she cares for are haunted (or is it all in her head?). Dead of Night is an anthology film of stories of the supernatural. The most famous of the six vignettes is "The Ventriloquist's Dummy" starring Redgrave as an entertainer whose dummy seems to be in control.
9/16, 5:45 AM - Delicious Dishes (1950)
In this vintage short, "experts demonstrate such innovative kitchen gadgets as a cheese slicer and melon baller." This should be instructive; I've always wondered how to use a cheese slicer. And couldn't we all wield a melon baller with a little more expertise?
9/19, 12:15 AM - Invitation to the Dance (1956)
This ambitious film, which tells three stories through dance, was a pet project of Gene Kelly, who was always striving to bring his art form to the fore of popular culture. As a lover of dance and great fan of Gene Kelly in particular, I've been anxious to see this film since I first heard about it in a documentary about Kelly. It also features many of Europe's top ballet dancers, MGM contract player Tommy Rall (Frank in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), and Broadway star Carol Haney.
9/20: Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is the Star of the Month, so you can see his films each Tuesday in September - and he made a lot of great films! I've chosen to highlight this particular night of programming because it features films from what I consider to be Douglas's prime: the late 50s and early 60s. However, you really can't go wrong on Tuesday nights this month.
8 PM - Lust for Life (1956)
10:15 PM - Paths of Glory (1957)
12 AM - Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)
1:45 AM - The Devil's Disciple (1959)
3:15 AM - Town Without Pity (1961)
5:15 AM - Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
Thursdays in September: 50 Years of Merchant Ivory
Producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory formed their famous partnership in 1961 with the intention of making English-language films in India for an international audience. However, they are best-known today for their elegant British dramas such as Remains of the Day and Howard's End. TCM will be showing these "greatest hits" as well as films from their early years in India, made-for-TV projects spanning from 1959 to 1994, and films by others which their company produced. One thing that stands out among the Merchant Ivory filmography: they attracted some of the most talented actors of the past 60 years. In the films I've listed below you'll see Peggy Ashcroft, Alan Bates, Anne Baxter, Pierce Brosnan, Vanessa Redgrave, Naseeruddin Shah, Maggie Smith, Christopher Walken, and Teresa Wright, among others. Here are my personal picks, but I would urge any cinephile to look over the full schedule of 21 films and 5 shorts since most of these films are unlikely to be shown on TCM again in the near future.
9/8, 8 PM - The Europeans (1979)
9/8, 12 AM - Roseland (1977)
9/8, 2 AM - Quartet (1981)
9/8, 4 AM - Savages (1972)
9/22, 8 PM - The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1988)
9/22, 10 PM - The Deceivers (1988)
9/22, 12 AM - The Perfect Murder (1990)
9/29, 8 PM - Hullabaloo over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures (1978)
9/29, 1:45 AM - Jane Austen in Manhattan (1980)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
A Look Ahead: Fall/WInter Preview
by AJ
I had originally planned on writing about how little I went out to the movies this summer in post titled "The Summer of My Discontent." But instead of looking back at how few in number the highlights of the summer were I thought I'd take a look ahead at the movies coming out in the next few months. Here are some that I am looking forward to:
September 16th: Drive
IMDB Synopsis: A Hollywood stuntman (Ryan Gosling) who moonlights as a get-away driver for the criminal underground finds himself on the run from after a botched job.
Yes, it sounds like Transporter, but with Ryan Gosling in the lead it seems worth checking out. Also, Nicolas Winding Refn won best director at Cannes and the movie was up for the Palm d'Or so that makes me think twice about this being just another action movie.
September 23rd: Moneyball
IMDB Synopsis: Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) works to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
So there's the Bad News Bears angle, but this isn't really about a group of misfits that work hard to prove themselves (though I'm sure that'll happen). It's mostly about looking at the game of baseball in a different way and that is what has me interested.
September 30th: 50/50
IMDB Synopsis: A comedic account of a 27-year-old guy's cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.
I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogan are good enough at what they do to walk the tightrope of a dark but good hearted comedy about about someone with cancer. I liked Funny People from 2009 which more or less had the same premise, but, despite being about funny people, was much more of a drama. There were also too many subplots in Funny People that don't seem likely to occur here since the trailer focuses on Gordon-Levitt and Rogan trying to look on bright side of things.
October 14th: The Thing
IMDB Synopsis: Do you really need one?
I think this is still a prequel to John Carpenter's The Thing which I imagine will end up being a lot like John Carpenter's The Thing. I mean there's only so many directions this story can take. I hope it isn't bogged down with low rent CGI effects that are so common in horror and action movies theses days (how expensive can corn syrup and red dye be?). I really like John Carpenter's The Thing which is the reason I want to see this version/prequel at all. Also, I'll be looking out for a wolf and a helicopter at the end of this movie (stay tuned for angry rant when that ending doesn't happen).
The Skin I Live In
IMDB Synopsis: A thriller centered on plastic surgeon Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), who has been conducting experiments on a human subject (Elena Anaya) while trying to perfect an artificial skin to use to treat his severely burned wife.
Four words will get me to see a movie quicker than just about anything else: A Film by Almodovar. The plot sounds weird and twisted, the trailer is infinitely enticing, and Almodovar clearly knows how to make a movie and make it good even if, or especially if, it's about something, shall we say, uncommon.
October 21st: Red State
IMDB Synopsis: A group of teens receive an online invitation for group sex, though they soon encounter Pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks), his followers, and their sinister agenda.
