Classic Movie Picks: July 2017

by Lani

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.)

7/4, 4 AM - Miss Firecracker (1989)
This slice of Southern Americana is perfect programming for the Fourth of July, if you are in the mood for something slightly bittersweet and satirical. Holly Hunter stars as Carnelle, a young misfit obsessed with winning the annual beauty contest in her small town of Yazoo City, Mississippi. After seeing her elegant cousin Elain (Mary Steenburgen) win the pageant 10 years earlier, subsequently marry up, and become a local celebrity, Carnelle is sure that the title of Miss Firecracker will be her ticket to a new life outside her hometown. 
While not her first film, Miss Firecracker may be the first time I saw Holly Hunter on screen. Mild-mannered child that I was, Hunter's intensity and energy, not to mention her flame red hair, were a bit frightening; however, I did admire her determination and spirit. The highlight is the performance by Hunter, as well as a very strong supporting cast including Steenburgen, Alfre Woodard, and Tim Robbins. The film was adapted from an off-Broadway play, and while far from perfect, it - like Carnelle - is worth giving a chance. 



7/7: Hitchcock in the UK
8 PM - Number Seventeen (1932)
9:30 PM - The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
11 PM - The 39 Steps (1935)
12:45 AM - The Lady Vanishes (1938)
TCM is spotlighting filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock on Wednesdays and Fridays this month, moving chronologically from 1927's The Ring on July 5 to his final film, 1976's Family Plot, on July 28. You're sure to find something interesting on any evening devoted to Hitchcock's work, but I've chosen to focus on this batch of films from the 1930s. At the time Hitchcock was working in England making films with steadily bigger budgets and production value, and not only gaining acclaim in the UK, but in America with his first trans-Atlantic hit, The 39 Steps. 
The 39 Steps also made a film star of British stage actor Robert Donat (four years later Donat would win an Oscar for Goodbye, Mr. Chips). Donat plays that favorite Hitchcock character: an innocent man accused. After a spy is killed, and Donat blamed, he goes on the run across Scotland, all the while handcuffed to the woman who turned him in; together, they must discover the real killer and expose a spy ring. 
Among the other films tonight is the original version of The Man Who Knew Too Much, a big hit in Britain and the first English-language film for character actor Peter Lorre. Hitchcock liked this story about a vacationing family accidentally drawn into international espionage so much, he remade the film in 1956.
The low-budget thriller Number Seventeen is not one of Hitch's most celebrated works, but it is notable for possibly introducing the director's signature gimmick, the "Macguffin" - an object that drives the plot, but is basically irrelevant to the overall story. In this case, the Macguffin is a stolen necklace which draws the characters to a spooky old house where they encounter a string of mysteries, including a man's corpse.
1938's The Lady Vanishes was Hitchcock's biggest hit to date and helped him to secure a lucrative Hollywood contract. The plot - including a sudden disappearance, a plucky heroine, secret agents, and plenty of sly humor - is a treat for any Hitchcock fan.

7/25: Lili Damita Double Feature
10:45 AM - Friends and Lovers (1931)
12 PM - The Woman Between (1931)
French actress Lili Damita was one of the many foreign beauties brought to Hollywood during the silent era - including Pola Negri, Greta Garbo, and Marlene Dietrich - to play exotic temptresses. Cast for their ability to give meaningful glances rather than speak lines, not all the imports made a successful transition to talkies. However, Garbo, Dietrich, and, yes, Damita were among the few who did. Today she's remembered as Errol Flynn's first wife; although, when they married in 1935, Flynn was just a handsome newcomer and Damita was the star. An old-fashioned gal, Damita gave up her career after marrying Flynn...which may be why she's better known for the divorce which bankrupted Flynn than for her own movies, but that's a story for another day.
Today's double feature includes two films made in 1931 with director Victor Schertzinger for RKO Studios. In Friends and Lovers, Damita flirts her way through British society in India, blackmailing her conquests under the (monocled) eye of her unscrupulous husband, played by Erich von Stroheim. Adolphe Menjou and Laurence Olivier, in his first American film, star as young British officers ensnared by Damita's charms. 
In the second film, Damita is the titular Woman, this time unintentionally coming between a father and son. Happily married to a rich older man, Damita is shocked when her husband's son returns from WWI and it is revealed that her stepson is also her former lover. (Since we're all thinking it, I'll just say that I have found no evidence that this film was the inspiration for the classic 1997 TV-movie My Stepson, My Lover.) You may recognize O.P. Heggie, who plays Damita's husband, as the blind hermit from Bride of Frankenstein.

