Each month, I scour the Turner Classic Movies schedule 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.)
11/4: Selected Shorts
9:44 PM - The Lion Roars Again (1975)
10:04 PM - The Amazing Miss Cummings: An Actress at Work and Play (1975)
These two shorts, selected to complement this week's installment of The Story of Film: An Odyssey focusing on films from the 1970s, put the spotlight on MGM and it's mid-seventies resurgence. I've seen The Lion Roars on TCM before and it's kind of fun to see which films the studio was trying to get audiences excited about in 1975; one tactic - a Logan's Run fashion show. The second short follows child actress Quinn Cummings on the set of The Goodbye Girl, the film for which young Miss Cummings earned an Academy Award nomination. If you're interested in seeing the full film, it's showing on 11/17 at 6 PM.
11/8, 4:15 PM - Patterns (1956)
This feature film has a script by The Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling based on his 1956 Kraft Television Theatre production of the same name. I recently saw the television version and was incredibly impressed by how compelling this story of every-day white collar workers could be. Part of the credit is due to the great performances by Everett Sloane as a cutthroat CEO and Ed Begley as a worn-down veteran employee; both actors appear in the film version as well. The film's lead role of a new executive on the rise is played by the capable Van Heflin.
11/12: Guest Programmer Simon Helberg
8 PM - The Party (1968)
9:45 PM - Dr. Strangelove, Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying a Love the Bomb (1964)
11:30 PM - Brief Encounter (1945)
1:15 AM - Modern Romance (1981)
This month's guest programmer, Simon Helberg, is best known for his role as the nerdy, would-be lothario Howard Wolowitz on the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. As might be expected, his picks reveal a taste for comedy with two selections featuring Peter Sellers and one written, directed, and starring Albert Brooks. Sellers and Brooks are two of my favorite comedians because not only do they a wonderful feel for comedic timing and tone, but they are also both fine actors irrespective of material. In The Party, Sellers portrays an aspiring actor from India who finds himself quite out of his element at an exclusive L.A. party. In the past it was fairly standard for white actors to play characters of other races, with varying degrees of success (or offensiveness); however, today this isn't done as frequently. If anyone feels wary about Sellers playing an Asian character, I would urge you to give this film a chance before making a judgement. His performance is far from a broad caricature, and hopefully the humor and sweetness of the film will win you over. Helberg's 4th pick, Brief Encounter, is a poignant romance starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. I recommend settling in with a bowl of popcorn, and perhaps a snuggly blanket, for a night of delightful films.
The Elephant Man is a moving story about finding humanity in someone whom society deems inhuman. Directed by David Lynch and featuring a strong cast led by Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, this film is an American production that feels British due to its carefully constructed setting of London in 1884. Fans of Mel Brooks' comedies may be surprised to learn that his production company, Brooksfilm, is responsible for such a serious period drama; however, with this film and other ambitious projects, Brooks proved to be a daring and canny producer. This film is programmed to complement an installment of The Story of Film: An Odyssey focusing on the 1980s.
11/22: 50th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination
8 PM - Primary (1960)
9:15 PM - Adventures on the New Frontier (1961)
10:30 PM - Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (1963)
11:45 PM - Faces of November (1964)
12 AM - Four Days in November (1964)
2:15 AM - PT 109 (1963)
TCM honors President John F. Kennedy on the 50th anniversary of his death with six films about his life. The first four of the evening are by documentarian Robert Drew (1 feature-length, 3 shorts) offering glimpses into Kennedy's political career, from the Wisconsin primary in which JFK faced off against Hubert Humphrey, to the national crisis of segregation, to his shocking assassination. Director Mel Stuart's Four Days is a feature-length documentary which also deals with the aftermath of JFK's death. PT 109 is a fictionalized account of the sinking of a ship under Kennedy's command during WWII. Cliff Robertson portrays Kennedy as a young naval officer. As someone who did not live through this time, I greatly appreciate that these films exist to teach us about an important and turbulent period in American history, but told from a contemporary perspective, without the advantage of hindsight or pitfalls of nostalgia.
11/26, 8 PM & 11 PM - A Night at the Movies: Cops & Robbers and Crime Writers (2013)
Another installment of TCM's original documentary series, A Night at the Movies, this time highlighting the crime film genre through film clips and interviews. I find these hour-long docs to be fairly light, but usually enjoyable. Anyone who is a devoted fan of classic film will probably already be familiar with most of the titles discussed; however, there's usually some fun bits of trivia and insight from historians and industry insiders.
Friday Night Spotlight: Screwball Comedies
This month's spotlight features one of my favorite classic film genres, and one which barely exists today: the screwball comedy. Each Friday in November will feature several of the most notable entries from this genre of the 30s and 40s introduced by actor Matthew Broderick. Just look at a list of some of the stars included in this series and you'll know you're in for a good time: Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Carole Lombard, William Powell, Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Barbara Stanwyck, Rosalind Russell, Clark Gable, Myrna Loy. I'm especially looking forward to the line-ups on 11/8 - The Awful Truth, My Favorite Wife, and Love Crazy - and 11/15 - Theodora Goes Wild, Twentieth Century, and Easy Living. Once again, I recommend popcorn and a snuggly blanket (and maybe a martini or two?) for optimum enjoyment.
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