I'm a Kevin Smith fan and I'm very interested in Red State. There's not too much in the trailer that says "this is a Kevin Smith film" and neither does the premise. He's talked about making Red State for so long that I almost have to see it just because, finally, it's here. I've heard less than stellar things about it from critics that have seen it so far, but I still think there's a good chance for this to be a satisfying movie.
November 18th: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
IMDB Synopsis: During the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.
This is another film I've been hearing about for a while. I'm a bit tired of Bourne-style action movies which even the new James Bond movies are trying to imitate, so I'm kind of excited about a spy story where the spies are men in suits after documents or microfilm or in this case a double agent. And a cast including Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy is reason enough to be excited.
November 25th: The Muppets
IMDB Synopsis: When an oilman hatches a plan to raze the Muppet Theater, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of their friends reunite and, with the help of some of their biggest fans, they decide to stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever in order to save their old stomping grounds.
This plot reminds me a bit of The Blues Brothers and I really hope this new Muppet movie is like that. I recently watched a few episodes of The Muppet Show and I still thought they were great. With the songs and irreverent comedy the Muppets reminded me of The Marx Brothers and I hope this movie, written by Jason Segal, sticks with that spirit.
December 23rd: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
IMDB Synopsis: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a young computer hacker.
I can't tell you how extremely excited I am to see this movie. I've never read the books. I've never seen the movies. I don't really know what it's about or why it's a big deal. And that's a good thing especially with a movie like this that has so much baggage. I want to go in blind and experience this movie fresh, my expectations and preconceived notions at a minimum. So far, to me, this is only the new David Fincher film which is plenty of reason to be excited. Also I love that a studio is willing to put it's name along with the phrase "presents the feel bad movie of Christmas."
We Bought a Zoo
IMDB Synopsis: Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
It's been 6 years since Cameron Crowe's last film, Elizabethtown, which was not nearly as bad as people talk about it as. In fact, it's not bad at all, it's quite good. In any case, I will certainly see Cameron Crowe's latest. There's no trailer as of yet, but Matt Damon as the lead is a good place to start.
I had originally planned on writing about how little I went out to the movies this summer in post titled "The Summer of My Discontent." But instead of looking back at how few in number the highlights of the summer were I thought I'd take a look ahead at the movies coming out in the next few months. Here are some that I am looking forward to:
September 16th: Drive
IMDB Synopsis: A Hollywood stuntman (Ryan Gosling) who moonlights as a get-away driver for the criminal underground finds himself on the run from after a botched job.
Yes, it sounds like Transporter, but with Ryan Gosling in the lead it seems worth checking out. Also, Nicolas Winding Refn won best director at Cannes and the movie was up for the Palm d'Or so that makes me think twice about this being just another action movie.
September 23rd: Moneyball
IMDB Synopsis: Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) works to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
So there's the Bad News Bears angle, but this isn't really about a group of misfits that work hard to prove themselves (though I'm sure that'll happen). It's mostly about looking at the game of baseball in a different way and that is what has me interested.
September 30th: 50/50
IMDB Synopsis: A comedic account of a 27-year-old guy's cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.
I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogan are good enough at what they do to walk the tightrope of a dark but good hearted comedy about about someone with cancer. I liked Funny People from 2009 which more or less had the same premise, but, despite being about funny people, was much more of a drama. There were also too many subplots in Funny People that don't seem likely to occur here since the trailer focuses on Gordon-Levitt and Rogan trying to look on bright side of things.
October 14th: The Thing
IMDB Synopsis: Do you really need one?
I think this is still a prequel to John Carpenter's The Thing which I imagine will end up being a lot like John Carpenter's The Thing. I mean there's only so many directions this story can take. I hope it isn't bogged down with low rent CGI effects that are so common in horror and action movies theses days (how expensive can corn syrup and red dye be?). I really like John Carpenter's The Thing which is the reason I want to see this version/prequel at all. Also, I'll be looking out for a wolf and a helicopter at the end of this movie (stay tuned for angry rant when that ending doesn't happen).
The Skin I Live In
IMDB Synopsis: A thriller centered on plastic surgeon Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), who has been conducting experiments on a human subject (Elena Anaya) while trying to perfect an artificial skin to use to treat his severely burned wife.
Four words will get me to see a movie quicker than just about anything else: A Film by Almodovar. The plot sounds weird and twisted, the trailer is infinitely enticing, and Almodovar clearly knows how to make a movie and make it good even if, or especially if, it's about something, shall we say, uncommon.
October 21st: Red State
IMDB Synopsis: A group of teens receive an online invitation for group sex, though they soon encounter Pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks), his followers, and their sinister agenda.
I'm a Kevin Smith fan and I'm very interested in Red State. There's not too much in the trailer that says "this is a Kevin Smith film" and neither does the premise. He's talked about making Red State for so long that I almost have to see it just because, finally, it's here. I've heard less than stellar things about it from critics that have seen it so far, but I still think there's a good chance for this to be a satisfying movie.
November 18th: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
IMDB Synopsis: During the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.
This is another film I've been hearing about for a while. I'm a bit tired of Bourne-style action movies which even the new James Bond movies are trying to imitate, so I'm kind of excited about a spy story where the spies are men in suits after documents or microfilm or in this case a double agent. And a cast including Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy is reason enough to be excited.
November 25th: The Muppets
IMDB Synopsis: When an oilman hatches a plan to raze the Muppet Theater, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of their friends reunite and, with the help of some of their biggest fans, they decide to stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever in order to save their old stomping grounds.