7/27: Star of the Month Ronald Colman
8 PM - A Double Life (1947)
10 PM - Random Harvest (1942)
12:15 AM - The Talk of the Town (1942)
The suave British actor Ronald Colman is TCM's Star of the Month with his films scheduled in primetime each Thursday in July. Colman was a top leading man from the silent era through the 1940s, equally popular with men and women for his dashing manner and handsome good looks. I plan on watching several of his movies this month, including early hits like Bulldog Drummond (1929) and Raffles (1930), but I am recommending three of his most popular films from the 40s.
In the politically-tinged comedy The Talk of the Town Colman shares leading man duties with Cary Grant. Grant plays an accused arsonist on the lam who hides out in the home of schoolteacher Jean Arthur. He enlists Arthur's help to convince Colman, a respected law professor, of his innocence. Of course both men develop romantic feelings for the lovely Ms. Arthur and the film leaves you guessing until the end as to which man she will choose. This may be the only instance in which a love triangle involving Cary Grant felt equally weighted. Apparently alternate endings were filmed, one in which Arthur chose Grant and one in which she chose Colman; see if you agree with the final outcome. 
The Talk of the Town was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture and breathed new life into Colman's career and he followed it with another hit, the romantic drama Random Harvest. The plot is a bit convoluted, but basically it involves Colman getting amnesia - twice! - and forgetting the love of his life, played by Greer Garson. Director Meryn LeRoy quipped that "the English language was never spoken more beautifully on film." The film received seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Director, and Best Actor. However, most of the awards that year went to Garson's other hit, Mrs. Miniver; Colman lost out to James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy.
For Colman, fourth time was the charm when he finally won the Best Actor Oscar for A Double Life playing an actor in a production of Othello opposite his own wife who finds his character's jealousy seeping into his own psyche. Married writing team Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin originally wanted Laurence Olivier for the lead role, but jumped after Colman when their first choice was unavailable. It was Colman who wasn't sure if he was right for the role; despite a stage background, he had never been a Shakesperean actor. However, the Kanins got Colman to sign on by promising him that the role would earn him that elusive Oscar - and they were right! 

Classic Movie Picks: April 2017

by Lani

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.)

4/17: Guest Programmer William Daniels
8 PM - 1776 (1972)
11 PM - A Thousand Clowns (1965)
1:15 AM - Dodsworth (1936)
People of my generation will know actor William Daniels as Mr. Feeny from 90s sitcom Boy Meets World (younger folks may know the character from the spin-off series Girl Meets World). Others may recognize him from his Emmy-winning role on 80s hospital drama St. Elsewhere. But, he's also had a long career on the stage and screen, and his programming picks tonight include two of his own films in which he reprised a successful stage role. First up is 1776, a musical about the second Continental Congress and the creation of the Declaration of Independence, in which Daniels stars as founding father John Adams, reworking his acclaimed performance from the Broadway production for film. The numerous and lengthy debates, compromises, and votes are fascinating for any history buff (despite a bit of dramatic invention), though the witty dialogue and snappy songs keep it from feeling like a stale history lesson. The second film of the night, A Thousand Clowns, has a much smaller scope, centering on a New York City bachelor, played by Jason Robards, who is the guardian for his young nephew. When Robards quits his job, his ability to provide for the child is called into question and a social worker, played by Daniels in another reprise of a stage role, threatens to remove the child from his uncle's care. For his final pick of the night, Daniels chose the 1936 drama Dodsworth, starring Walter Huston. Daniels admires Huston's acting here in a role that Huston had previously played onstage (a theme tonight!). Huston's Dodsworth is a successful businessman living a comfortable life in middle age. His frustrated wife begins an affair which provokes Dodsworth to pursue a new life with another woman. It is a mature drama about adult people, with no contrived circumstances. Though times and social expectations have changed since the 30s, the film still plays well today. 

