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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.)
9/14: Directed by Sidney Lumet
8 PM - Deathtrap (1982)
10:15 PM - Running on Empty (1988)
12:30 AM - The Verdict (1982)
2:45 AM - Just Tell Me What You Want (1980)
4:45 AM - Bye Bye Braverman (1968)
Tonight's line-up spotlights the films of the versatile director Sidney Lumet, ranging from mystery-thriller to courtroom drama to romantic comedy. Trained as an actor in the theatre, Lumet was known for bringing out great performances from his actors and made several successful film adaptations of stage plays. Deathtrap was a hit play on Broadway in the late 70s, the story of a washed-up playwright who plots to murder a younger writer and steal his work. Starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve, the film's twist may seem less shocking to today's audiences, but it is still a fun thriller. Running on Empty follows a family on the run from the law and how the actions of the parents have had (predictably) adverse effects on their children. Screenwriter Naomi Foner and River Phoenix, portraying the rebellious teenage son, both received Oscar nominations. The Verdict features a great performance by Paul Newman as an alcoholic lawyer with a challenging case. The last two films tonight -- Just Tell Me What You Want and Bye Bye Braverman -- are two comedies set in Lumet's home base of New York City. Both films make the most of the location, such as Just Tell Me's fight inside Manhattan department store Bergdorff-Goodman, and feature eclectic casts including Myrna Loy, Alan King, Ali McGraw, George Segal, Jack Warden, and Joseph Wiseman (aka Bond villain Dr. No).
9/15, 6:15 PM - Agatha (1979)
This film comes at the end of a day-long birthday tribute to writer Agatha Christie featuring film versions of some of her best-loved mystery stories. However, Agatha takes the author herself as the subject of the central mystery, speculating on what might have happened during Christie's eleven-day disappearance in 1926. Vanessa Redgrave portrays Christie and Dustin Hoffman stars as an American journalist who befriends her.
9/19: Starring Anton Walbrook
8 PM - The Red Shoes (1948)
10:30 PM - The Soldier and the Lady (1937)
12 AM - I Accuse! (1950)
It's always a treat when Anton Walbrook shows up in a film. Originally from Austria (aka Adolf Wohlbrueck), his acting career flourished as a character actor in British films with some of his best roles in collaboration with the Archers -- filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, including tonight's first film, The Red Shoes. Walbrook is wonderful as the controlling ballet impresario Boris Lermontov. Even though he's the villain of the piece, I always find myself perking up during his scenes -- some feat considering the film's famous dance sequences. I Accuse! is director-star Jose Ferrer's take on the Dreyfus affair, a notorious espionage scandal from 1890s France. Often cast as the villain, Walbrook portrays the traitorous Maj. Esterhazy. The Soldier and the Lady was Walbrook's first Hollywood film and he stars as a Russian courier who must trek behind enemy lines to deliver military messages. It should be a nice change to see Walbrook as the hero in this one!
9/29, 12 PM - The Age of Innocence (1934)
In this first film adaptation of Edith Wharton's prize-winning novel, Irene Dunne stars as the glamorous Countess Olenska who catches the eye of a young attorney engaged to another woman. I've read that this film is perhaps inferior to Martin Scorsese's wonderful 1993 version starring Michelle Pfeiffer. However, I'm such a fan of Dunne's that I'm very interested in seeing her take on this emotionally complex part.
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.)
Happy New Year!
1/2, 3 PM - Joy of Living (1938)
This screwball comedy sounds like the perfect bit of escapism to start the new year -- Irene Dunne stars as a glamorous Broadway actress who falls for eccentric millionaire Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Lucille Ball co-stars as Dunne's younger sister. As the story goes, the film was originally called Joy of Loving, but the title was changed due to concerns that promoting the "joy of loving" could lead to corruption of the young (and possibly a visit from the stork!).
Here's to the joys of living and loving in 2015!
1/21: Tragic Romance (Robert Osborne's Picks)
8 PM - A Place in the Sun (1951)
10:15 PM - All This, and Heaven Too (1940)
From joy to tragedy - so much can change in a few weeks! This double feature is part of an evening lineup chosen by TCM host Robert Osborne. Though the setting for these two films are quite different -- 1950s Chicago in A Place in the Sun and 1840s France in All This, and Heaven Too -- the two films share several similarities. Both were based on popular novels and given the big-budget treatment by their studios; both touch on issues of class and social ambition; and both center upon love triangles which lead to tragedy. A Place in the Sun features Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor at the height of their beauty; see the accompanying photo for proof. (They look so good together, you sort of forgive Monty for dumping poor Shelley Winters.) All This, and Heaven Too stars Charles Boyer as a French duke who falls in love with his children's governess, played by the inimitable Bette Davis.
1/27: Star of the Month Robert Redford
8 PM - The Candidate (1972)
10 PM - All the President's Men (1976)
Tuesdays in January feature the films of Robert Redford, whose film career began in teh early 60s and continues today -- in fact, the man vs. sea drama All is Lost from 2013 may have one of his finest performances. Though I love 1967's Barefoot in the Park and 1992's Sneakers, I think the 1970s may have been Redford's most interesting decade. He was the top box office star, but that didn't stop him from taking on challenging films like tonight's politically-themed double feature. The Candidate offers prescient satire with Redford starring as a young idealist who becomes entrenched in the political machine. All the President's Men is a thrilling drama about the real-life journalists who uncovered the Watergate scandal and took down a president. Despite coming from an era when audiences were less media-savvy, both of these films feel relevant and exciting today.
1/28: Starring Lord Richard Attenborough
8 PM - The Sand Pebbles (1966)
11:15 PM - 10 Rillington Place (1971)
1:15 AM - The Angry Silence (1960)
3 AM - Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
5 AM - The League of Gentlemen (1961)
Actor and Oscar-winning producer and director Richard Attenborough died in 2014, after nearly 70 years in the film business. Many film fans will remember his grandfatherly image as John Hammond, the affable, if misguided, founder of Jurassic Park; or Kris Kringle in the 1994 version of The Miracle on 34th Street. My favorite Attenborough film might be 1963's The Great Escape, in which he portrayed British officer Bartlett, aka "Big X," who leads the titular escape from a WWII POW camp.
The five films selected for tonight's tribute show the range that Attenborough could play as an actor -- from decent, working class family man in The Angry Silence to cold serial killer in 10 Rillington Place. The lineup also includes some of the films he made under his production company, Allied Filmmakers -- The League of Gentlemen, Seance on a Wet Afternoon, and Angry Silence.
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.