This plot reminds me a bit of The Blues Brothers and I really hope this new Muppet movie is like that. I recently watched a few episodes of The Muppet Show and I still thought they were great. With the songs and irreverent comedy the Muppets reminded me of The Marx Brothers and I hope this movie, written by Jason Segal, sticks with that spirit.
December 23rd: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
IMDB Synopsis: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a young computer hacker.
I can't tell you how extremely excited I am to see this movie. I've never read the books. I've never seen the movies. I don't really know what it's about or why it's a big deal. And that's a good thing especially with a movie like this that has so much baggage. I want to go in blind and experience this movie fresh, my expectations and preconceived notions at a minimum. So far, to me, this is only the new David Fincher film which is plenty of reason to be excited. Also I love that a studio is willing to put it's name along with the phrase "presents the feel bad movie of Christmas."
We Bought a Zoo
IMDB Synopsis: Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
It's been 6 years since Cameron Crowe's last film, Elizabethtown, which was not nearly as bad as people talk about it as. In fact, it's not bad at all, it's quite good. In any case, I will certainly see Cameron Crowe's latest. There's no trailer as of yet, but Matt Damon as the lead is a good place to start.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Not-So-Fresh New Releases #6
by Lani
- This film, in the tradition of Snakes on a Plane, has a title that says it all. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford star as men of the Old West who must rally their town to fight against invaders from space. But we all know that Ford first tangled with aliens as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy. And since you already know this, then I shouldn't need to tell you to just watch Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, or Return of the Jedi instead.
- If you are intrigued by the idea of a fun sci-fi/western combo, try Back to the Future Part III (1990) in which Marty McFly travels back in time to Hill Valley of 1885 to save the life of his old friend Doc Brown.
- Alien invasion movies have been almost as popular as super heroes movies this summer and Super 8, which came out in June, is definitely the best of the bunch. Check your local theaters, it is still playing on some screens.
- In The Change-Up bachelor Ryan Reynolds and family man Jason Bateman make a wish to switch lives while urinating in a (magical?) fountain; when they wake up the next day and find that they've switched bodies, blah blah...you know what happens in a body-switch movie. This one seems particularly unappealing when, in the trailer alone, we are treated to the sight of three of the lead actors (Reynolds, Bateman, and Leslie Mann, who plays Bateman's wife) going to the bathroom. If that is the "good stuff" that's meant to pique my interest and get me to the theater, I'm not anxious to see what didn't make the cut. Films about two characters switching bodies go back at least to 1940's Turnabout, about a bickering husband and wife. And the last thirty years have seen a glut of child/parent switches, including several versions of Freaky Friday.
- I prefer variations on the simple body-switch concept, preferably ones involving millionaires since they tend to have nicer houses. All of Me (1984) could be called a "body-sharing" comedy since the spirit of dying millionaire Lily Tomlin is accidentally transported into the body of her lawyer, Steve Martin.
- Heaven Can Wait (1978) is another good film about a soul in a new body; this time it's the spirit of pro-athlete Warren Beatty inhabiting the body of an aging millionaire.
- Being John Malkovich (1999) offers a fresh take on the idea of walking in another man's shoes by having many characters literally inhabit the body of movie-star (and likely millionaire) John Malkovich.
- I'm not sure why 2011 was deemed the optimum moment to bring back the Smurfs, but obviously someone thought it was. The cartoons were certainly not masterpieces, but I can admit that I enjoyed watching those little blue guys in the magical world of Smurf Village. If you feel like reminiscing, full episodes are available to watch on the WB website. This film, rather than sticking to the village we all remember, transplants the Smurfs to modern day New York City where they meet up with a young married couple (Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays). The ensuing subplot about the couple's marital problems and pregnancy-related anxiety doesn't even seem to belong in a movie for kids. If you are trying to entertain your kids, or yourself, surely you can do better.
- Ratatouille (2007) about Remy, a rat who dreams of being a great chef in Paris, is a delightful film about a little outsider in a big world.
- Enchanted (2007) is, like The Smurfs, about someone from a fantasy world transported to NYC and the culture-shock which follows, in this case it's fairy-tale princess Giselle played by Amy Adams.
- And going back even further into the Disney vault, you'll find The Gnome-Mobile (1967) in which two children and their grandfather help some lost gnomes find their tribe.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Classic Movie Picks: August
by Lani
August on TCM means "Summer Under the Stars" - each day of the month is devoted to a single actor or actress. Once again, to give each performer their due, I've decided to pick one film for each day of the month. My picks aren't necessarily an actor's best film or best-known role, they might not even be the best film showing that day! I've just chosen the films (or in some cases two films) that seemed most interesting to me. For me, discovering lesser-known pieces of an actor's filmography is one of the delights of Summer Under the Stars.
8/1: Marlon Brando
4 AM - The Formula (1980)
Speaking of lesser-known films...I love it when TCM pulls out a film which I never dreamed existed, like this thriller about a synthetic gasoline formula co-starring Brando and George C. Scott.
8/2: Paulette Goddard
6:30 PM - Modern Times (1936)
A classic "silent" film made during the sound era, it was Goddard's film debut and the final film for Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp character.
8/3: Bette Davis
9 AM - Now, Voyager (1942)
This film plays fairly frequently, so I have to hold myself back from picking it every month. However, on Bette Davis day, it is only fitting to pick my favorite Bette Davis role.