4/20: What a Character!
8 PM - On the Town (1949), Florence Bates
10 PM - By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), Mary Wickes
12 AM - The Long, Long Trailer (1954), Marjorie Main
2 AM - Rear Window (1954), Thelma Ritter
Throughout the month, TCM is highlighting character actors of Hollywood's golden age - the unsung heroes of many classic films. I singled out this evening's line-up because it features some of the best character actresses of all time. If you don't recognize the names, you'll certainly recognize the faces. These ladies bring texture to many a glossy film with their talent for cracking wise as maids, matrons, nurses, or other supporting characters. 
In the energetic musical On the Town, Florence Bates has a small, but memorable turn as Vera Ellen's stern, and apparently inebriated, ballet teacher. Then we get Mary Wickes playing the housekeeper (she was always the housekeeper) for the central family in the quaint musical By the Light of the Silvery Moon. Marjorie Main was well known for her leading role in the Ma and Pa Kettle films, but tonight you see her in a supporting role as a nosy neighbor in The Long, Long Trailer. Finally, we are treated to a performance by Thelma Ritter, an actress who received six Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations between 1951 and 1963, but never won. She appears as James Stewart's nurse in Rear Window.

4/21, 8 PM - An Affair to Remember (1957)
This film is part of a month-long spotlight on post-WWII melodramas, and it's definitely one of the biggies. The story was originally filmed in 1939 and again in 1994, both times under the title Love Affair. However, the 1957 film, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, remains the best-known version. From the poster, you'd think that Grant and Kerr are, well, kissing in Italy...across an ocean...and all over New York; but that would be misleading, as the two have a fairly chaste romance. They strike up a friendship on board a Transatlantic ocean liner heading from Europe to New York. Though both are involved with other people back home, Grant and Kerr's relationship blossoms into love. After landing in New York, they agree to reunite in six months at the Empire State Building. But will they? Not before quite a few tears are shed. 
The film received four Oscar nominations, for cinematography, costumes, original score, and original song for An Affair to Remember (Our Love Affair), sung by Vic Damone over the opening credits.


4/27, 2:15 AM - Bells Are Ringing (1960)
I saw this film for the first time just last year and it was so charming, I had the experience of thinking, "Oh, why did I wait so long to see this? To think I could have had Bells Are Ringing in my life sooner!" This is a film adaptation of a Broadway musical about an operator for a telephone answering service who gets too involved in the lives of her clients. Judy Holliday won a Tony on Broadway for her portrayal of operator Ella Peterson and reprises that role here. As Ella, she's bubbly, bright, and warm; she has a big heart which gets her into trouble sometimes, but enough pluckiness to pull herself out of any jam. It's possibly the most "Judy Holliday" of any Judy Holliday character, which isn't so surprising when you learn that authors Betty Comden and Adolph Green created the role as an idealized version of their old friend, Judy Holliday. Dean Martin co-stars as a writer who gains new motivation and inspiration after meeting Ella. 
This was Holliday's final performance on film; however, her final screen credit came in 1965's A Thousand Clowns (see above). The title song was composed by Holliday's boyfriend Gerry Mulligan with lyrics supplied by Holliday. Unfortunately, she died far too young, of cancer at age 43, before the film was released.

Classic Movie Picks: September 2016

by Lani

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.)

Cary Grant Deep Cuts
9/4, 8 PM - People Will Talk (1951)
9/11, 10 AM - Mr. Lucky (1943)
Cary Grant is one of my favorite actors and I'm taking the opportunity this month to catch up with two of his lesser known films. In People Will Talk, Grant plays a doctor at a university medical school whose unconventional methods cause alarm among his more conservative colleagues. His problems at work come to a head when he falls in love with a patient, an unwed mother who attempts suicide (Jeanne Crain), while also facing charges of misconduct from his university's board. Because the film features topics like single motherhood, suicide, and abortion, it faced opposition from censors; however, the producers felt that Grant would give the film an air of moral uprightness which would override any disapproval of those taboo topics. Which is kind of ironic since many of Grant's early roles were cads and connivers (such as in Sylvia Scarlett and Topper), characters which he always seemed to relish more than the upstanding leading man types. In the wartime romance Mr. Lucky, Grant is far from morally upright as the scheming owner of a gambling ship. Though he is changed for the better when he falls for an altruistic heiress (Laraine Day) who is raising funds for war relief. So, I guess in the end he's not so bad after all.

