I can't believe this week is the beginning of the last month of the year. Where does the time go (when you are watching too much tv)? This is an excellent week for TCM movie selections, however, I'm not thrilled about the scheduled times. Still, there are some real gems here. Classic comedies (The Odd Couple, The Great Dictator, A Night At The Opera, and The Thin Man); magnificent musicals (42nd Street, Gold Diggers of 1933); and chilling noirs (The Blue Dahlia, The Thin Man -- That movie is a little of EVERYTHING!). Plus, there's a continuation of TCM's original documentary series uncovering the history of Hollywood, Moguls & Movie Stars. This seven hour series, narrated by Christopher Plummer, is a must-watch. To paraphrase a comment I made over at Retroist, Turner Classic Movies is a channel for movie lovers by movie lovers. What sets it apart from all other movie channels, besides the consistently high quality of everything they do, is that they respect their audience as much as they respect the movies they represent. I get the impression that most channels don't have respect for their audience or their programming. This is why selecting my TCM viewing each week is such a big event!
Sunday, November 28
The Odd Couple (1968) 6:00 PM - The best movie theme tune!
No Orchids For Miss Blandish (1948) 8:00 PM - Controversial British noir
The Criminal (1962) 10:00 PM
Monday, November 29 (Moguls & Movie Stars and complementary films and Busby Berkeley)
Dames (1934) 6:00 AM
Gold Diggers Of 1933 (1933) 11:30 AM - I think this is the best of the Gold Diggers, although it's 1935 that has Berkeley's masterpiece, 'Lullaby Of Broadway.'
42nd Street (1933) 1:15 PM - One of my favorite musicals!
Moguls & Movie Stars, A History of Hollywood: Brother, Can You Spare A Dream? (episode 4) 7:00 PM
Moguls & Movie Stars, A History of Hollywood: Warriors & Peace Makers (episode 5) 8:00 PM (and again at 11:00 PM) - This documentary series is MONUMENTAL. It's not to be missed.
The Great Dictator (1940) 12:00 AM
Tuesday, November 30
Hollywood Canteen (1944) 4:30 AM
Good News (1947) 8:00 PM - Musical with Peter Lawford. He's usually just a fella with an umbrella.
Wednesday, December 1 (theme: The history of Hollywood)
Cool Hand Luke (1967) 5:00 PM - It stars Paul Newman, and that's good enough!
Moguls & Movie Stars, A History of Hollywood: Warriors & Peace Makers (episode 5) 10:00 PM
Citizen Kane (1941) 11:15 PM
Mildred Pearce (1945) 1:30 AM
Thursday, December 2
Manhattan Melodrama (1934) 3:45 PM - Nick, Nora, and... Gable.
Friday, December 3 (theme: some early morning film noir classics)
Man Hunt (1941) 6:00 AM - I saw the beginning of this Fritz Lang movie over the summer but didn't stay with it. I've regretted that ever since. It's an interesting concept. The movie was made in 1941, and, in the first few minutes of the movie, there's an armed man who happens to witness a vulnerable Hitler on a balcony. He aims at him but doesn't go through with any sort of assassination attempt. I don't know the full plot, but it sounds intriguing considering the year in which the film was released.
Foreign Correspondent (1940) 8:00 AM
The Blue Dahlia (1946) 10:15 AM - This is one of my favorite film noirs!! It's not available in the US. You'll just have to watch it today at this... weird time. (Worst thing is, IMDb has the nerve to show its Region 2 PAL DVD cover instead of just its movie poster! It has NEVER been available as a DVD in the US.)
The Big Clock (1948) 12:00 PM
A Place In The Sun (1951) 3:30 PM - Definitely worth a watch
Kiss Me Deadly (1955) 5:45 - More Mickey Spillane/Mike Hammer mystery
Fitzwilly (1967) 8:00 PM - Dick Van Dyke and Barbara Feldon comedy
Susan Slept Here (1954) 12:00 AM
The Beyond (1983) 2:00 AM - Eew, this looks scary/creepy. It takes place on a Hellmouth.
Saturday, December 4
A Night At The Opera (1935) 7:15 AM
The Thin Man (1934) 6:15 PM - ANOTHER favorite! This is one Dashiell Hammett film that's better than the book upon which it's based.
The Long Night (1947) 12:00 AM
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