8/4: Ronald Colman
1:30 PM - Raffles (1930)
One of Colman's signature roles was as suave gentleman jewel thief Raffles, a.k.a. The Amateur Cracksman.
8/5: John Garfield
3:30 AM - Destination Tokyo (1943)
Garfield himself thought this thriller aboard a WWII submarine was one of his best films.
8/6: Lucille Ball
11:30 AM - Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949)
In this early effort in Ball's transformation into a slapstick comedienne, Lucy plays secretary to William Holden's phony realtor.
8/7: Charles Laughton
2 PM - Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
The obvious choice? Maybe, but it's sooo good.
8/8: Orson Welles
6:15 - Mr. Arkadin (1962)
I feel that on Orson Welles day you have to watch one of his directorial efforts, like this film in which plays the titular private eye. Then stay tuned for The Third Man (directed by Carol Reed). Then stay up for Citizen Kane. Or better yet, record these and watch them in the middle of the night. Orson Welles films are somehow better after midnight.
8/9: Ann Dvorak
9:45 PM - Three on a Match (1932)
A pre-code gem co-starring Joan Blondell, Bette Davis, and Dvorak (that's "Vor-shack) as three friends who press their luck by lighting "three on a match."
8/10: Shirley MacLaine
2 PM - Irma La Douce (1963)
Fans of director Billy Wilder should definitely watch this charming comedy starring MacLaine and Jack Lemmon (no, not The Apartment, that's on at 8 PM).
8/11: Ben Johnson
1:15 AM - The Last Picture Show (1971)
Ben Johnson is always good, but this is the one that won him an Oscar.
8/12: Claudette Colbert
Claudette Colbert is one of my favorites, so I couldn't pick just one of her romantic comedies. You could try to pick one based on leading man, but why not just watch them all?
6:15 - She Married Her Boss (1935), Melvyn Douglas
10 PM - It's a Wonderful World (1939), Jimmy Stewart
8/13: James Stewart
6:15 PM - The Naked Spur (1953)
8 PM - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Does anyone else do a double-take when they see "James Stewart"? To me he's always "Jimmy." But here's a Western double-feature befitting the seriousness that "James Stewart" conveys. Jimmy's nowhere to be found here.
8/14: Ralph Bellamy
11:30 PM - Sunrise at Campobello (1960)
For Ralph Bellamy day, I wanted to pick a film in which our star of the day was really the star, and not the poor schmuck in the "Ralph Bellamy role" who loses the girl (see His Girl Friday or The Awful Truth - really, you should see those). So how about this role as FDR, battling polio and striving toward political ambition?
8/15: Lon Chaney
7:30 AM - The Unholy Three (1930)
12 AM - The Unholy Three (1925)
No kidding, the first film that caught my eye today just happened to be the only talkie Chaney ever made. But this story of a criminal alliance between a midget, strongman, and ventriloquist was so nice, they made it twice. Fans of silents can catch the original at midnight.
8/16: Joanne Woodward
1 PM - A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)
A rare comedy for Woodward, in this film she takes a seat at a high-stakes poker table alongside a top-notch cast.
8/17: Humphrey Bogart
4:30 PM - They Drive by Night (1940)
From before Bogie was Bogie - he co-stars with George Raft as trucker brothers framed for murder by a scorned and psychotic Ida Lupino. Fans of Ice Road Truckers may enjoy this depiction of the wildcat trucking circuit.
8/18: Jean Gabin
8 PM - Pepe le Moko (1937)
I'm so excited to see Jean Gabin on the schedule this year since he's the star of one of my favorite films, Grand Illusion (playing at 10 PM). In Gabin's other big film of 1937, he plays a gangster drawn out of hiding by the woman he loves.
8/19: Debbie Reynolds
7:15 AM - I Love Melvin (1953)
In this zany musical Reynolds is re-teamed with her Singin' in the Rain co-star Donald O'Connor, but this time O'Connor gets the girl and the lead role.
8/20: Montgomery Clift
12:15 AM - The Search (1948)
In what was only his second film role, Clift stars as an American G.I. who befriends a young survivor of Auschwitz. This film is notable for its quasi-documentary style, much of it shot on location in postwar Germany, and excellent cast. Ivan Jandl, who plays the young boy, received a special Oscar for outstanding juvenile performance.
8/21: Cary Grant
8 PM - Gunga Din (1939)
According to The New York Times (Jan. 27, 1939), "All movies should be like the first 25 minutes and the last 30 minutes of Gunga Din, which are sheer poetry of cinematic motion."
8/22: Joan Crawford
7:30 AM - I Live My Life (1935)
Normally, I wouldn't watch a Joan Crawford movie - I just don't get her appeal. But in this film, society girl Joan marries an archaeologist, which promises to produce a combination of glamorous gowns and archaeology, two things which don't mix often enough.
8/23: Conrad Veidt
8 PM - The Hands of Orlac (1925)
3:15 AM - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
In you are in the mood for something spooky, check out these two German silents from inventive expressionist director Robert Wiene.
8/24: Joan Blondell
9:15 PM - Dames (1934)
Stick with this featherweight story about some plucky kids trying to put on a show to get to the eye-popping musical numbers.
8/25: Burt Lancaster
8 PM - The Leopard (1963)
I'm hoping this is the newly restored version of this lush Technicolor epic about Sicilian aristocrats. Who among us wouldn't want to see Claudia Cardinale or Alain Delon in greater detail?