Salute to Slapstick
9/7, 9:15 PM - A Dog's Life (1918)
9/14, 12:45 AM - The Inspector General (1949)
9/28, 1:15 AM - Strange Brew (1983)
TCM has scheduled a month-long salute to slapstick comedy throughout film history. You can get the full schedule here, but I've selected three films spanning from the silent era to the 1980s, proving that some gags never stop being funny. 
In A Dog's Life, Charlie Chaplin, as his Little Tramp character, takes in a stray after saving it from a pack of attacking dogs. As in many of the Little Tramp stories, he also meets a pretty girl who is down on her luck and uses comedy to depict the struggle of poverty. Chaplin is said to have auditioned a dachshund, Pomeranian, poodle, Boston terrier, and bulldog before deciding that a mutt would best fit the part. The dog co-star "Mutt" was adopted by Chaplin and spent the rest of his life at the star's studio; so, this dog's life was a sweet one.
Danny Kaye's vocal and physical dexterity are put through their paces in The Inspector General, in which Kaye stars as Georgi, an illiterate peasant mistakened for the titular agent of Emperor Napoleon sent to uncover corruption in a Hungarian village. The naive Georgi soon finds himself in over his head as villagers alternately beg for his help, offer bribes, and even plan his assassination. If you are a fan of Kaye, this is a must-see.
In Strange Brew, a uniquely Canadian riff on Hamlet, brothers Bob and Doug Mackenzie (Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis) help a young woman reclaim control of her family brewery. Along the way, they must face off against an army of hockey goons, space age super lasers, and a shady brewmeister played by Max von Sydow. At the time, the Mackenzie Brothers were popular characters from the SCTV sketch comedy show and Moranis and Thomas's comedy album, Great White North. It's considered a classic of the so-stupid-it's-funny brand of comedy, while also being a decent interpretation of Shakespeare's play.

Midnight in the Disney Vault
9/8, 4:15 AM - Midnight Madness (1980)
This month brings another trip into the Disney Vault hosted by film critic and Disney historian Leonard Maltin. The line-up contains 6 features and 2 shorts, including classic kid flick Treasure Island. You can see the full schedule here. I'm particularly interested in Midnight Madness, a live-action feature aimed at a slightly older audience than Disney's usual kiddie fare (rated PG!). The story follows teams of college students competing in an all-night scavenger hunt with Los Angeles as the game board. It's an "into the night" story meets wacky race in the tradition of It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World and The Great Race, and perhaps the first (and only) Disney film to include an extended sequence at the Pabst Blue Ribbon brewery. It was the first film for David Naughton (then famous for the "I'm a Pepper" Dr. Pepper ad campaign) as the Yellow Team Leader, as well as Michael J. Fox playing Naughton's younger brother. Also, look for Paul Reubens, a.k.a. Pee-Wee Herman, in a small part. 

9/29, 8 AM - Adventure (1945)
Adventure was promoted relentlessly with the outstanding tagline: "Gable's back and Garson's got him!" The line was referring to the fact that former "King of Hollywood" Clark Gable was returning to the screen after several years away due to the untimely death of his wife, Carole Lombard, followed by two years of WWII service in the Army Air Corps and a vow not to act until the war in Europe ended. His comeback vehicle was this dramatic romance (not a straightforward adventure story as the title might lead you to believe) about a hard-living merchant marine who finds true love with a straitlaced librarian. Cast as the librarian was Greer Garson, the current Queen of Hollywood. She had made a name for herself in several hits while Gable was away, including the wartime drama Mrs. Miniver, for which she won the Best Actress Academy Award. 
In an interesting bit of trivia, Garson's first film was 1939's Goodbye, Mr. Chips, opposite Robert Donat; he would notably go on to win that year's Best Actor Oscar, beating out Gable's iconic performance as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. Donat gives a great performance as mild-mannered school teacher Mr. Chipping, which is elevated in large part by Garson's effervescent presence as his beloved Mrs. Chipping. 
The two stars of Adventure apparently did not get along - it was a classic clash of opposites, not unlike their characters in the film. However, they both agreed that they hated the tagline and ad campaign. According to one Gable biography, "Clark hated being called 'Gable,' hated being 'got' by Garson, and hated the repetition of the slogan." See for yourself if these opposites believably attract.

