Joel McCrea: May Star of the Month on TCM

[moirafinnie]

This may be subject to change, but below are the films currently listed on the TCM website in celebration of Joel McCrea next
month.



MAY STAR OF THE MONTH: JOEL MCCREA

[All Times Shown are ET]

May 2nd - May 3rd, 2012

8:00 PM
Sullivan's Travels (1941)

9:45 PM
The Palm Beach Story (1942)

11:30 PM
The More the Merrier (1943)

1:30 AM
The Richest Girl in the World (1934)

3:00 AM
Woman Chases Man (1937)

4:15 AM
Bed of Roses (1933)

5:30 AM
Kept Husbands (1931)

7:00 AM
Dynamite (1929)

9:15 AM
One Man's Journey (1933)

10:30 AM
Chance at Heaven (1934)


May 9th - May 10th, 2012

8:00 PM
The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

9:30 PM
Foreign Correspondent (1940)

11:45 PM
Shoot First (1953)

1:15 AM
Espionage Agent (1939)

2:45 AM
The Lost Squadron (1932)

4:15 AM
Born to Love (1932)

5:45 AM
Bird of Paradise (1932)

7:15 AM
Woman Wanted (1935)

8:30 AM
Adventure in Manhattan (1936)

May 16th - May 17th

8:00 PM
Dead End (1937)

9:45 PM
The Great Man's Lady (1942)

11:30 PM
Rockabye (1932)

12:45 AM
Stars In My Crown (1950)

2:30 AM
These Three (1936)

4:15 AM
Come And Get It (1936)

6:00 AM
They Shall Have Music (1939)

7:45 AM
Barbary Coast (1935)

9:30 AM
The Common Law (1932)

May 23rd - May 24th

8:00 PM
The Virginian (1946)

10:00 PM
Union Pacific (1939)

12:30 AM
Cattle Drive (1951)

2:00 AM
The Silver Horde (1930)

3:30 AM
The Outriders (1950)

5:15 AM
Primrose Path (1940)

7:00 AM
Gambling Lady (1934)

8:15 AM
The Sport Parade (1932)

May 30th - May 31st

8:00 PM
Ride The High Country (1962)

9:45 PM
The Tall Stranger (1957)

11:15 PM
Wells Fargo (1937)

1:15 AM
Fort Massacre (1958)

2:45 AM
Frenchie (1950)

4:30 AM
Trooper Hook (1957)

[RedRiver]

Some good movies on this list. At least one fantastic one. SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS is one of THE great comedies. An astonishing depth for a romantic comedy. I'd love to see THESE THREE. Based on by far my favorite Lillian Hellman play. I've seen a stage version, the 1961 film. Never this one. We'll see direction by Hitchcock, Sturges, Tourneur and Wyler. The merry month of May!

[mongoII]

Thanks, Moira for the listing. Believe it or not I can't wait to see "Frenchie" (among others) a film
which I saw on the big screen and when Shelley Winters became a big favorite of mine.

[moirafinnie]

Some good movies on this list. At least one fantastic one. SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS is one of THE great comedies. An astonishing depth for a romantic comedy. I'd love to see THESE THREE. Based on by far my favorite Lillian Hellman play, I've seen a stage version, the 1961 film. Never this one. We'll see direction by Hitchcock, Sturges, Tourneur and Wyler. The merry month of May!

These Three may suffer a bit due to censorship, but it is so beautifully told, photographed by Gregg Toland and acted under the guidance of a younger William Wyler, I think you may find it quite compelling. McCrea, Hopkins and Oberon are all very good, but I still remember the children most vividly, especially Bonita Granville and Marcia Mae Jones, who were both unnerving. Great part for Alma Kruger too.

Thanks, Moira for the listing. Believe it or not I can't wait to see "Frenchie" (among others) a film
which I saw on the big screen and when Shelley Winters became a big favorite of mine.

It's fun, Joe. The part that Shelley plays suits her very well. I hope you enjoy it.

I am looking forward to seeing Woman Wanted (1935) again, which is a charming little throwaway movie buoyed by McCrea and Maureen O'Sullivan's delightful chemistry and that seemingly spontaneous verve that movies sometimes had in the '30s. I am also looking forward to catching all four of the movies that Joel McCrea made with Constance Bennett:

Bed of Roses (1933) May 3rd at 4:15am
Born to Love (1931) May 10th at 4:15am
Rockabye (1932) on May 16th at 11:30pm
The Common Law(1931) May 17th at 9:30am


According to McCrea, at that relatively early stage of his career, his line readings--especially when he was called upon to express romantic fervor in an audition--were awful. No one was more astounded to be chosen for the lead in Born to Love than Joel McCrea. According to the actor, "She [Constance Bennett] was supposed to be a b****. She was supposed to be tough on the set. She was tough on deals because she was a shrewd businesswoman...But she was doggone nice to me." Well, she wasn't blind, certainly, though McCrea seems to have been quite modest.


A pre-code aficionado friend of mine claims that all these Bennett-McCrea films are basically all the same movie (!) --and from what I've read about Connie B., that's possible. I've only caught Bed of Roses in its entirety before, and for me, that movie was stolen by Pert Kelton (who lifted just about every pre-code she graced back then).

[JackFavell]

I love both Bed of Roses and Woman Wanted, I can't wait to get recordings of them, plus the other Connie films.

I am happy they are playing some of the films I haven't seen yet. I'll probably record everything.

Come and Get It is a favorite, too. Oh, heck, if I've seen them, they are all favorites.

It's going to be a wonderful month!

[movieman1957]

As much as I like McCrea there are still plenty of early movies for me to discover. Even a few new westerns to find.

[JackFavell]

I can't believe you haven't seen them all, Chris.

[movieman1957]

I know. I'm so embarrassed. I'm going to do my best to catch up.

[JackFavell]

Don't be embarrassed! I haven't seen over half the Joel movies on the sched for May, and I think of myself as a fan!

[movieman1957]

Hopefully, we'll have plenty to talk about.

[JackFavell]

I;m sure we will! I can't wait!

[JackFavell]

You know, I'm such a pushover.

I just saw the new Joel McCrea promo on TCM. It's just a little piece talking about him, describing him as a real stand up guy, not the first pick, but a guy who gets the job done. Basically, introducing McCrea as STAR OF THE MONTH. I almost cried with appreciation. I hope they do another new promo for him, especially one of the long ones, with lots of clips and interviews.

[movieman1957]

A friend from church asked who was the Stat of The Month and when I told her McCrea I couldn't tell whether she wasn't sure about him or didn't know him. I told her there were all kinds of good things to watch. Dramas, comedies and some westerns so she should find something to enjoy.

Maybe she'll be a fan come June.

[JackFavell]

I cant IMAGINE not knowing who Joel McCrea was! He's such a big star with such long career, I really can't believe there is anyone on earth who doesn't know him...but I guess I am living in the past too much. He was just always there, one of those people who I've been aware of ever since I was tiny.

[movieman1957]

I was surprised too. As far as I knew she has watched classic films for a while. When I mentioned "The More The Merrier" and "Sullivan's Travels" she didn't know them. I guess she had been watching old movies with the wrong people.