8/26: Peter Lawford
11:45 PM - Salt & Pepper (1968)
Lawford, "Pepper," and Sammy Davis, Jr., "Salt," play nightclub owners (good) investigating a murder (better) of a secret agent (!!!). Also, a submarine is involved. This must be seen.
8/27: Linda Darnell
8 PM - A Letter to Three Wives (1948)
A must-see for any fan of the "woman's picture" melodramas.
8/28: Carole Lombard
2:30 PM - In Name Only (1939)
This films features the dynamite love triangle of Lombard, Cary Grant, and Kay Francis.
8/29: Anne Francis
7:45 AM - So Young, So Bad (1950)
Francis, Rita Moreno, and Anne Jackson play reform school girls who just might actually get reformed. I didn't think that was possible in the movies!
8/30: Howard Keel
9:30 PM - Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
Not to slight Keel's acting chops, or good looks, but the best thing about a Howard Keel movie is when his gorgeous baritone voice belts out a tune. Few things bring me more joy than hearing him bellow "Bless your beautiful hide!" and the beginning of Seven Brides.
8/31: Marlene Dietrich
3:15 PM - Rancho Notorious (1952)
4:45 PM - Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song (2001)
This Western/revenge thriller was originally going to be called "Chuck-A-Luck," but according to director Fritz Lang the title was changed to the more salacious sounding "Rancho Notorious" because the studio owner Howard Hughes felt foreign audiences wouldn't know what a chuck-a-luck was. Well, in this film it's a casino game, an outlaw hideout, and a dying man's last words.
BONUS: I'm interested to learn more about Dietrich's war efforts and political activism in this documentary made by her grandson.
Enjoy your Summer Under the Stars!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Classic Movie Picks: July
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.)
7/1: Farley Granger Mini-Marathon
1:30 PM - Behave Yourself! (1951)
3 PM - Strangers on a Train (1951)
4:45 PM - Side Street (1950)
6:15 PM - They Live by Night (1949)
Handsome leading man Farley Granger passed away earlier this year; however, today we get a mini-marathon of films in honor of his birthday. In these 4 films Granger plays a (somewhat) innocent man who gets tangled up in other people's crimes. The line-up includes what might be Granger's best film, the Hitchcock-directed Strangers on a Train; as well as two films co-starring Cathy O'Donnell, who is probably best known for her role as Wilma in The Best Years of Our Lives.
7/12: Rock N' Roll High School
6 AM - It's Trad, Dad! (1961)
7:30 AM - Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
9:30 AM - Juke Box Rhythm (1959)
11 AM - Senior Prom (1958)
12:30 PM - Rock Around the Clock (1956)
2 PM - Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
4 PM - The Cool Ones (1967)
I love watching films from the 50s and 60s which tried to capitalize on the burgeoning teenage market and the new popularity of rock music. These were low-budget "B" movies made for teenagers, but usually saddled with corny storylines by "square" adults. However, the generally upbeat tone and lively musical performances make even the dumbest stories fun. Bye Bye Birdie is an exception here because it was based on a hit Broadway musical, so the budget was bigger, the story a bit more layered; however, the reactionary attitude toward rock n' roll remained - it makes kids crazy!
7/23, 9:30 AM - The Tall Target (1951)
Dick Powell stars as detective John Kennedy (no, not that one), the only man who can prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln aboard a train traveling to Washington, D.C for his inauguration. This film was directed by Anthony Mann and was inspired by an actual attempt on Lincoln's life. This minor historical footnote has been elaborated upon to create a modern conspiracy thriller, which builds tension even though we know the conclusion (Spoiler Alert: Lincoln lives). Nice period details, such as shots of the Capitol under construction, add an extra level of interest.
7/29, 2 AM - Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968)
In this installment of TCM Underground, director William Greaves has young actors audition in Central Park for a fictional project about a troubled couple. His cameras also capture what goes on "behind the scenes," such as crew member gossip, gathering onlookers, and other distractions. This avant-garde documentary had enough of a cult following (including actor Steve Buscemi) to merit a sequel, Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2 1/2, in 2005.
7/31: The Chaplin Family
2:15 AM - Peppermint Frappe (1967)
4 AM - A King in New York (1957)
Stay up late to catch this double-feature starring the talented Chaplins. Peppermint Frappe is a doppelganger story, similar to Vertigo and Obsession, set in Spain during the repressive Franco regime. It is a dark character study of a lonely doctor who becomes so obsessed with his friend's new wife, played by Geraldine Chaplin, that he tries to mold another woman into her image - which shouldn't be too difficult, since she is also played by Chaplin.
A King in New York stars Charlie Chaplin as the king of a small, broke country who comes to the USA to make money; however, after befriending the young son of a Communist couple (played by Chaplin's son Michael), the king finds himself on trial for Communism. At the time this film was made, Charlie Chaplin was living in Europe, barred from re-entering the US due to his outspoken political views. King was Chaplin's satrical take on American consumerism and political paranoia during the McCarthy era.
Next month, Summer Under the Stars!
7/1: Farley Granger Mini-Marathon
1:30 PM - Behave Yourself! (1951)
3 PM - Strangers on a Train (1951)
4:45 PM - Side Street (1950)
6:15 PM - They Live by Night (1949)
Handsome leading man Farley Granger passed away earlier this year; however, today we get a mini-marathon of films in honor of his birthday. In these 4 films Granger plays a (somewhat) innocent man who gets tangled up in other people's crimes. The line-up includes what might be Granger's best film, the Hitchcock-directed Strangers on a Train; as well as two films co-starring Cathy O'Donnell, who is probably best known for her role as Wilma in The Best Years of Our Lives.