9/29: Gene Wilder Tribute
8 PM - Role Model: Gene Wilder (2008), with encore at 11:15 PM
9:15 PM - Young Frankenstein (1974)
12:30 AM - Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)
2:15 AM - The Frisco Kid (1979)
4:30 AM - Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
TCM will celebrate the career of the late Gene Wilder with a primetime lineup including his first feature film, an iconic Mel Brooks comedy, and two underseen gems. They will also re-air a TCM original production from 2008, Role Model: Gene Wilder, in which Alec Baldwin interviews Wilder about his life and career. 
Wilder was a versatile actor who, though known for broad comedy, approached each role very seriously and tried to inject his performance with the unexpected - think of his famous entrance as Willie Wonka. He was a wonderful physical comedian and one of the great shouters in cinema history, expertly moving from calm to hysteria in explosive shifts. But he could also convey multitudes through silence, understanding the effect of a well-timed pause and aided by his big expressive eyes. At turns impish and mischievous, gentle and kind, and sometimes a little bit sexy (I can't be the only one who sees it), Wilder's onscreen personas often echoed the sweetness and kindness which were, by all accounts, at the heart of his own personality.
In Wilder's first film, Bonnie and Clyde, he made an impression in a small role as a nervous undertaker. His star turn would come that same year in The Producers directed by Mel Brooks, a role which earned Wilder a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination. His collaboration with Brooks would continue over several films, including Young Frankenstein for which the two men would receive Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay. The role of Frederick Frankenstein (it's pronounced Frohn-ken-steen) gives Wilder a chance to showcase not only his comic timing, but a bit of range as the young doctor goes from reluctant heir to full-on mad scientist. 
The historical farce Start the Revolution Without Me gives Wilder a chance to flex his acting muscles in a dual role. In this story inspired by Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, Wilder and Donald Sutherland play two pairs of mismatched twins - that's one Gene and one Donald per set - on opposite sides of the French Revolution. When the twins start getting mistaken for one another, well...hilarity ensues. Another of Wilder's underseen comedies is The Frisco Kid, a "Jewish Western" in which he plays a rabbi who befriends an outlaw (Harrison Ford, fresh off Star Wars) on their way to San Francisco. It's a great role for Wilder, and though the film got mixed reviews at the time his performance was singled out for praise.
And now please enjoy Gene Wilder demonstrating the art of the comedic pause in this clip from Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex...

Classic Movie Picks: December 2014

by Lani

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.)

While looking through this month's TCM schedule, I was drawn to several films from the mid-70s and later. This got me wondering -- how old is "old enough" to be considered a classic? 10 years? 20 years? I know there are some purists who define the "classic era" as films made before 1970 (give or take a few years). I'm not so rigid about when a film was made; I prefer to focus on quality. However, I'll admit it's a bit jarring to see a movie from 2008 on the TCM schedule. It's a bit like when "oldies" radio stations started playing Madonna songs: depending on when you were born it might seem completely out of place or perfectly normal (or if you were born in the 80s, it might make you contemplate your mortality).

I've been writing these blogs for a few years now, and I try to keep it fresh by not picking the same films over and over again. So this month, I've decided to pick "new classics" which interest me, the oldest film being from 1976. If you're in the mood for something of a less recent vintage, you might enjoy Star of the Month Cary Grant on Monday nights. You really can't go wrong with The Awful Truth and My Favorite Wife, two slices of perfection with a side of Irene Dunne. Also, check the schedule for this month's Friday Night Spotlight which shines on Charles Walters, a choreographer and director whose name I didn't recognize, but whose films I've enjoyed for years. His speciality seems to be delightful musicals like Summer Stock, High Society, and The Belle of New York. And, of course, TCM will be showing holiday-themed films throughout the month. 

12/17: Nastassja Kinski Double Feature

10:45 PM - Paris, Texas (1984)
1:15 AM - Tess (1980)
Actress Nastassja Kinski had quite a good run in the late 70s and early 80s, working with several critically-acclaimed directors and making some very unique films such as Cat People, One From the Heart, and tonight's two films. Paris, Texas (a pick from guest programmer, actor Jason Lee), directed by Wim Wenders and written by Sam Shepard, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Harry Dean Stanton stars as a mysterious drifter who attempts to reconnect with the young son and wife (Kinski) he lost years before. The film is notable for Stanton's mostly mute performance and striking visuals of the American Southwest. 
Tess is an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles directed by Roman Polanski. I was moved by Hardy's book back when it was required reading in high school, and I even like the TV movie from 1998, so I'm interested in seeing how Polanski's version, which is still probably the most high-profile film version, compares. Kinski plays Tess, a naive farm girl in Victorian-era England who attempts to move up in the world and receives mistreatment at the hands of the men who control her fate. The film received Academy Awards for cinematography, art direction, and costumes. 