7/12: Rock N' Roll High School
6 AM - It's Trad, Dad! (1961)
7:30 AM - Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
9:30 AM - Juke Box Rhythm (1959)
11 AM - Senior Prom (1958)
12:30 PM - Rock Around the Clock (1956)
2 PM - Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
4 PM - The Cool Ones (1967)
I love watching films from the 50s and 60s which tried to capitalize on the burgeoning teenage market and the new popularity of rock music. These were low-budget "B" movies made for teenagers, but usually saddled with corny storylines by "square" adults. However, the generally upbeat tone and lively musical performances make even the dumbest stories fun. Bye Bye Birdie is an exception here because it was based on a hit Broadway musical, so the budget was bigger, the story a bit more layered; however, the reactionary attitude toward rock n' roll remained - it makes kids crazy!
7/23, 9:30 AM - The Tall Target (1951)
Dick Powell stars as detective John Kennedy (no, not that one), the only man who can prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln aboard a train traveling to Washington, D.C for his inauguration. This film was directed by Anthony Mann and was inspired by an actual attempt on Lincoln's life. This minor historical footnote has been elaborated upon to create a modern conspiracy thriller, which builds tension even though we know the conclusion (Spoiler Alert: Lincoln lives). Nice period details, such as shots of the Capitol under construction, add an extra level of interest.
7/29, 2 AM - Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968)
In this installment of TCM Underground, director William Greaves has young actors audition in Central Park for a fictional project about a troubled couple. His cameras also capture what goes on "behind the scenes," such as crew member gossip, gathering onlookers, and other distractions. This avant-garde documentary had enough of a cult following (including actor Steve Buscemi) to merit a sequel, Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2 1/2, in 2005.
7/31: The Chaplin Family
2:15 AM - Peppermint Frappe (1967)
4 AM - A King in New York (1957)
Stay up late to catch this double-feature starring the talented Chaplins. Peppermint Frappe is a doppelganger story, similar to Vertigo and Obsession, set in Spain during the repressive Franco regime. It is a dark character study of a lonely doctor who becomes so obsessed with his friend's new wife, played by Geraldine Chaplin, that he tries to mold another woman into her image - which shouldn't be too difficult, since she is also played by Chaplin.
A King in New York stars Charlie Chaplin as the king of a small, broke country who comes to the USA to make money; however, after befriending the young son of a Communist couple (played by Chaplin's son Michael), the king finds himself on trial for Communism. At the time this film was made, Charlie Chaplin was living in Europe, barred from re-entering the US due to his outspoken political views. King was Chaplin's satrical take on American consumerism and political paranoia during the McCarthy era.
Next month, Summer Under the Stars!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Allen Abroad
by AJ
I would have loved to have been around during the late 1950s/early 1960s: all the men wore sharp suits and skinny ties, women wore dresses, the music was great, movie musicals were actually good. Of course, I wouldn’t have been able to go to the better movie theater in my hometown because it was for “whites only.” But that's not part of my 60s, that is to say, my dream of the 60s.
In Midnight in Paris, the latest film from Woody Allen, an unsatisfied screenwriter/aspiring novelist played by Owen Wilson is visiting Paris with his fiance and her parents. Gil's (Owen Wilson) idea of a great time in Paris is different from his fiance's, which includes spending a lot of time with a pretentious, pseudo-intellectual played quite well by Michael Sheen. Gil pines for the Paris of the 1920s, when you might find people like F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Picasso at the same party on any given night.
A lot of reviews have tried to step around the actual plot of this film, describing it instead as a movie about a "young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better." That plot description comes from IMDB and is similar to descriptions on other websites and periodicals. But it really isn't a spoiler to tell you that late one night as Gil takes a stroll an older model car pulls up next to him and he's invited for a ride by some revelers on their way to a party. At the party, after meeting Zelda and her husband "Scott," Gil realizes that, somehow, he's been transported to the Jazz Age Paris that has been the focus of his nostalgia. That's not a spoiler because Woody Allen is a genuine auteur and storyteller. He could make a whole movie about a couple dealing with illusions of the life they want to be living which takes place entirely in the real world, but I'm glad he didn't and chose to add magic to Midnight in Paris. But Gil wandering into 1920s Paris is the just the tip of the iceberg.
It's the not the actual historical Paris of the 1920s Gil finds himself in, but what we think that time and that city would be like. The movie is a dream of that time period. There are so many great moments with the personalities Gil runs into during his nights in Jazz Age Paris. You should recognize the names of the people he encounters from prerequisite college courses you may have taken. The most notable of these names are Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway, whom Gil gets to help him with his book. Now that's an aspiring novelist's dream if I've ever heard one. I won't say too much else about his nights in bygone Paris since the charm and humor of those scenes comes from who he just happens to run into at parties and cafes. The movie doesn't go into how it is that Gil is able to wander back in time. I think the movie, like Gil, is too thrilled to bother asking how or why.
The movies Allen has made abroad have all dealt with heavy themes, even the comedies. Match Point, Scoop, and Cassandra's Dream involved murder; You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger was interesting look at people's plans and schemes; Vicky Christina Barcelona, which I enjoyed very much, was a comedy in that it wasn't a straight drama. Midnight in Paris is filled with romance, nostalgia, magic, and whimsy. It's an entirely enjoyable experience. You wouldn't think that Owen Wilson would be a great stand-in for the Woody Allen-esque character in a Woody Allen movie, but his cadence and energy are great fit for Allen's dialogue. Come to think of it, Wilson's struggling thief in Bottle Rocket isn't that far off from Allen's characters in Take the Money and Run or Small Time Crooks. 