12/25: Mel Brooks Film Parodies
8 PM - High Anxiety (1977)
10 PM - Silent Movie (1976)
This Christmas, TCM offers a prime time line up of Mel Brooks films. I've recommended Brook's films before, and while the humor can be hit-and-miss, I couldn't resist this pair of movie parodies. In High Anxiety, a spoof of suspense thrillers, Brooks plays a psychiatrist who takes over a mental institute after the mysterious death of its director. Fans of Hitchcock should recognize the story which combines plot elements from Spellbound and Vertigo, among other Hitchcock classics. For a slight change of pace from the high volume of High Anxiety, see Silent Movie, a parody of...well, take a guess. While technically a "sound" film, Silent Movie has only one line of dialogue; Brooks uses visual gags, music, and sound effects to get laughs in this story of three filmmakers (Brooks, Dom DeLuise, and Marty Feldman) attempting to make the first silent picture in 40 years. 

12/30: Is it "classic" yet?
2:15 AM - Good Will Hunting (1997)
4:30 AM - Doubt (2008)
I was surprised to see Doubt and Good Will Hunting on the TCM schedule, not because they aren't good films, but because they are so recent. It's what got me thinking about how much we factor in the age of a film when declaring it a "classic." I think that in a few decades time, both of these films could easily wear the classic label; though, it feels a bit soon to be seeing them in regular rotation on TCM. However, tonight's programming is a special tribute to notable actors, actresses, and filmmakers we lost in 2014. Good Will Hunting features Robin Williams in his Oscar-winning role as the therapist who helps Matt Damon's Will reach his full potential. It was my favorite film of 1997 and, I think, one of Williams's best roles. Doubt features Philip Seymour Hoffman as a priest who is suspected of abusing a student at the Catholic school overseen by an imposing nun played by Meryl Streep. Writer/director John Patrick Shanley adapted the story from his own play and the strength of this film lies in the strength of the story (it's not as clear cut as you might think) and the performances of Hoffman and Streep, as well as Amy Adams and Viola Davis in smaller roles. 




12/31, 5 AM - The Total Balalaika Show (1994)
This hour-long concert film by Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki caps off a New Year's Eve line-up of classic rock films (including one of my personal favorites of any genre, A Hard Day's Night featuring The Beatles). Kaurismaki is known as one of the most interesting filmmakers working today, so his name on the film got my attention. Plus, the film's description intrigues me: "The Leningrad Cowboys, the self-proclaimed World's Worst Rock n' Roll Band, perform with the Red Army Chorus before an audience of 70,000 in Helsinki's Senate Square." Could be a fun way to welcome the new year!

BONUS PICK: Treasures from the Disney Vault, 12/21
TCM and Disney have created a new partnership to show classics from the fabled Disney Vault including animated shorts and features, live action films, nature documentaries, and TV shows. Of course, I love the cartoons, but I also really enjoy the old TV shows like Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. The TCM website says that they'll be showing these several times a year, so I'm looking forward to the next installment in 2015.
8 PM - Santa's Workshop (1932)
On Ice (1935)
Chip An' Dale (1947)
8:30 PM - The Disneyland Story (1954)
9:30 PM - the Reluctant Dragon (1941)
11 PM - Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
12:45 AM - The Vanishing Prairie (1954)
2 AM - Third Man on the Mountain (1959)
4 AM - Perilous Assignment (1959)

Classic Film Picks: November 2013

by Lani


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.

11/18, 10 PM - The Elephant Man (1980)
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.

Classic Movie Picks: November

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.)

"Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood"
11/1, 8 PM - Episode 1: Peepshow Pioneers
11/8, 8 PM - Episode 2: The Birth of Hollywood
11/15, 8 PM - Episode 3: The Dream Merchants
11/22, 8 PM - Episode 4: Brother, Can You Spare a Dream?
The big news this month is the premiere of this seven-part documentary series produced by TCM and airing Mondays and Wednesdays through Dec. 15. Moguls & Movie Stars chronicles the birth of American movies in the late 1880s to major industry shifts of the 1960s, including Thomas Edison's kinetoscope, the studio system heyday, and the rise of television. Each episode is followed by related film programming which was either from or about the featured time period. Check the spotlight article on TCM.com for a full schedule of related films and encore presentations of each episode.

11/6, 9 AM: Remember? (1939)
Fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) may feel a sense of deja vu when they hear the plot of Remember? Robert Taylor and Greer Garson play a bickering couple who each take an amnesia potion so that they can forget they ever met. However, unlike the couple in Eternal Sunshine, Garson and Taylor want to rediscover each other and fall in love again.

11/7, 8 PM: Metropolis (1927)
11 PM: Metropolis Refound (2010)
One of the most anticipated screenings at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival was the North American premiere of a new version of director Fritz Lang's Metropolis which included newly found and restored footage. Metropolis is a must-see film for anyone who enjoys studying film history because the imagery and themes pop-up again and again in later films. Metropolis Refound is a documentary about the discovery of a print of Lang's film in Argentina, which contained several minutes of footage that was thought to be lost.
BONUS: More films by Fritz Lang
12 AM - Spies (1928)
2 AM - M (1931)
4 AM - The Woman in the Window (1944)

11/9, 10 PM: Local Hero (1983)
Some films you watch for academic curiosity and some you watch for pure enjoyment. I would put tonight's selection by Guest Programmer Michael J. Fox in the latter category. It stars the underrated, but always welcome, Peter Riegert as an American executive who falls under the spell of an idyllic Scottich village. Peter Capaldi, so hilarious in last year's In the Loop, and classic film icon Burt Lancaster play supporting roles.

11/13: Starring Teresa Wright
8 PM - The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
11 PM - Mrs. Miniver (1942)
1:30 AM - The Little Foxes (1941)
3:30 AM - Enchantment (1948)
5:15 AM - Casanova Brown (1944)
Someone in the TCM Programming Department must be reading my blog (please don't suggest otherwise; it will ruin my illusions of grandeur) because this month they've devoted an evening to one of my favorite actresses (and my avatar), Teresa Wright. Wright began her film career at age 23 with an Oscar-nominated role in The Little Foxes and during the next decade followed up with an impressive string of films, two more Oscar nominations, and one award for Best Supporting Actress. She was pretty and petite with a girl-next-door charm, often playing characters who were spunky and resilient, yet sensitive. However, she lacked the glamour of the era's top stars and by the 1950s she was playing character parts. Tonight's line-up begins with my favorite Wright performance in one of my favorite movies, The Best Years of Our Lives. That is followed by her Oscar-winning turn in Mrs. Miniver; her film debut, The Little Foxes; and Enchantment, an odd film which benefits from the enjoyable performances of Wright and David Niven. The final film of the night is the only one I haven't seen before, Casanova Brown co-starring Gary Cooper. I'm looking forward to this one since Cooper and Wright had great chemistry as husband and wife in The Pride of the Yankees (1943), a film which isn't showing tonight, but is scheduled for January 1, 2011.

11/14, 3:45 AM: Hearts and Minds (1975)
5:45 AM: Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976)
Two superb, Oscar-winning documentaries from the 1970s. Their subjects are the effects of war and economic hardship on Americans in the 70s, topics which are still quite relevant today.

11/19: Directed by Peter Weir
8 PM - The Last Wave (1977)
10 PM - Gallipoli (1981)
12 AM - Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
During the late 70s, the Australian film industry experienced a surge as many talented directors began creating unique work which gained the attention of a worldwide audience. Peter Weir made such an impression with the haunting, atmospheric Picnic at Hanging Rock, which tells the story of a mysterious disappearance during a picnic in the Australian bush. The two other films showing tonight also deal with stories of "Oz" - the trial of five Aborigines in The Last Wave and Australian soldiers fighting in WWII in Gallipoli.

11/21: Mr. and Mrs. Cary Grant
8 PM - Room for One More (1952)
10 PM - Every Girl Should Be Married (1948)
These two curious little films with a decidedly retro, domestic bent star then-husband-and-wife Cary Grant and Betsy Drake. I was surprised to find out that Betsy was only 25 when she made Every Girl, since she looks older, probably due to a hairstyles and clothing which look matronly to my modern eyes. According to that film's credits, the story was inspired by an idea submitted by a home economics class. Makes you wonder what exactly the curriculum was in that school...man-hunting?

And since I'm posting this on October 31...Happy Halloween, everybody!