I get to watch a version of my dream of the early 60s in American Graffiti and Mad Men, though the latter downplays any nostalgia for that time period. If I ever was able to wander back to that time I'd like to be able to come back to my time as well. If I spent all my time back there what would I have to be nostalgic for?
I would have loved to have been around during the late 1950s/early 1960s: all the men wore sharp suits and skinny ties, women wore dresses, the music was great, movie musicals were actually good. Of course, I wouldn’t have been able to go to the better movie theater in my hometown because it was for “whites only.” But that's not part of my 60s, that is to say, my dream of the 60s.
In Midnight in Paris, the latest film from Woody Allen, an unsatisfied screenwriter/aspiring novelist played by Owen Wilson is visiting Paris with his fiance and her parents. Gil's (Owen Wilson) idea of a great time in Paris is different from his fiance's, which includes spending a lot of time with a pretentious, pseudo-intellectual played quite well by Michael Sheen. Gil pines for the Paris of the 1920s, when you might find people like F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Picasso at the same party on any given night. A lot of reviews have tried to step around the actual plot of this film, describing it instead as a movie about a "young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better." That plot description comes from IMDB and is similar to descriptions on other websites and periodicals. But it really isn't a spoiler to tell you that late one night as Gil takes a stroll an older model car pulls up next to him and he's invited for a ride by some revelers on their way to a party. At the party, after meeting Zelda and her husband "Scott," Gil realizes that, somehow, he's been transported to the Jazz Age Paris that has been the focus of his nostalgia. That's not a spoiler because Woody Allen is a genuine auteur and storyteller. He could make a whole movie about a couple dealing with illusions of the life they want to be living which takes place entirely in the real world, but I'm glad he didn't and chose to add magic to Midnight in Paris. But Gil wandering into 1920s Paris is the just the tip of the iceberg. It's the not the actual historical Paris of the 1920s Gil finds himself in, but what we think that time and that city would be like. The movie is a dream of that time period. There are so many great moments with the personalities Gil runs into during his nights in Jazz Age Paris. You should recognize the names of the people he encounters from prerequisite college courses you may have taken. The most notable of these names are Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway, whom Gil gets to help him with his book. Now that's an aspiring novelist's dream if I've ever heard one. I won't say too much else about his nights in bygone Paris since the charm and humor of those scenes comes from who he just happens to run into at parties and cafes. The movie doesn't go into how it is that Gil is able to wander back in time. I think the movie, like Gil, is too thrilled to bother asking how or why.The movies Allen has made abroad have all dealt with heavy themes, even the comedies. Match Point, Scoop, and Cassandra's Dream involved murder; You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger was interesting look at people's plans and schemes; Vicky Christina Barcelona, which I enjoyed very much, was a comedy in that it wasn't a straight drama. Midnight in Paris is filled with romance, nostalgia, magic, and whimsy. It's an entirely enjoyable experience. You wouldn't think that Owen Wilson would be a great stand-in for the Woody Allen-esque character in a Woody Allen movie, but his cadence and energy are great fit for Allen's dialogue. Come to think of it, Wilson's struggling thief in Bottle Rocket isn't that far off from Allen's characters in Take the Money and Run or Small Time Crooks. I get to watch a version of my dream of the early 60s in American Graffiti and Mad Men, though the latter downplays any nostalgia for that time period. If I ever was able to wander back to that time I'd like to be able to come back to my time as well. If I spent all my time back there what would I have to be nostalgic for?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Classic Movie Picks: June
by Lani
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.)
Drive-In Double Features - Thursdays in June
6/2, 8 PM - Godzilla, King of Monsters (1956)
9:45 PM - Rodan (1957)
11:15 PM - Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster (1965)
1 AM - Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1970)
Celebrate the bygone summer tradition of drive-in movies with classics remembered (The Thing from Another World, 6/30) and forgotten (Mars Needs Women, 6/16). This month-long series kicks off June 2 with four movies starring the Godzilla Gang - Mothra, Rodan, and the "king of monsters" himself. While these films are best seen on a large, outdoor screen, if you plan on watching them in your living room consider opening the windows to let in the summer air.
6/6, 10:15 AM - Once Upon a Time (1944)
Cary Grant plays a Broadway producer with an exciting new act - a dancing caterpillar!
There's probably a reason why no one talks about this movie in the same breath as The Awful Truth or Arsenic and Old Lace; but the premise sounds so ridiculous, and Cary Grant is always good, I'm willing to give it a try.
6/8: Bogie + Alexis 4EVER
12:30 PM - The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947)
2:15 PM - Conflict (1945)
Two specimens from the little-recognized sub-genre of "films in which Humphrey Bogart plays a creep who murders his wife in order to be with Alexis Smith." I haven't seen Conflict yet, but The Two Mrs. Carrolls is a fun little thriller, helped by the always reliable Barbara Stanwyck in the lead role.
6/21, 9:45 PM - Angel Face (1953)
I always think of "Star of the Month" Jean Simmons as the good girl who falls prey to the cads around her (see Guys and Dolls on 6/21 or Uncle Silas on 6/7), even though in reality she had a much more diverse range. So, I'm interested to see her play "against type" and use her angel face to mask sinister intentions.
6/29: A Night in Scotland
8 PM - I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)
10 PM - Brigadoon (1954)
12 AM - Let's Be Happy (1957)
2 AM - Bonnie Scotland (1935)
3:30 AM - Castle in the Air (1952)
5 AM - Mary of Scotland (1936)
Scotland is one of my favorite places to visit, so I'll take any opportunity to go back, even if it is only vicariously through films. And what a line-up! Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Van Johnson, Vera-Ellen, Wendy Hiller, Laurel & Hardy, David Tomlinson, Margaret Rutherford, Katharine Hepburn, and Frederic March are the stars of the night; and the directors represented include John Ford, Vincente Minelli, and Michael Powell. So while it's not quite the same as a vacation, I can still enjoy the scenery and culture of film-world Scotland, while avoiding the cold winds and rain of real-world Scotland.
Spotlight on Vincente Minnelli
I recently read A Hundred or More Hidden Things: The Life and Films of Vincente Minnelli by Mark Griffin and now I'm eager to catch up with the Minnelli films I haven't seen like Designing Woman, Some Came Running, and Bells Are Ringing. June on TCM is actually full of some of Minnelli's best films, including the one that earned him the Best Director Oscar, Gigi.
6/3, 8 PM - Father of the Bride (1950)
6/7, 8:30 AM - Bells Are Ringing (1960)
6/7, 10:45 AM - Some Came Running (1958)
6/10, 9:30 AM - The Clock (1945)
6/10, 11:15 AM - The Pirate (1948)
6/12, 8 AM - Designing Woman (1957)
6/12, 2 PM - Gigi (1958)
6/12, 10 PM - The Bandwagon (1953)
6/19, 1:30 PM - Father of the Bride (1950)
6/19, 3:30 PM - The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963)
6/26, 6 AM - The Pirate (1948)
6/27, 10:45 AM - Gigi (1958)
6/29, 10 PM - Brigadoon (1954)
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.)
Drive-In Double Features - Thursdays in June
6/2, 8 PM - Godzilla, King of Monsters (1956)
9:45 PM - Rodan (1957)
11:15 PM - Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster (1965)
1 AM - Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1970)
Celebrate the bygone summer tradition of drive-in movies with classics remembered (The Thing from Another World, 6/30) and forgotten (Mars Needs Women, 6/16). This month-long series kicks off June 2 with four movies starring the Godzilla Gang - Mothra, Rodan, and the "king of monsters" himself. While these films are best seen on a large, outdoor screen, if you plan on watching them in your living room consider opening the windows to let in the summer air.
6/6, 10:15 AM - Once Upon a Time (1944)
Cary Grant plays a Broadway producer with an exciting new act - a dancing caterpillar!
There's probably a reason why no one talks about this movie in the same breath as The Awful Truth or Arsenic and Old Lace; but the premise sounds so ridiculous, and Cary Grant is always good, I'm willing to give it a try.
6/8: Bogie + Alexis 4EVER
12:30 PM - The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947)
2:15 PM - Conflict (1945)
Two specimens from the little-recognized sub-genre of "films in which Humphrey Bogart plays a creep who murders his wife in order to be with Alexis Smith." I haven't seen Conflict yet, but The Two Mrs. Carrolls is a fun little thriller, helped by the always reliable Barbara Stanwyck in the lead role.
6/21, 9:45 PM - Angel Face (1953)
I always think of "Star of the Month" Jean Simmons as the good girl who falls prey to the cads around her (see Guys and Dolls on 6/21 or Uncle Silas on 6/7), even though in reality she had a much more diverse range. So, I'm interested to see her play "against type" and use her angel face to mask sinister intentions.
6/29: A Night in Scotland
8 PM - I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)
10 PM - Brigadoon (1954)
12 AM - Let's Be Happy (1957)
2 AM - Bonnie Scotland (1935)
3:30 AM - Castle in the Air (1952)
5 AM - Mary of Scotland (1936)
Scotland is one of my favorite places to visit, so I'll take any opportunity to go back, even if it is only vicariously through films. And what a line-up! Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Van Johnson, Vera-Ellen, Wendy Hiller, Laurel & Hardy, David Tomlinson, Margaret Rutherford, Katharine Hepburn, and Frederic March are the stars of the night; and the directors represented include John Ford, Vincente Minelli, and Michael Powell. So while it's not quite the same as a vacation, I can still enjoy the scenery and culture of film-world Scotland, while avoiding the cold winds and rain of real-world Scotland.
Spotlight on Vincente Minnelli
I recently read A Hundred or More Hidden Things: The Life and Films of Vincente Minnelli by Mark Griffin and now I'm eager to catch up with the Minnelli films I haven't seen like Designing Woman, Some Came Running, and Bells Are Ringing. June on TCM is actually full of some of Minnelli's best films, including the one that earned him the Best Director Oscar, Gigi.
6/3, 8 PM - Father of the Bride (1950)
6/7, 8:30 AM - Bells Are Ringing (1960)
6/7, 10:45 AM - Some Came Running (1958)
6/10, 9:30 AM - The Clock (1945)
6/10, 11:15 AM - The Pirate (1948)
6/12, 8 AM - Designing Woman (1957)
6/12, 2 PM - Gigi (1958)
6/12, 10 PM - The Bandwagon (1953)
6/19, 1:30 PM - Father of the Bride (1950)
6/19, 3:30 PM - The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963)
6/26, 6 AM - The Pirate (1948)
6/27, 10:45 AM - Gigi (1958)
6/29, 10 PM - Brigadoon (1954)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)